LASR.net Homepage




Menu

Arizona Mineral Museum


category : Museums
Arizona Mineral Museum The Arizona Mineral Museum began as a Territorial Fair exhibit in 1884. It was so popular that in 1917 the Arizona State Legislature authorized funding to construct a mineral building on the State Fairgrounds. It was completed in 1919 with additional funds raised by the mining companies of Arizona. Excepting a hiatus for World War II, this building was home to annual Territorial and then State Fair exhibits until 1953 (and closed the rest of the year). In 1953 six of the State's major mining companies agreed to underwrite the opening of a year-round Museum to be housed in the Mineral Building.

There are over 3,000 minerals on exhibit. Highlighting the collection are the colorful minerals from Arizona's copper mines. Among the spectacular individual specimens on display are an eight-foot piece of native copper, a large quartz geode - each half weighing 240 pounds, rocks from the first Moon landing, and a fragment of Meteor Crater's meteorite weighing 206 pounds. Exhibits of special interest encompass cases devoted to the lapidary arts featuring gemstones, carved semi-precious bowls and spheres, well-known Arizona specimen localities, and fluorescent minerals.

The museum also exhibits the mineral collection of the Arizona Mineral and Mining Museum Foundation and the Mofford Gallery consisting of about 1000 items acquired by former Secretary of State and Governor Rose Mofford during her 51 years of government service.

Prominently displayed outside is the 43-foot tall Boras mine head frame, moved to Phoenix from Bisbee, Arizona. It has been placed along with an 1882 baby-gauge steam train locomotive from Phelps Dodge's Morenci mine. A mucker car and ore car have been set on rail in the front yard and shortly a 19-foot tall 5-stamp mill will be added to the historic mining equipment. Contemporary open pit mining is represented by a 13 foot diameter tire from a 320 ton capacity mine haul truck and a 27 cubic yard bucket from an electric shovel.

The gift shop features mineral specimens, with a large selection of Arizona minerals and many items specially priced for students. Also offered for sale are jewelry, specialty rock items such as bookends, prospecting tools like gold pans, and books on mineralogy, geology and mining. Proceeds from sales go to support the education and other programs. The Museum hosts about 18,500 pre-school through college students per year on field trips. Each student may leave with 3 specimens selected from a special display. Yearly, the Museum provides about a 1000 Teachers' Mineral Kits and educational packets to Arizona teachers.


Admission: Admission for adults is $2.00. Parking is free.
Hours: Open weekdays from 8:00 to 5:00 and on Saturdays from 11:00 to 4:00.
Address: 1502 W. Washington
Phone: 602-255-3795
Our Website:www.admmr.state.az.us/musgen.htm

Come visit us in Phoenix, Arizona

Attractions and Upcoming Events

Wells Fargo's History Museum

Wells Fargo's History Museums located in ,and their curators welcome visitors from around the world. Nine major cities host museums, five of those in California and one in Phoenix, Arizona. Collective displays feature original Concord Coaches, Wells Fargo'

Phoenix, AZ Museums

Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting

The Hall of Flame Fire Museum and the National Firefighting Hall of Heroes, located in Phoenix, Arizona, has almost an acre of fire history exhibits, with over 90 fully restored pieces of fire apparatus on display, dating from 1725 to 1969

Phoenix, AZ Museums

Fairytale Brownies Factory

Fairytale Brownies is a delicious Phoenix attraction you'll want to put on your 'to do'

Phoenix, AZ Tours

Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park

Pueblo Grande Museum is located at a 1,500 year-old Hohokam village ruins in modern day Phoenix. For over 70 years the museum has been dedicated to the study and interpretation of the Hohokam culture. On the 102 acre park grounds, visitors explore the ruin of an 800

Phoenix, AZ Archaeology

Arizona Capitol Museum

Restored in 1981, the original Arizona State Capitol now is home to a museum and the state archives. Built in 1899, the building housed the territorial government until 1912, when Arizona's first governor was inaugurated. Left empty after state offices moved to larger, adjacent buildings in 1974

Phoenix, AZ Museums

Things to do Museums near Phoenix, AZ

Tempe Historical Museum

Museum featuring the history of Tempe from the time of prehistoric Hohokam to today. Video, hands-on exhibits, and gift shop....

Buckhorn Wildlife Museum

The Buckhorn Wildlife Museum features more than 400 mounted and displayed native bird and animal specimens. Relax and reju...

Acadia Ranch Museum

The Acadia Ranch Museum is more than 123 years old. The Oracle Historical Society purchased and took up residence in Acadia R...