With tears in his eyes, a student from a history class at the University of Arizona toured Los Desconocidos: The Migrant Quilt Project, the newest exhibit at the Arizona History Museum in Tucson. Covering more than 20 years of the history and stories of those who made the perilous journey through the Southern Arizona deserts, this […]

A National History Day season for the history books! Arizona students stayed committed to their NHD projects despite facing an ever-changing NHD landscape! The theme for 2022 was Debate and Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, and Consequences.  Congratulations to the 43 students from Arizona representing 28 entries that were promoted to the national contest. They […]

The COVID death toll in the United States has climbed to more than 900,000 lives lost. In Arizona alone, we have lost over 27,000 lives. Each death leaves behind family and friends who mourn the loss of their loved ones. Public memorials are a way for grieving families to come together to share their stories […]

Arizona Historical Society Announces Dr. David Breeckner As the New Executive Director Dr. Breeckner Will Lead the State’s Oldest Historical Agency Starting December 2021 The Arizona Historical Society (AHS) is proud to announce Dr. David Breeckner (pronounced “BrEHck-ner”) as the incoming Executive Director. With a passion for history and learning, Dr. Breeckner will start his […]

Very early in the morning on September 16, 1810, the bells of the church in Dolores (now Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato) rang, gathering the congregation from their beds into the plaza. Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla gave an impassioned speech, urging people to take up arms against the corrupt and morally reprehensible Spanish Crown. This is […]

Arizona Historical Society Awarded Re-Accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums The Arizona Historical Society (AHS) has achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition afforded the nation’s museums. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public. The Arizona History Museum […]

The Arizona Historical Society (AHS) announces the departure of Executive Director W. James Burns after three years with the agency. Burns will assume the role of Executive Director of Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West in the fall of 2021. Burns’ departure from AHS will be coordinated to ensure a smooth transition to new […]

When you think about Chinese people in Arizona or the West, what comes to mind? Perhaps it’s the iconic Dragon Gate marking the entrance to San Francisco’s Chinatown. Maybe you recall something from an Arizona history class in high school about how the Chinese helped build the railroads. Or maybe it’s a glimpse of Chinese […]

As early as 1905, Japanese immigrants moved to Arizona with the intent to farm the land. They first planned to establish a sugar beet farm; but this crop would fail to thrive in the heat, and many Japanese farmers left the state by 1915. Despite the difficulty, new farmers continued to arrive, including Kajuro Kishiyama […]

April 6, 2021, is a big day — so save the date! We’ll be participating in #AZGivesDay, a 24-hour day of statewide giving, and would appreciate your support. Please help us spread the word — or, even better, make an early donation now at https://www.azgives.org/arizonahistoricalsociety! The COVID-19 pandemic forced the Arizona Historical Society to close […]