Discovered in 1863 by Henry Wickenburg, the Vulture Gold Mine was the first big gold mine in Arizona.  The mine and its colorful cast of characters, along with the town of Wickenburg, were instrumental in stimulating considerable growth and development in Central Arizona. This presentation will share the multi-layered story of the gold mine, thus […]

Arizona has become a focus for the location of private, for-profit prisons.  The state also has one of the highest expenditure rates for corrections.  Are we getting what we paid for?  Post will address the history of for-profit prisons, the inter-connections with issues of immigration and racial disparities, and the track record of for-profit prisons […]

Native Americans in the Southwest developed sophisticated skills in astronomy and predicting the seasons, centuries before Old World peoples first entered the region. In this presentation Dart discusses the petroglyphs at Picture Rocks, the architecture of the "Great House" at Arizona's Casa Grande Ruins, and other archaeological evidence of ancient southwestern astronomy and calendrical reckoning; […]

Cowboy movie star Tom Mix was internationally famous. Many legends and tall tales have been told about his life. This presentation highlights some of the true stories about Mix and his connection to Arizona and debunks some of the Hollywood hype. Why was Mix on that highway south of Florence where he met his death?  […]

After the tragedy of the Holocaust, the Jewish population in Eastern Europe was nearly extinguished.  However, since the collapse of Communism, there has been a small, yet significant revival of Jewish life in several countries.  For the first time in generations, young Jews are free to practice their faith without the fear of government interference […]

John Wayne was born in Iowa and lived for most of his adult life in California. Yet, he spent many years exploring, living, and investing in Arizona, where he produced his own films, raised cattle, operated a game ranch, and was seemingly everywhere at once. Wayne remains an iconic presence in American popular culture. In […]

With the exception of the most ardent collectors and older generation, the influence and legacy of the big bands is largely forgotten despite their overwhelming popularity and significant role in early radio. Join Larson as he revisits the sounds America listened and danced to for more than three decades. Learn how iconic artists like Glenn […]

Ghost towns dot Arizona's landscape and provide unique insights into a diverse history. Some ghost towns tell a boom-to-bust story with few remaining traces of the people who once lived there, while others, like Jerome, have become thriving tourist destinations. Many are old mining locations that once bustled with life, while others tell more modern […]

Consider the taco, that favorite treat, a staple of Mexican and Mexican American cooking and an old standby on an Arizonan’s plate. The corn in the tortilla comes from Mexico, the cheese from the Sahara, the lettuce from Egypt, the onion from Syria, the tomatoes from South America, the chicken from Indochina, the beef from […]