Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum

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Coordinates: 33°26′55″N 112°05′31″W / 33.44857°N 112.09188°W / 33.44857; -112.09188
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The Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, was a museum focused on minerals and mining. Last operated by the Arizona Historical Society, a state government agency, its exhibits included more than 3,000 minerals, rocks, fossils, and artifacts related to the mining industry.[1] The museum closed in May 2011. In April 2017, legislation was passed to reopen the museum under the ownership of the University of Arizona.[2]

History

The museum was started in 1884 as a temporary exhibit at Arizona's first

El Zaribah Shrine Auditorium in Phoenix.[3] That same year the building was renamed the Polly Rosenbaum Building in recognition of the leadership of long-time state legislator Polly Rosenbaum in obtaining the historic building as a home for the museum.[1][4][5]

Transfer to Arizona Historical Society and closure

In 2010, the

history museum to open for the centennial of Arizona statehood (February 14, 2012), to be named the Arizona Centennial Museum. The office of Governor Jan Brewer is credited with developing the concept for the centennial museum, which was proposed to focus on "Arizona's Five C's: cattle, copper, cotton, citrus and climate." Supporters of the museum conversion project estimated that they would need to raise $9 million in private donations to complete the project.[6]

At an August 2010 meeting of the historical society's board of directors, it was reported that the museum transfer had been more complex than anticipated, due in large part to unanticipated

nonprofit status.[7]

The museum was closed at the beginning of May 2011. The Arizona Historical Society had earlier announced that it would remain open through the end of the school year, but the museum was abruptly closed one month earlier without advance notice to employees or school groups that had planned tours. Parts of the collection were expected to be included in the planned centennial museum, which was to be called the Arizona Experience Museum.[8]

Collection

The mineral collection features displays of minerals from well-known Arizona mineral localities and specimens from Arizona

semi-precious stones.[1]

Several large pieces of historic and modern

steam railroad locomotive built in 1882 that was used at a Phelps Dodge mine in Morenci, a stamp mill, and two rail cars used in mining. Modern items used in open-pit mining include a 13-foot (4.0 m) diameter truck tire and the 27-cubic-yard (21 m3) bucket from an electric mining shovel used in the copper mine at Ray.[1][9]

An exhibit room off the main gallery displays a mineral collection,

governor of Arizona at the time the museum relocated to its current site.[1][5] As a supporter of the museum, Mofford has been quoted as saying that she would instruct her legal representative to disperse the collection to "the rural museums of Arizona" if the mining and mineral museum ever closes.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum Archived 2010-12-06 at the Wayback Machine, Arizona Department of Mines and Mineral Resources website, accessed October 30, 2010
  2. ^ Silber, Clarice, University of Arizona to reopen, run state mining museum, Arizona Daily Star, May 15, 2017
  3. ^ Arizona Mineral Resource, No. 37, February 2004
  4. ^ Arizona Mineral & Mining Museum Archived 2010-11-25 at the Wayback Machine, The Mineralogical Record website, accessed October 30, 2010
  5. ^ a b c Bill Coates, Legendary lawmaker has 2 state buildings named in her honor, Arizona Capitol Times, September 1, 2006
  6. ^ Kevin Kiley, Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum to undergo renovation, The Arizona Republic, August 11, 2010
  7. ^ a b The Arizona Historical Society Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, August 27, 2010, Flagstaff, Arizona Archived November 19, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Arizona Historical Society website, accessed November 11, 2010
  8. ^ Mary Jo Pitzl (May 3, 2011). "Arizona mining museum abruptly shutters". The Arizona Republic.
  9. ^ Arizona Mineral Resource No. 33, December 2002, page 4

External links

33°26′55″N 112°05′31″W / 33.44857°N 112.09188°W / 33.44857; -112.09188

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