A Day at the Museum

Denny and I have been coming to this area of Arizona for five years but we had never stopped at the Superstition Mountain Museum. Yesterday, we rectified that mistake.

The museum is located on Apache Trail (Rt. 88) east of Apache Junction and is housed in an unassuming little building. This year your eye will be caught by the bright white church building sitting on the grounds, which turned out to be one of the two buildings from the Apacheland Movie Ranch that didn't burn to the ground in a fire that occurred in 2004. If you see the church, you know you're at the right place.

The museum is staffed by knowledgeable and friendly volunteers who will charge you $4 per person (senior price, $5 adults) and give you a little bit of history before you walk through the gated entrance to the museum. As you wander through the museum you'll find sections on the geological formations of the Superstition Mountains, a display of mounted animals native to this area, a display about Jacob Waltz's Lost Dutchman mine that included several hand drawn maps purporting to show the location of his mine based on information he gave and stone "maps" that were located within the valley. There's also a display of gold ore removed from the various gold mines that were once located in the Goldfield area which I found quite interesting because the ore doesn't look at all like gold. Throughout the museum there are small tape players with brief bits of information about the displays--be sure to listen to the one about the native animals with the recording of the sound of the roadrunner.

When you've finished reading all the information available inside, it's time to wander the grounds to the rear of the museum. There is a short walking trail with a great view of the Superstitions as well as the huge ore crushing machine that was moved from New Mexico for display here. The staff is rebuilding what is called "The Rifleman" barn on the grounds which is the other building that was donated from the Apacheland Movie Ranch. There seems to be a difference of opinion on whether or not the TV series "The Rifleman" was filmed at Apacheland, but to be sure the barn was seen in several Westerns.

That small white chapel? It's called the Elvis Chapel due to the fact that Elvis' one "cowboy" movie used the church--the church steeple was blown up in the movie "Charro". There is a volunteer stationed inside at all times to give you a brief history of the building and of the Apacheland Movie Ranch.

If you stop by the Superstition Mountain Museum, you'll certainly get your money's worth from your entrance fee. The 20 Stamp Mill, an ore crusher which took five men 28 days to disassemble and move to Apache Junction from New Mexico. The museum hopes to one day restore it to full working order.


The Elvis Chapel on the grounds of the museum. While the original building was more of a "false front" the chapel has been rebuilt with a sturdy frame to be used for display. The chapel has hosted a couple weddings since being moved onto the grounds here.


This gallows was used in many a cowboy movie from the 50s.