Scottsdale Historical Museum

The mission of the Scottsdale Historical Society is to present, preserve, and interpret through research, exhibits, and educational programming, the prehistory, history, and cultural heritage of Scottsdale and the Southwest.

The Scottsdale Historical Society is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization that serves as the primary historical resource for the greater Scottsdale community.  Our goals are to promote community awareness of the rich and varied history of Scottsdale and serve as the principle curator of historical records and artifacts. In partnership with the city of Scottsdale, the Society serves as the operating entity for the Scottsdale Historical Museum in the Little Red Schoolhouse.  The Society connects with other historical organizations and resources in the greater Scottsdale area and the state of Arizona, providing a forum for discussion, exploration and refinement of the history of Scottsdale and its closely related environs.

In July of 1968, hearing that the City of Scottsdale was considering demolishing the Little Red Schoolhouse building, a group of “Old Timers” gathered together as the embryonic Scottsdale Historical Society and led a petition drive to save the building.  The drive resulted in petitions with over 1,500 signatures that were presented to the City Council in the Fall of 1968.  The City Council agreed to save the building.

In December of 1969, the Scottsdale Historical Society was incorporated.  The following April of 1970, this newly formed Society was designated by the City of Scottsdale as the official Historical Society of the City of Scottsdale.

During the 1970s and 1980s, the Society met regularly, conducted presentations on the history of Scottsdale, and created small museum displays in spaces donated by local businesses, including at the former Loloma School, the office buildings at the northeast corner of Scottsdale and Indian School Roads and at offices at the northwest  corner of Via de Ventura.

In the Fall of 1991, the Scottsdale Historical Society opened the Scottsdale Historical Museum in the Little Red Schoolhouse.  It has occupied and managed this facility for almost 30 years.  The Museum has hosted thousands of visitors, civic groups and school children over the decades.