July 28, 2020 recognizes the 154th anniversary of the passage of the Army Reorganization Act. This act, which reorganized the US military following the Civil War, created both the Buffalo Soldiers and Indian Scouts. Both Black and Indigenous people served in the US Armed Forces before 1866, but this act was the first time they […]

On July 15th, 1948, Native American suffrage was finally passed with the Arizona Supreme Court overturning the case of Porter v. Hall, a case where Arizona Native Americans unsuccessfully sued for the right to vote. This gave the Indigenous population of Arizona the right to vote. This historic day came into fruition after decades of […]

Fourth of July celebrations are interwoven in Flagstaff’s cultural traditions since 1876. Townspeople honored the day with parades, games, speeches, and rodeo. Organizers within the Elks’ Club put on the annual Fourth of July show “The Days of ’49” that included a parade of vehicles, floats, marching bands, and costumed groups holding banners. Fourth of […]

During these historic times, Arizona students are making history by sharing the past… one project at a time. The Arizona Historical Society (AHS) congratulates the 58 Arizona students who competed against thousands of students all over the world at the National History Day® (NHD) Virtual Contest June 14-20, 2020. Middle school (junior division) and high […]

The Arizona Historical Society (AHS) is proud to honor Delia Muñoz and the Superstition Mountain Historical Society with the 2020 Al Merito Awards. Both award recipients were recognized virtually at the Annual Arizona Historical Society Membership Meeting on June 30. Dr. James Burns, Executive Director of the Arizona Historical Society said, “Congratulations to Delia Muñoz […]

Dear Members & Friends of Arizona History, We hope that you and your families are safe and staying well. We know many of you have been looking forward to visiting our museums and libraries. Please be advised that as of Tuesday, June 30, Arizona History Museum in Tucson and the Arizona Heritage Center at Papago Park in Tempe will […]

Today is Día de San Juan, or the Feast of St. John the Baptist. In addition to being an important feast day for Catholics, Día de San Juan also marks the beginning of monsoon season. There are a few possible origin stories for the connection between St. John and the monsoons: one suggests that Francisco […]

On June 19, 1865 Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas and brought word that the Civil War had ended and enslaved persons were free. The newly freed men and women celebrated, left the plantations, and sought their long-lost family members. Juneteenth, the name derived from the month and date, […]

Important Update: June 30, 2020 As of June 30, 2020, the Arizona Historical Society has temporarily closed the Arizona History Museum and Arizona Heritage Center. Please read the latest news posted on June 30. — June 5, 2020 The Arizona Historical Society is excited to welcome you back into our museums. For more than 150 […]

Across Arizona and the country, Americans are expressing their anguish and anger over the death of George Floyd, and the senseless loss of other Black American lives. Understanding history matters more than ever in times like these. It helps us understand and contextualize current events. History can also teach us to be more empathetic. As […]