Tempe History Museum

Tempe History Museum The Tempe History Museum is a center where the community comes together to explore Tempe’s past Admission is free! This museum is a perfect choice for all ages.
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The museum features interactive exhibits, fun activities for kids, and frequent concerts, presentations and films. The Tempe Historical Museum was founded by the Tempe Historical Society, a private non-profit group of citizens, which operated the Museum from its inception in 1972 until July 1, 1984 when it became a division of the City of Tempe's Community Services Department. In 2010, the museum

was renovated to incorporate a community gathering space, a children's area and new permanent exhibits. Any City of Tempe engagement on City Councilmember social media posts is not an attempt to influence the outcome of any election, in violation of Arizona law, or otherwise.

Mrs. Rita's in 1973, same location on University as today. Do you think she predicted that her business would last this ...
09/01/2026

Mrs. Rita's in 1973, same location on University as today. Do you think she predicted that her business would last this long?

Original location on University and Rural, photographed in 1996. So glad they have reopened in the old Vine building on ...
08/26/2026

Original location on University and Rural, photographed in 1996. So glad they have reopened in the old Vine building on Apache!

The Palo Verde Lounge has been on our mind ever since the news broke that longtime owner Chuck Marthaler has passed. Res...
08/22/2026

The Palo Verde Lounge has been on our mind ever since the news broke that longtime owner Chuck Marthaler has passed. Rest in peace Chuck, and thanks for your stewardship of what may be Tempe's oldest and most interesting bar.

We’ve updated some display cases in the “Building Our Community” section of our permanent gallery. Come check out what’s...
08/20/2026

We’ve updated some display cases in the “Building Our Community” section of our permanent gallery. Come check out what’s new!

We love it when you share photos with us! Wilson Sherk sent in this picture he took of his friends under the Ash Avenue ...
08/12/2026

We love it when you share photos with us! Wilson Sherk sent in this picture he took of his friends under the Ash Avenue Bridge in the mid 1970s. From left: Kevin Mahon (McClintock), Bobby Cosner (Marcos de Niza), and Steve Widmer (Corona del Sol). Bobby’s dad Ron Cosner was football coach at Marcos, and Steve’s dad Paul Widmer coached football at MCC. Both played football at ASU for Frank Kush.

We were sad today to hear that radio DJ Mary “The Bone Mama” McCann has passed. A lot of us in Tempe grew up listening t...
08/09/2026

We were sad today to hear that radio DJ Mary “The Bone Mama” McCann has passed. A lot of us in Tempe grew up listening to her on KUPD, KUKQ, and KZON. We had the opportunity to meet her about 10 years ago when she came to the museum to see our Tempe Sound music exhibit. It was great to talk to the voice from the radio face to face. Photo from KUKQ around 1990, left to right: Bone Mama, Mike Ness from Social Distortion, Leah Miller, and Jonathan L.

Out of all the salad restaurants that we have lost, this one hurt the most. Southern and Dorsey in 1995.
08/08/2026

Out of all the salad restaurants that we have lost, this one hurt the most. Southern and Dorsey in 1995.

Ranfla Vida: Local Lowrider History exhibit. See it now at Tempe History Museum! Always free admission.
08/07/2026

Ranfla Vida: Local Lowrider History exhibit. See it now at Tempe History Museum! Always free admission.

Hope you're hungry... here's the Golden Coin all-you-can-eat buffet on Apache in 1975.
08/06/2026

Hope you're hungry... here's the Golden Coin all-you-can-eat buffet on Apache in 1975.

Address

809 E Southern Avenue
Tempe, AZ
85282

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

(480) 350-5100

Website

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