Pioneer Living History Museum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Pioneer Living History Museum

Pioneer Living History Museum
Established	1969
Location	3901 W. Pioneer Road Phoenix, Arizona
Type	Living museum

The Pioneer Living History Museum is a special place in Phoenix, Arizona. It's also known as Pioneer Village. This museum lets you step back in time to the 1880s and early 1900s. It has 30 old buildings, some original and some rebuilt, on a big 90-acre property. It's a fun way to see what life was like for early settlers in Arizona!

Discovering the Museum's History

How the Museum Started

Back in 1956, some people who loved Arizona history got worried. Old buildings were being torn down to make way for new ones. So, they formed a group called the "Pioneer Arizona Foundation, Inc." Important people like former Governor Paul Fannin and Senator Barry Goldwater were part of this group.

Their main goal was to save historic buildings built between 1870 and 1910. They wanted future generations to learn about the challenges and lives of early pioneers. The foundation bought 90 acres of land in north Phoenix. The museum officially opened its doors on February 15, 1969.

Saving the Museum's Future

In 2010, the land where the museum sits was almost sold. A company outbid the city of Phoenix for the property. This meant the museum might have to close because of water supply issues.

But the city of Phoenix stepped in! They bought the land and built a water line to the museum. Thanks to their help, the museum was able to stay open. It continues to teach visitors about Arizona's past.

Exploring Historic Buildings and Structures

The museum has many interesting buildings and structures. There are 10 original historic buildings, including a ranch and a farm. The museum also has 15 buildings that have been carefully rebuilt to look just like the originals.

Original Historic Buildings to See

These are some of the actual buildings from the past:

• The Sears House, also called the Victorian House, was built in the early 1890s. It was once a home in Phoenix.
• The Ashurst Cabin was built in 1878 near Prescott. This was the childhood home of Senator Henry Fountain Ashurst. He was Arizona's first senator after it became a state. His family cooked over a fireplace or outside.
• The Phoenix Bakery building was built in 1881 in Phoenix. It was one of the first bakeries to use a car for deliveries in 1910! Later, their bread became known as Holsum.
• The Flying “V” Cabin was built in 1880 in Young, Arizona. It has special openings called gun ports. These were used during the Battle of Big Dry Wash in 1882. This was one of the last Apache battles in that area.
• The Gordon School was built in 1885 in Gordon Canyon. It was a school for local children until 1930.
• The Meritt Farm House was built in 1910 on a farm in Phoenix.
• The Northern Home was built in 1885 near Flagstaff. It was once home to the Newman family.
• The Opera House was built in the early 1870s in Prescott. It was first a store, then became a place for plays and shows. Famous performers like Lillie Langtry once performed here.
• The Teacherage Cabin was built in 1890 in Pleasant Valley. It was a small home for the local teacher.
• The Ranch Complex was built in 1870 in Gordon Canyon. It shows what a ranch looked like back then.

Reconstructed Historic Buildings to Explore

These buildings have been carefully rebuilt to be just like the originals:

• The Bandstand is a rebuilt bandstand from 1881 in Globe, Arizona.
• The Bank is a rebuilt Valley Bank from 1884 in Phoenix.
• The Blacksmith Shop is a rebuilt shop from Globe, around 1870. Blacksmiths made and repaired metal tools.

Blacksmith shop - interior

• The Carpenter Shop is a rebuilt shop that served Prescott in 1880. Carpenters built and fixed wooden items.
• The Community Church is a rebuilt church from Globe, built in 1880.

The Community Church

• The Dress Shop shows what a clothing store looked like in Phoenix in 1890.

Dress shop - interior

• The Mercantile is a rebuilt 1890s general store. Today, it's the museum's gift shop!
• The Miner's Cabin is a copy of a cabin where a miner and his family might have lived in Clifton.
• The Print Shop is a rebuilt printing shop from 1890s Phoenix.
• The Sheriff's Office is a rebuilt adobe building from Globe, built in 1881.
• The Southern House is a rebuilt "Anglo" style house from 1858 in Tucson.
• The Stage Stop is an exact copy of a station that served the road from Phoenix to Wickenburg from 1871 to 1873. It was run by Phillip Darrell Duppa, who helped name Phoenix.
• The Smith and Dodd's Tonsorial Parler is a rebuilt barber shop from the old days.
• The Town Ditch is a copy of the ditches used in early pioneer towns. These ditches carried water for drinking, cooking, and washing.

Fort Woods is a copy of a fort from the 1860s in the West. It was named after Sergeant Brent Woods. He was a brave soldier who received the Medal of Honor.

The Town Cemetery is a copy of a pioneer cemetery. Graves were covered with rocks to keep wild animals away. This cemetery honors volunteers who helped build the museum and have passed away. Their names are on the headstones.

Gallery of the Original Historic Buildings

More to See

• List of historic properties in Phoenix, Arizona
• Cave Creek Museum
• Children's Museum in Phoenix
• Pioneer and Military Memorial Park
• Martin Auto Museum
• Phoenix Police Museum
• Wells Fargo Museum
• List of museums in Arizona
• List of open-air and living history museums in the United States
• List of historic properties in Goldfield, Arizona