Mesa Historical Museum

The Mesa Historical Museum is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that records and tells the stories of Mesa residents, past and present. Through creative exhibitions and programming, the museum educates, inspires, and engages the Mesa community in our local history and culture.

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. The Museum is housed in the old Lehi school building. The original Lehi School, built on land donated to the Lehi Settlers by the Rogers family in the 1880s, was a one-room adobe building (similar to the replica in front of the museum). The little community had outgrown the adobe school house by the early 1910's and constructed the current building in 1913.

Many years of improvements were not enough to save the school and it was closed by the Mesa School District in 1976. Slated for destruction, school officials discovered it would be more expensive to tear down the school buildings, due to the sturdy construction of the auditorium, than rebuild on the site. The City of Mesa purchased the site and resold it to the Mesa Historical Museum in 1986.

Currently, the museum has permanent exhibits showcasing Mesa's pioneer history and the birth of spring training in Arizona as well as rotating exhibits that are changed annually. The museum also hosts school field trips, an annual Historic Home Tour every winter, and a Historic Cemetery Tour every fall.

Testimonials

"It is so authentic with amazing artifacts inside and out. I loved the one room school house as well as the equipment scattered outdoors. It is so worth visiting and the fee is nominal. Excellent job." Linda B.

"What a great little gem tucked inside a historic school building. We had such a nice time. The exhibits are so well done and we enjoyed visiting with staff there." -Pam S.

"An incredible piece of history. The historical building is being honored in a wonderful fashion. The exhibits are small but pack a huge punch. Very detailed exhibits provide a great learning experience for any age, take advantage of this gem before the masses find this treasure." -Nick C.

"A well thought and beautifully curated collection of Mesa and its history. I can't wait to see what they are able to do with the space. It's a lot like Mesa, it's not big and flashy, It's charming and unassuming." -Jacquelyn P.