Maxine Lakin and Phoenix Mountain Preservation Council

Organized in 1970, the Phoenix Mountains Preservation Council worked for decades to maintain the beauty of the Arizona landscape as Phoenix grew. Now, the Phoenix Mountains Preserve includes peaks such as Camelback Mountain, Piestewa Peak and North Mountain Park. 2019 Arizona Historymaker Maxine Lakin, a leader of this movement, was honored with a trail named in her honor. This poster from AHS collections celebrates the dedication of the trail in 1995. Thanks to the efforts of Maxine Lakin and many other advocates Arizonans can enjoy some of the largest city parks in the world!

P2021.21.05

The Historical League interviewed her when she became an Arizona Historymaker.

Listen to her story at https://historicalleague.org/historymakers/maxine-cortelyou-lakin/

Silent Heroes

Excellent Program.

 

Mobi joins National History Day AZ students

 Cuteness alert! A special guest joined the NHDAZ group at Nationals this year. Mobi is a very friendly companion, enjoying ear scratches and hugs. History and comfort dogs go well together.

Sofia Piccinini, Kadence Johnson, and his human, NHDAZ teacher Donna Gustafson at the Jim Hensen statue

3rd Grade Postcard Contest Winners

Over 1,000 entries and 15 students were selected to win the 3rd grade AHS Arizona Postcard Contest. These talented young artists were chosen for their outstanding creativity and thoughtful designs celebrating Arizona's history and the 5 C's.

One of the winners is Skye Martin, CTA Liberty Elementary School, Chandler.

Prizes include:

- A hosted Pizza Party (courtesy of the Historical League)

- A swag bag filled with art supplies and Arizona Historical Society goodies

- Their winning design is professionally printed on postcards available for purchase at any Arizona Historical Society Museum.

This was the Arizona Historical Society 4th annual postcard contest for Arizona 3rd graders. Aligning with Arizona Department of Education History and Social Science standards, lessons were developed to teach students about the use of postcards during the time of Arizona’s Statehood.

Students were asked to create a postcard to show what they had learned about Arizona (5 C’s of Arizona, 22 tribes of Arizona, History, Geography from prehistoric times to now).

Addison Shomaker, Skye Martin with Dr. Rex 
at CTA Liberty Elementary School

3rd grader Elliot Wilson proudly displays his work with teacher Ms. Freeman

Daniel Jackson Anza Trail Elementary

Avril Guervara Metcalf Elementary

Megan Strom, teacher Ms. Natalie Gallabi

Sophia Martinez with Mom and Great Grandmother

Emmalynn Bourgette with Dr. Kristen Rex

Lilith Geddes with family and Dr. Rex

Waylon Bedoya, Gowan Science Academy

WWII Papago Park POW huts

 Restoration and preservation of those surviving WWII Camp Papago POW Huts is an ongoing project at the Arizona Heritage Center at Papago Park.

One of the wildest forgotten stories in Arizona history happened right beneath what is now Papago Park in Phoenix.
During World War II, Camp Papago held mostly German naval prisoners captured during the war. But in December 1944, 25 German POWs pulled off the largest Axis prison escape ever from a U.S. camp.
Using homemade tools, they secretly dug a 176-foot tunnel beneath the camp and escaped into the Arizona desert under the cover of darkness. Their plan was to follow rivers south toward Mexico… except they didn’t realize most Arizona riverbeds were completely dry.
Lost, exhausted, and running out of supplies, the escapees were eventually captured one by one or turned themselves in. What started as a daring wartime breakout became one of the strangest stories in Arizona history.
Today, thousands visit Papago Park without realizing a WWII POW camp once stood beneath the desert landscape.

Julia, Maxwell and Todd attend Career Day at Sunnyslope School

 Kids get inspired by AHS staff Maxwell Edwards-Abbot and Todd Bailey, with Historical League/Sunnyslope Historical Society volunteer Julia Taggart.

Sunnyslope School is a Kids at Hope School. May 12 was their final destination day – Education and Career Day. Special guests representing all different types of careers – firefighters, librarians, healthcare professionals, judges, municipal employees, teachers and more, were on campus inspiring students to set goals and dream big!

Thanks to Julie, Maxwell and Todd for talking to them about Arizona history!

Volunteers at National History Day AZ State Contest

 A rewarding day with the students plus lunch when judging at National History Day!! So grateful for Historical League members who volunteered at the State Contest. 

Judges: Cathy Shumard, Laurie-Sue Rhetts, Pat and Pete Faur, Diana and David Smith, Norma Jean Coulter, Madison Barkley, Summer Cherland. 

Reception: Patt Walker, Margaret Baker, Caroline Bissell.

Cathy Shumard, Dr. Kristen Rex, Laurie-Sue Retts

Pat and Pete Faur, Diana Smith

Norma Jean Coulter with Stacey Trepanier

David Smith with Emily Hahn

More National History Day photos East Valley contest

The students were rockin' all day at Chandler, U of A, East Valley contest. Judges, volunteers, parents, friends . . . it takes a village!

AHS Education team breakfast: Emily Hahn, Madison Kennedy, Holly Barnard, intern Claire Aprotosoaie-Kardos