Mesa Historical Museum

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Mesa Historical Museum The Mesa Historical Society records and tells the stories of Mesa residents, past and present

After getting its start in the 1940’s, the Mesa Historical Museum was incorporated in 1966 by citizens concerned about the preservation of Mesa’s rich history. The museum’s original home was at the old City Hall building in downtown Mesa. This is now the location for the Arizona Museum of Natural History. The Mesa Historical Museum operates out of the Old Lehi school building. The original Lehi School, built on land donated to the Lehi Settlers by the Rogers family in the 1880s, was a one-room adobe building (similar to the replica in front of the museum). The little community had outgrown the adobe school house by the early 1910’s. The current building was constructed in 1913 and the adobe schoolhouse was demolished. The building was expanded in the 1920’s with the addition of two new classrooms. During the Great Depression of the 1930’s, the Works Progress Administration made additional improvements, including the auditorium. The Lehi School was moved in 1976 to an updated facility down the road. Slated for destruction, school officials discovered it would be more expensive to tear down the school buildings, due to the sturdy construction of the auditorium, than rebuild on the site. The City of Mesa purchased the site and resold it to the Mesa Historical Museum in 1986 and the museum opened its doors to the public in 1987. Improvements and changes have continued as the museum strives to tell the story of Mesa and the valley.

There’s something different about hearing history in the place where it rests.During the Mesa Cemetery Tour, history com...
10/14/2026

There’s something different about hearing history in the place where it rests.

During the Mesa Cemetery Tour, history comes to life as guest narrators share the stories of the people behind the headstones—from Mesa pioneers and community leaders to stories of adventure, tragedy, and unexpected connections to our city.

The tour is self-guided, so you can follow the route at your own pace, stopping at each featured gravesite to hear its story.

Take a look back at some of our previous Cemetery Tours, then join us this year on Saturday, October 24!

📅 Saturday, October 24 | 8–10 AM
🎟️ $15 advance | $20 day of
🏛️ Plus, save your wristband for FREE admission to the Mesa Historical Museum after the tour!

🔗 Purchase tickets: www.mesahistoricalmuseum.com/event-details/2026-cemetery-tour

Looking for something fun to do this week? Trivia Night is happening at the Arizona Baseball Museum this Thursday, Octo...
10/12/2026

Looking for something fun to do this week? Trivia Night is happening at the Arizona Baseball Museum this Thursday, October 15!

Gather your friends and test your knowledge through four rounds covering Pop Culture, History, Sports and Grab Bag. Plus, special guest baseball organist Bobby Freeman will be joining us for live music and “Name That Tune” challenges between rounds!

Prizes for the first, second and third place teams include gift cards generously donated by local restaurants. And don't worry, you definitely don't have to be a baseball expert to play!

Thursday, October 15
6:30–8:30 PM
Regular museum admission: $7 (trivia included)

Arizona Baseball Museum
2345 N. Horne | Mesa, AZ 85203

We hope to see you there!

Far from home, their final resting place became Mesa. 🇬🇧During World War II, thousands of British Royal Air Force cadets...
10/08/2026

Far from home, their final resting place became Mesa. 🇬🇧

During World War II, thousands of British Royal Air Force cadets came to Mesa to learn to fly at Falcon Field. While most eventually returned home, some tragically lost their lives during training and were laid to rest here in the Mesa Cemetery.

At this year’s Cemetery Tour, we’ll share the stories of the RAF cadets buried in Mesa and remember the young men who traveled thousands of miles from home to train in Arizona.

📅 Saturday, October 24 | 8–10 AM
🎟️ $15 advance | $20 day of
🎫 Purchase tickets: www.mesahistoricalmuseum.com/event-details/2026-cemetery-tour

Want to learn more?
Continue the story after the tour with a visit to our special exhibit, “Falcon Field & the Royal Air Force, 1941–1945,” currently on display at the Mesa Historical Museum.

Even better—your Cemetery Tour wristband gets you FREE admission to the Mesa Historical Museum on October 24! Save your wristband and stop by after the tour to discover more about the RAF cadets, Falcon Field, and this remarkable chapter of Mesa history.

A HUGE thank you to the amazing volunteer team from PacSci EMC who spent yesterday morning with us tackling some much-ne...
10/06/2026

A HUGE thank you to the amazing volunteer team from PacSci EMC who spent yesterday morning with us tackling some much-needed projects around the museum!

This hardworking crew helped with a major cleanup around our property and took on the enormous job of clearing off the stage inside our historic Lehi Auditorium as we prepare for future renovations.

Projects like these take a lot of hands, and their help made an incredible difference in just one day. We are so grateful to PacSci EMC for encouraging their employees to give back to the community — and to this wonderful group for choosing to spend their time helping the Mesa Historical Museum and Arizona Baseball Museum.

Thank you, PacSci EMC! We appreciate you!

So... what will you find at our Arts & Crafts Fair? A little bit of everything!Our vendor lineup is FULL, and we're exci...
10/06/2026

So... what will you find at our Arts & Crafts Fair?

A little bit of everything!

Our vendor lineup is FULL, and we're excited to welcome an amazing variety of local artists, makers, and small businesses to the Mesa Historical Museum on Saturday, November 14!

🎨 Original art & photography
💍 Handmade jewelry
🏺 Pottery & fused glass
🧶 Crochet creations & sewn goods
🪵 Woodworking & engraved items
🕯️ Candles, soaps & lotions
🏡 Home & garden décor
🎄 Holiday decorations & ornaments
🐾 Pet accessories
🎁 Unique gifts & one-of-a-kind finds
🍿 Gourmet treats & goodies
✨ And so much more!

Plus, enjoy a food truck, FREE admission to both the Mesa Historical Museum and Arizona Baseball Museum, and a fun day out for the whole family.

📅 Saturday, November 14
⏰ 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
📍 Mesa Historical Museum | 2345 N. Horne, Mesa

Mark your calendar and come shop local with us! ❤️

Shout out to our amazing event sponsors:
First Western Bank, Lifetime Home Remodeling, National Testing Solutions, RV Rental Housing, Ryze Outdoor Creations, Smart & Final, and Salt River Project.

📚 Save the Date!Our Annual Museum Book Sale is moving one week earlier this year! Be sure to mark your calendars for Sat...
10/04/2026

📚 Save the Date!

Our Annual Museum Book Sale is moving one week earlier this year! Be sure to mark your calendars for Saturday, January 30 and Sunday, January 31, 2027.

If you've joined us in past years, don't let the new dates sneak up on you! We're excited to welcome you back for another weekend of incredible bargains, unique finds, and one of our favorite annual fundraisers.

We'll be sharing more details as the event gets closer. For now, save the date—we hope to see you there! ❤️

Walk through Mesa’s past and discover the stories of the people who helped shape our community.The Mesa Historical Museu...
09/30/2026

Walk through Mesa’s past and discover the stories of the people who helped shape our community.

The Mesa Historical Museum’s annual Cemetery Tour returns Saturday, October 24. Explore the Mesa Cemetery at your own pace as guest narrators stationed throughout the cemetery bring local history to life right at the gravesites.

This year’s tour features stories of early pioneers and community builders, a young lawman killed while pursuing a notorious Old West outlaw gang, a longtime Mesa Chief of Police, Royal Air Force airmen who died while training in Arizona during World War II, and more.

Saturday, October 24 | 8–10 AM
Mesa Cemetery | 1212 N. Center St.
$15 advance | $20 day of

Advance tickets are on sale now. Purchase yours today and join us for a morning exploring Mesa’s history where many of its stories rest.
https://www.mesahistoricalmuseum.com/event-details/2026-cemetery-tour

What does an alligator handbag have to do with Mesa history? 🐊👜Once upon a time, Mesa was home to an alligator farm — an...
09/27/2026

What does an alligator handbag have to do with Mesa history? 🐊👜

Once upon a time, Mesa was home to an alligator farm — and this genuine alligator-skin handbag is one of the unusual pieces of that story!

It’s just one of the surprising people, places, objects, and events featured in Mesa A–Z, our newest exhibit exploring Mesa’s history one letter at a time.

Already visited? What’s been your favorite letter so far? 👀

Haven’t made it in yet? Come discover all 26 for yourself at the Mesa Historical Museum!

Outlaws, an ambush, and a Mesa connection… In 1896, a young lawman with deep ties to Mesa headed into Arizona’s Chiricah...
09/24/2026

Outlaws, an ambush, and a Mesa connection…

In 1896, a young lawman with deep ties to Mesa headed into Arizona’s Chiricahua Mountains in pursuit of a notorious Old West outlaw gang.

He would never make it home.

Who was he? What happened in those mountains? And how did his story begin in Mesa?

Hear the rest of the story right at his gravesite during this year’s Mesa Cemetery Tour on October 24.

🎟️ Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 day of.

Advance tickets can be purchased online:
https://www.mesahistoricalmuseum.com/event-details/2026-cemetery-tour

Address

2345 N Horne Road
Mesa, AZ
85203

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+14808352286

Website

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