Story of the Unknown Soldier
May 20, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

 

Almost exactly a year ago today, Matthew Scott’s hosted the CCMP: The Story of the Unknown Soldier.

His presentation focused on the ‘Selection and Burial of the First Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery. It was, to say the least, a riveting program as he described the emotion-wrenching process by which the first real unknown soldier from the battlefields of France was selected, the accolades from France and all the world heaped on this anonymous soldier who represented the thousands of unnamed men who fell in battle, and the pomp and ceremony that accompanied the soldier’s reunification with his homeland and interment in the crypt at Arlington National Cemetery.

Matthew’s research includes the use of a report documented by his grandfather, who was a clerk in the Cemetery Division of the Department of War, and who was directed to document the details of the ceremony in France and the burial in Arlington in November of 1921.

This stirring presentation was the catalyst for the Veterans’ Memory Garden that will be sited on the Cave Creek Museum ground as a trip and show of appreciation to all that served and sacrificed in the name of our country. Groundbreaking was February 28, 2023 and it is anticipated that the dedication will take place on December 7, 2023.   

Do consider joining us for this wonderful "Unknown Soldier" event. Click HERE to purchase your ticket(s). Museum members are free, but must register to hold a seat.

 

 

Later, the prospect of gold in Cave Creek attracted Mr. Hellings’ entrepreneurial spirit and he became one of the most important founders and investors in early Cave Creek. In 1873, with his new-found wealth, Mr. Hellings hired 50 men and built the first Cave Creek Road from Phoenix to Cave Creek.

In 1876, Mr. Hellings purchased several mines on Continental Mountain, including the Continental Mine (hence the Mountain’s name). He also purchased The Golden Star Mine, later called The Golden Reef Mine (the second ten-stamp mill at this mine is found at the Cave Creek Museum). The Golden Star Mining Corporation was soon established, and it was the first mine in the area to be capitalized with the sale of stocks, $10 million dollars in this case, just under $300 million dollars in 2023 dollars. He purchased the first ten-stamp mile on Continental Mountain for $35,000, over one-million dollars in 2023 dollars.

Hellings’ thriving Continental Mountain mining-colony included an assay office, dining room, quarters for the miners, a saloon, and … Cave Creek’s first store.
 

Hello Friends,

May always brings mixed feelings and a sense of wistfulness knowing the end of our Cave Creek Museum season is near.

The Museum celebrated a spectacular 2022-2023 Season. Our bright and shining star was The Arizona GOLD MINING EXPERIENCE!  The ever-amazing Dream Team presented this program to sell-out crowds. Most “Cave Creek Museum Presents” programs were also sell-outs, thanks to a diverse and impressive roster of speakers. Our Kiwanis’ Family Fun Days programs entertained and educated families, with several partnered and enhanced by the Desert Awareness Committee. Our two annual fundraisers were fun and successful, thanks to the passion and hard work of coordinators and volunteers. And, let's not forget the ground breaking of our Veterans Memory Garden! All in all, the Museum welcomed 4,000+ visitors from 83 Arizona zip codes, 46 states and 10+ foreign countries. Kids’ programs and school tours engaged over 750 young people.

But, don’t think we rest on our laurels during the summer months. The Museum will be a-bustle planning and preparing for the 2023-2024 season. Exhibits and

programs will be refreshed and renewed, especially with the assistance of our Education Committee. Our annual fundraisers will be tweaked to the next level. Plus, we’ll be taking huge strides integrating technology into our exhibits, thanks to the awesome skill-set of our new Museum Administrator, Kelley Francis Brown.

I invite you, our community, to be part of our passion preserving the history and culture of Cave Creek. There’s a place for you on one of our many rewarding committees. If you have a skill, a talent, and a desire to enrich your days, we have a place for you. No specific amount of time is required, and many tasks can be accomplished remotely. You learn so much, meet lots of friends, and become part of the Museum Family.

Thank you so much for continuing your love and support of the Cave Creek Museum through membership, donations and volunteering your time. Viva Cave Creek!

Darlene Southern, President
Cave Creek Museum Board of Directors

Letter from the Desk of Evelyn Johnson:

Dear Cave Creek Museum Family,

May is Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, and end-of-school days!
 
We are busy preparing the closing events for the season and making plans for next season at the same time. It seems only yesterday it was October and we opened the front doors. Our programs and events have been well attended. All our offerings to the community could not have been accomplished without our volunteers. Many hands make light the work of many events! 
 
May presents three signature events for you to join and 20 more days to visit the museum for this season. Please be sure to sign up for any events that are of interest to you soon.
 
As the season comes to a close, the Museum enters a new phase as we say farewell and “Happy Retirement,” to Jo Ann. A special thank you to her for her dedication and her tireless gifts of

Carol Ann Anderson
"Tell Us About It"

“I am a retired  teacher, but my love of education never retired. My time volunteering with the museum’s school tours and other educational enrichment programs keeps me actively involved," says Carol Ann Anderson, volunteer since 2021. "Through volunteering with the Cave Creek Museum, I can keep in touch with what I love about teaching, making connections, and taking an active part in the curriculum. That I can still reach them, instill a love of history, spark their curiosity, see the excitement when something clicks, when they say 'So, it’s real,' as opposed to virtual games, for me that makes for a great day!”

Cave Creek Museum is a “living” history museum. Our mission is the collecting and preserving of the artifacts of the Cave Creek Mining District and the surrounding community. But, each object in our collection, whether on exhibit in our galleries or safeguarded in our archives, has a story to tell. Every pot carries the finger markings of its Hohokam creator. Every mining deed, scrapbook, or survey map is a page in the story of a pioneer’s dream of a better life.

History is storytelling and Carol Ann, as well as all our other amazing volunteers, has a few stories to tell. 

~

Our collections volunteer, Sarah Ziker, has taken a break from museum duties while she serves as the state vice-regent for the Daughters of the American Revolution. The DAR, a non-profit, non-political service organization, has members who trace their ancestry back to the American Revolution. The DAR promotes historic preservation, education, and patriotism. 

Sarah started doing genealogy to help make a personal connection to history at a time when her son was young. Researching records to discover links to early American history was an unexpected surprise. Sarah joined the DAR to honor and preserve the memory of her patriotic ancestors.

Over the past few months, Sarah has visited chapters across the state, rode in the Phoenix Veteran's Day Parade, welcomed home veterans on the Honor Flight, and laid a wreath at the state capital during Wreaths Across America.

We wish Sarah all the best in her DAR experiences and hope to have her back with the museum soon.
 

 

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