Superstition Mountain Museum

Superstition Mountain on a Rainy Day

Jade and Brady joined us in March for nine days in the Valley of the Sun.  Wouldn't you know the temperatures plummeted 20 degrees and rain clouds moved into the East Valley.  Despite the weather we enjoyed their company and planned some activities.  We visited the Superstition Mountain Museum on a rainy day after dining at the Old Mining Camp restaurant.




Garcia Collection on Loan



There was a small collection of art and artifacts on loan being displayed at the museum.  

Garcia Art Collection

Garcia Art Collection

Different Types of Barbed Wire

This museum collects preserves and displays the artifacts, history and folklore of the Superstition Mountains, Lost Dutchman mine history and Native American lore.  There were displays of the geology of the this area along with the different wildlife in this area.

 

 

Javelina (member of the rodent family)

Roadrunner



Gambrel Quail

Assay Office Equipment

Historical buildings on the property include an old church, jail, dentist office, etc. The donated barn and church came from the Apacheland Movie Ranch which was built as a movie set. Many western movies were shot in what was called Apacheland in the early years. 

Fire destroyed all but two of the structures which were moved to new locations surrounding the museum. 

The "Elvis chapel" from the movie Charro was a favorite of Elvis while he filmed the movie there.  He would go in there and play for the crew after shooting.

The old "Rifleman" barn now contains the history of those movie years. The barn has an extensive gallery of actors from classic western movies and TV shows.

There is a 20 stamp mill, an old steam rock smasher, for crushing the ore which was part of the gold processing.