Cave Creek Museum Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Cave Creek Museum
Cave Creek Museum entrance.
Established	1968
Location	6140 East Skyline Drive Cave Creek, Arizona
Type	History and culture museum
Key holdings	The first church of Cave Creek and the last tubercular cabin in the state
Collections	Central Ansbaugh Auditorium, the Archaeology Wing, the Pioneer Wing and the “Mini-wing.
Founder	Volunteers of the local historical society

The Cave Creek Museum is a special place in Cave Creek, Arizona, near the Black Mountains. It's a non-profit museum that works to save and share the history and culture of the Cave Creek and Carefree areas. The museum has many exhibits, both inside and outside. You can see the first church of Cave Creek and a unique cabin that was used by people with a lung illness long ago.

Discovering the Museum's Past
Historic Buildings and Artifacts
See also

Discovering the Museum's Past

In 1968, a group of local volunteers started the Cave Creek Museum. They wanted to protect old items and stories from the Cave Creek and Carefree areas. Frank and Hazel Wright generously gave the land for the museum. Their main goal was to teach people about the area's past through exhibits and programs.

When the Museum Opened

The museum officially opened its doors in April 1970. Inside, there are four main areas where you can explore history. The Central Ansbaugh Auditorium shows off textiles, paintings, jewelry, and sculptures. The Archaeology Wing teaches about ancient times. The History Wing displays items from Cave Creek's mining, military, and ranching days. There's also a smaller "Mini-wing" with more to see.

Outdoor Exhibits to Explore

Outside the museum, you can find the very first church of Cave Creek. It was moved to the museum grounds to keep it safe. You can also see the last "tubercular cabin" in Arizona. This cabin was a special place where people with tuberculosis, a serious lung disease, could stay to recover. It's so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Mining and Ranching History

Long ago, gold prospectors came to Arizona looking for gold. They set up mining camps, even in Cave Creek. The museum shows off some of their tools, like the Golden Reef Stamp Mill. You can also see machines and tools used by the early ranchers who lived in the area.

Historic Buildings and Artifacts

The Cave Creek Museum has many interesting historic items and buildings. Here are some of the things you can see:

The Tubercular Cabin: This cabin was built in 1920. It's a very important part of Arizona's history.
The First Church of Cave Creek: Also known as the First Episcopal Church, it was built in 1948.
The original bell from the First Church of Cave Creek.
The 1900 Cave Creek Bandshell: This is like a gazebo where bands might have played music.
The Golden Reef Stamp Mill: Built in 1880, this machine was used to crush rocks to find gold.
The pre-1913 Golden Reef Mine Tramway Car: A small car used to move things in the mines.
A Miner's Arrastre: A simple, old machine used by miners to grind ore.
The Cave Creek Museum lizard bench: A fun bench shaped like a lizard!