The History of Pioneer Village

The documents, pictures and interviews found in this collection were gathered from various sources.  The archives at Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum offer scrapbook pages, newsletters, and slides from the 1960’s-1970’s when the Pioneer Arizona founders made it their mission to save and preserve buildings representing different regions of Territorial Arizona. The documents and photos also show the original ambitious plans to research and build reproduction buildings that demonstrate pioneer trades and how those plans were implemented.  With the support of notable politicians such as Barry Goldwater, Carl Hayden and Wesley Bolin, Pioneer Village was formed.

Recently, Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum has been reaching out to the families of the pioneers who lived in the homes now located in Pioneer Village.  The museum has collected interviews, stories, and images to better understand the people who once lived in the rough log cabins, the charming farm house, and other buildings that make up the Village. Also, the people who have devoted their time, talents and resources in building such a grand preservation effort are documented here.  Pictures are from 2018-2020 are also included to see how the historic buildings look fifty years after the museum was built.

For more Pioneer Village History, see the "Pioneer Arizona Wagon Train Report", a newsletter published in the 1960's by the Pioneer Arizona Foundation, documenting the work of the Foundation and the creation of the Village. The newsletter includes Foundation news, volunteer work, and the receipt and construction of several buildings on the property.