The Eastern Arizona Museum & Historical Society of Graham County is happy to announce the 2023 Heritage Days to be held on 21st and 22nd of April. The theme is: “Eastern Arizona Museum – 60 years of Honoring Gila Valley Heritage”.
The activities planned for Friday the 21st are first, a quilt show to be held at the Cultural Hall of the “Old Pima Church.” (It is located just off the Main Highway driving through Pima very close to the Eastern Arizona Museum & Historical Society main museum building.) These are displays of quilts produced by Gila Valley people. The displays will be open on Friday from noon to 4:00pm, and again on Saturday from 9:00am to 2:00pm.
The second activity on the 21st will be the traditional BBQ dinner. This will once again be held at the Pima High School Cafeteria from 5:00 to 7pm. The menu includes homemade BBQ beef and beans, with Coleslaw and a Roll. Homemade Root Beer and water are the drinks. And of course, there’s homemade Texas Sheetcake for dessert. Where else could you get that kind of a meal for $10 for those twelve years and older? Children six to eleven years old are $7 while children five years and younger can eat free!
On Saturday, April 22nd there are six activities for families to enjoy:
The first activity at the Willman Mons Carter Farm Museum is the 7am flag raising performed by the American Legion.
The second activity will be the Cowboy Breakfast, also at the Farm Museum, and will begin right after the flag raising. This will be the traditional Cowboy Breakfast with Pancakes, Bacon, Eggs, Sausage gravy, Dutch oven biscuits and an orange drink, all produced by volunteers at the location. This breakfast is an amazing price of $6.00 per plate for those 12 and older. The price for those 11 and under is $4.00. The breakfast will end at 9 am or when the food runs out. All monies will go toward replacing the Carter Farm Museum roof, and any other donations will happily be accepted. The roof has needed to be replaced for some time, and it is wonderful that this is the next project for the Museum. The last project was the air conditioning added to the Cluff hall and bank buildings of the museum.
After breakfast (about 9 am), the third activity will be the Raffle prize drawing. This year we have two lovely quilts in the raffle as well as jewelry and perhaps more if anyone else in the community would like to donate as well. The raffle will take place inside the Carter Museum. Raffle ticket purchase prices are: 1-$1, 6-$5, 13-$10 or 27 for $20. Tickets for the raffle may be purchased at the museum during the scheduled operating hours of Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10am to 3pm. One need not be present to win! For further questions: eamuseum1879@gmail.com or 928-485-9400.
In honor of 60 years of the Museums existence, our fourth activity, also inside the Carter Museum, will be displays of some Gila Valley family histories. Some names you may recognize are the Carter, Crockett, Merrill, Sanchez and Weech families who have agreed to create displays in honor of their heritages.
The fifth activity could be to tour the three buildings of the museum with your family. The main museum and drug store will be open to view from 10am to 3pm on the 21st and 22nd.
The last activity on Saturday the 22nd would be to tour the quilt display from 9am to 2pm if you were not able to attend on Friday.
