Bullion Plaza Cultural Center & Museum

09/02/2026

Goodbye hot August, and hello cooler September! Our doors have reopened to the public, so come see us Wednesday through Saturday from 10am to 2pm!

09/02/2026

Mary Anne Moreno was honored at the Globe Rotary Club today. She has served the Globe-Miami community since she moved here as a nurse at Gila General Hospital in 1966. Now, after 60 years of dedicated community involvement, she is moving to Ohio. Mary Anne has been on the governing board at this museum since the beginning, and she will be sorely missed.

09/01/2026

09/01/2026

This is heart breaking. It's been determined that the burn scar is what caused the devastating and fatal flooding at the Grand Canyon.

09/01/2026

"Arizona 1776 and Beyond" is the theme for this year's 2026 Arizona History Convention, coming Friday and Saturday, Sept. 25-26 in Tucson. We are so happy to see that the convention is giving a nod to our country's 250th anniversary. Even though Arizona was not a part of the United States in 1776, there was plenty going on here! The convention will also feature the 100th anniversary of Route 66.

The convention is open to the public, and our Researcher goes every year to get great ideas for our 2nd Friday programs, and interact with wonderful Arizona historians. You can register with Eventbrite. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-arizona-history-convention-sept-25-26-tickets-1990826532751

https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/03a8d441-682b-4fac-83a3-5396137983b1/downloads/a40c1eeb-a389-4acf-8193-c47045398300/2026ArizonaHistoryConvention-Program.pdf?ver=1788280260358

08/31/2026

Mick Holder came to visit us, with a rare phonograph album of a local musician, "Peso Dollar." I found an article for when Mr. Dollar first came to our area in 1967. His full name was Warlick O'Dell Dollar. He moved to the Valley when he retired, died in 1999, and is buried in the Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

08/31/2026

We'll call this a "teaser" to September's 2nd Friday program, "In the Mine: Mules and Burros in the American Southwest," coming Friday, Sept. 11, starting at 6:30pm. Come hear Dr. Abbie Harlow tell about the history of using these extraordinary animals in our mines.

ONE MULE STORY WHICH BREAKS THE RECORD
(Arizona Silver Belt, Jan. 12, 1913)

Here is a mule story that makes the stories of Maud and Si seem as tame as a week old kitten and the funny part of it is that it is true. It can be proved to doubting Thomases any time they desire to enact a scene similar to the one described.The watchman at the Globe Consolidated mine and offices is named McGrath. He is the possessor of a mule which has been in his possession for some time and is his favorite pet. Last week he saddled the mule up at Murphy's livery stable and started out to his headquarters at the mine. Arriving at the machine shop he saw a [man] in the art of getting away with some of the shop tools. Jumping from the saddle he commanded the man to drop the tools. The man refused. McGrath walked up to him and attempted to take the tools away by force, whereupon the [man] drew a knife and cut him on the hand almost severing three of the fingers. The [man] then ran outside, with McGrath about ten feet behind him. Reaching a rock pile, he picked up a large rock and threw it at McGrath, striking him in the chest and incapacitating him for a moment. McGrath's mule was standing nearby and saw that his master was getting the worst of it. Suddenly the mule uttered a hoarse scream. His ears flattened back on his head, and opening his mouth he started for the [man] at a rapid gait. The [man], seeing the rage in the mule's eyes, immediately concluded that there were many healthier spots for him than the one where he stood. He started down the trail, "hitting the high places" only and the mule after him with open mouth uttering a noise between a scream and a bray. Just as the mouth of the mule was about to close on the [man's] shoulder he reached an almost impassable trail and without hesitating a moment went down it as fast as he could travel and succeeded in escaping the equine punishment. The [man] did not look back until he got to the bottom of the hill at which time the animal had just started back to the machine shop, where his master was. McGrath stated that the animal was angry for two hours afterward and would now and then stop feeding, look in the direction the [man] had gone and stamp his feet. From now on the mule will be the best fed and cared for animal in this county.

08/31/2026

ONE MULE STORY WHICH BREAKS THE RECORD
(Arizona Silver Belt, Jan. 12, 1913)

Here is a mule story that makes the stories of Maud and Si seem as tame as a week old kitten and the funny part of it is that it is true. It can be proved to doubting Thomases any time they desire to enact a scene similar to the one described.The watchman at the Globe Consolidated mine and offices is named McGrath. He is the possessor of a mule which has been in his possession for some time and is his favorite pet. Last week he saddled the mule up at Murphy's livery stable and started out to his headquarters at the mine. Arriving at the machine shop he saw a [man] in the art of getting away with some of the shop tools. Jumping from the saddle he commanded the man to drop the tools. The man refused. McGrath walked up to him and attempted to take the tools away by force, whereupon the [man] drew a knife and cut him on the hand almost severing three of the fingers. The [man] then ran outside, with McGrath about ten feet behind him. Reaching a rock pile, he picked up a large rock and threw it at McGrath, striking him in the chest and incapacitating him for a moment. McGrath's mule was standing nearby and saw that his master was getting the worst of it. Suddenly the mule uttered a hoarse scream. His ears flattened back on his head, and opening his mouth he started for the [man] at a rapid gait. The [man], seeing the rage in the mule's eyes, immediately concluded that there were many healthier spots for him than the one where he stood. He started down the trail, "hitting the high places" only and the mule after him with open mouth uttering a noise between a scream and a bray. Just as the mouth of the mule was about to close on the [man's] shoulder he reached an almost impassable trail and without hesitating a moment went down it as fast as he could travel and succeeded in escaping the equine punishment. The [man] did not look back until he got to the bottom of the hill at which time the animal had just started back to the machine shop, where his master was. McGrath stated that the animal was angry for two hours afterward and would now and then stop feeding, look in the direction the [man] had gone and stamp his feet. From now on the mule will be the best fed and cared for animal in this county.

08/29/2026

Yay! Thank you, Mining Association, Milwaukee Tool, Miami Junior Senior High School Principal Rich Ormand and CVIT Superintendent Mike O’Neal, Scott Worrall, woodworking instructor at Miami Junior Senior High School, and all the others who helped make this possible!

🎉 Success! Our First Tools for Schools Project is Complete! 🎉

Miami Unified School District #40 is the first recipient of the AMA's Tools for Schools program, receiving more than $11,500 worth of power tools and safety glasses and gloves to support its trade and career technical education programs.

A huge thank you to Milwaukee Tool for their incredible partnership and generous contribution of professional-grade equipment. This investment will help equip students with the tools they need to learn valuable skills and prepare for future careers.

We would also like to thank Miami Junior Senior High School Principal Rich Ormand and CVIT Superintendent Mike O’Neal for their warm welcome and outstanding partnership throughout this project.

It was great to have Robin Bradford, AZED Pro of Freeport-McMoRan and David Stanley of Capstone Copper in attendance, helping create meaningful connections with Miami Junior Senior High School and demonstrating their commitment to supporting local students and educators.

A special thank you to Scott Worrall, woodworking instructor at Miami Junior Senior High School, for his dedication to teaching the next generation. We hope these tools serve your students for many years to come.

This project would not have been possible without the support of Supplier Chairman, Ernie Smith of Aecon Group Inc., Supplier Vice-chair Jason Ray of JT THORPE, and all of our supplier members and donors who contributed to this effort. Your generosity is making a real difference in our mining communities.

We have already identified our next schools to support! If you would like to donate tools, safety equipment, or contribute in any way, please contact the AMA office or Ernie Smith.

Together, we can support the next generation, strengthen our communities, and showcase the positive impact the mining industry has through education, partnership, and giving back.

08/27/2026

Yesterday, Aug. 26, was Women's Equality Day. I was reminded that one of the State of Arizona's larger-than-life women who championed women's right (both for voting and women's pay) was Rosa McKay. Although she started her political advocacy in Bisbee, she and her husband moved to Globe until her passing. Gov. George W.P. Hunt was one of the honorary pallbearers. Unfortunately, she is buried in Greenwood cemetery... otherwise, you just know that we would make a BIG DEAL of her in our local historic tours!