Updated: 1/1/2020 
Clarkdale Historical Society and Museum
Clarkdale, Arizona
Description

The Clarkdale Historical Society and Museum was established as a museum housed in the town’s former clinic building built by United Verde Copper Company. The clinic was built in 1918 to serve the smelter workers and their families.

Mission

Through its collections, public programs and preservation activities, the mission of CHSM is to foster a deep understanding and appreciation of Clarkdale’s and the region’s rich history as well as support economic development and contribute to a higher quality of life for its citizens.

History

CHSM was established in 2003 and opened its doors in 2008. Its staff is an all volunteer effort to tell the story of the copper smelter and the story of Clarkdale, the first masterplanned company town in Arizona.

Artifact Collections

Artifacts include UVCC ledgers used in conducting business, providing utilities, building and home maintenance records of rentals occupied by smelter workers and white collar employees. The nearby Clark Memorial Clubhouse is available for tours and rental upon application.

Cataloguing and preserving records and artifacts is time-consuming and costly. Volunteers are always needed to serve as hosts in the museum or at special events or to help with specific projects, such as our annual home tours and our Sentimental Journey big band dances.

Research Collections

A survey was conducted in 1989 of the complete townsite with recognition given to those houses which contributed to the historic district. An additional survey is available which was completed by the Phelps Dodge Corporation upon closure of the mine in Jerome and the smelter in Clarkdale in 1950.

Programs

CHSM offers exhibits on the early Native Americans of the area, the copper smelting process, early geologic diagrams, artifacts from the Clark Memorial Clubhouse, early businesses and blueprints. Many docents were born or raised in Clarkdale and attended the Clarkdale schools.

Governance

A board of directors governs the activities, finances, operation, volunteers, collections, and all programs offered by CHSM. It meets monthly on the third Wednesday.

Library

Access: Staff Only, Members

Appointment required: False

Services
Bookstore

We would appreciate having you join us in this important community effort by becoming a member of the society or by making a contribution to the museum. Membership is available at varying levels, with benefits including discounts on items from our bookstore and the ability to sign out a variety of materials from our reference library.

Gift Shop
Group Tours
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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

April 27 - April 29, 2025

Oregon Museum Association 2025 Conference

TBA

Independence, Oregon

Beginning in 2025, the OMA annual conference will be held in Spring rather than Fall

The conference this year is all about trying new things. We are hoping to organize the conference into the following four tracks: Collections Care, Leadership, Emergency Preparedness, and Tourism

Check our website for more details in early 2025

The OMA newsletter is emailed every month with updates on OMA events, museum news, other events, trainings, jobs, grants and more for the museum community in Oregon.

For more information, please email connect@oregonmuseums.org.

October 1 - October 4, 2025

Western Museums Association’s (WMA) 2025 Annual Meeting

TBA

Reno, Nevada

Save the Date for WMA 202

As we celebrate our 90th anniversary, join us to build relationships and soar higher than ever before. With the theme of ELEVATE, WMA 2025 will explore ways to lift up the experiences of cultural professionals and the communities they serve.

In Reno, Nevada, 4,400 feet above sea level, we will forward the progress of museums by looking to the future.

May 6 - May 9, 2025

2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) ANNUAL MEETING & MUSEUMEXPO

Los Angeles Convention Center

Los Angeles, California

AAM 2025 will focus on the theme, Museums & Trust.

Museums have long inspired high levels of public trust, surpassing news outlets, government organizations, researchers and scientists, corporations, and social media platforms. This consistent finding underscores our institutions’ unique position in society as stewards of knowledge, culture, science, and history—areas where credibility and reliability are paramount

In an era marked by mistrust and misinformation, museums have a rare ability to counterbalance the proliferation of false narratives and polarized perspectives. Using our trusted position, we can cultivate a more healthy, empathetic, and informed society.

But to do so, we must maintain our credibility proactively, embracing thoughtful, transparent, and collaborative practices that will defend against influences like bias, resource challenges, abuse of power, and social injustice

An Incredible MuseumExpo

AAM is again partnering this year with the Museum Store Association to host an incredible combined expo hall. Find the most innovative services, products, and solutions in the museum field. With 350 exhibitors, you are bound to find the right partner for your museum’s current challenges and opportunities.

May 5 - May 9, 2025

Museum Store Association FORWARD 2025 in LA

The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, California

Join MSA in LA

We’re excited about our next MSA FORWARD Conference & Expo in “The City of Angels” – Los Angeles, California in conjunction with the American Alliance of Museums

Join the Museum Store Association (MSA) and hundreds of nonprofit retail professionals for the 70th Annual MSA FORWARD Retail Conference & Expo, taking place May 5-9, 2025 at The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Once again, MSA FORWARD will be held in conjunction with the 2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Annual Meeting & Expo

Learn best practices and new ideas for store merchandising, operations, marketing, and sale

Participate in dedicated networking events and create connections that will inspire new ideas

Meet with over 200 MSA vendors about your product needs

Hear from knowledgeable industry experts during session breakouts and keynote presentations

Network with AAM attendees and exhibitor

September 10 - September 13, 2025

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

TBD

Cincinnati, Ohio

The 2025 AASLH Annual Conference, in partnership with Ohio Local History Alliance, will take place as the history field makes the final preparations to kickoff off the 250th commemoration of the founding of the United States.

The 2025 conference theme, inspired by AASLH’s Making History at 250: The Field Guide for Semiquincentennial, is an opportunity to broadly explore one of the guide’s themes, The American Experiment. For many in the American colonies in 1776, independence from Britain represented a “leap into the dark” into an unknown future

We are excited for you to join us in Cincinnati as we encourage discussion about our democracy and civic institutions and how they can help strengthen understanding, inspire action, and reveal ways that all of us can participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment.

For more information, please call 615-320-3203 or email info@aaslh.org.

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