Mesa Historical Museum

Housed in a 1913 school building, the Mesa Historical Museum features an extensive collection of pioneer memorabilia and antique farm equipment. After getting its start in the 1940's, the Mesa Historical Museum was incorporated in 1966 by citizens concerned about the preservation of Mesa’s rich history. They endured difficulties in finding a place for their growing collections, finally finding a home in the old City Hall. This is now the Arizona Museum of Natural History. Disagreements about the direction of the museum in the 1980s led the Historical Museum to break away and create their own museum. As the names make clear, the Arizona Museum of Natural History focuses on the natural history of the region (including archaeology and paleontology), while the Mesa Historical Museum is dedicated to the exploring and preserving regional heritage.