About Us
For hundreds of years Native Americans lived where Florence is today. Much later Anglo and Hispanic settlers grew grain and raised cattle for nearby military forts. In 1875 when silver was discovered in the nearby mountains, the town became a boomtown. That Florence was the county seat and the location as of 1909 of the Arizona Territorial/State Prison contributed colorful events to the town's history.
The exhibits in the three galleries of this museum help preserve this Western heritage. Cowboy and ranch life are represented in the saddle, barbed wire, and rodeo displays. The rodeo exhibit highlights Florence's early connection to the Madison Square Garden rodeos and to the town's junior rodeo now in its 77th year. There is also a display of items relating to the career of Tom Mix who died in an automobile accident south of Florence.
The Hohokam exhibit displays artifacts like those found in an archaeological dig just west of town. Native crafts of the Tohono O’odham, Pima, Maricopa, and Apache tribes are exhibited including rare 19th Century Apache deerskin playing cards.
Unusual furniture created of cactus wood by Fred E. White and R.A. Perry are contained in a popular exhibit. White created decorative items and sturdy furniture from cholla wood one hundred years ago. In the mid 20th Century Perry designed and built furniture from saguaro trunks, ribs, and roots. At one time the Phoenix Biltmore Hotel had a suite of this furniture.
Florence's strong Hispanic heritage is represented in the museum.Especially notable is the display about Gus Arriola and his comic strip Gordo. Gus spent his early years in Florence, and his life in this Arizona town influenced his work. A display of firearms includes rifles from the Civil and Apache Wars.
A unique display shows a collection of over 500 different types of bullets.
Frontier justice is the subject of two displays. There is an exhibit of artifacts from the 1891 Pinal County Courthouse, scene of many trials, some of note. The prison display includes 25 nooses for the 28 hangings at the prison, chaps and belt made by the notorious Power brothers, and early prison record books. The museum has a large archive of prison materials.
Pioneer families, early commercial enterprises, mining equipment, even a shoot-out between an ex-sheriff and his deputy on the streets of Florence are also subjects of display at this rural museum. The museum has a library and an extensive archive. Books about local topics are for sale.
Living just north of Chicago is slowing my research down just a bit. I am looking for pictures or plans for making rifle racks as seen in many western movies. Any help would be appreciated.