This museum is fantastic! Each room is dedicated to a specific pioneer family or a period in the…read morepast history of the region. Because this is a small mountain city, there are many local families whose roots go back to the founding pioneers of the region. I was raised by my grandmother for most of my childhood and her farmhouse dated into the late 1800s so I was amazed to see many of the household items and tools that had also graced her home. One can easily spend hours at this museum, which whenever possible includes written placards telling you about the use of the item and the family that had originally had the item. It is definitely a place to take the whole family and it is not only entertaining but very educational.

If you can perfectly plan what a small museum for a town's history should be set up, just look at…read moreShow Low Historical Society Museum. A bunch of little rooms with each one having a different theme. As a patron, you hope something in a museum pulls you in. Mine ended up being the room on the Rodeo-Chediski fire. All through the museum, there is a nice combo of donations from locals, displays, write-ups, historical documents, a room with model trains running (perfect for kids) & a small gift shop with reasonably priced items (I bought autographed book on the fire for $5). Also, there is no charge for the museum so no reason for anyone not to check it out. I wish more towns had a quality museum like this one

I am so glad I stumbled on this museum and what rich history this museum has in the small town of…read moreGreer! The museum is only open in the summer and the hours are Thu Fri Sat from 10am - 3pm so I really lucked out to get to enjoy this place on a Friday afternoon. There are a few buildings that house this museum and one being the cabin of JW Schutz, who was a White American but moved to the Crowfeet Nation and later moved to Greer. His son, biracial, known as Lone Wolf was one of the first celebrated Native American artists. The cabin has a lot of history and the docent was very knowledgeable. She also told me about Lone Wolf's wife and how she also painted and beaded. JW Schultz was a writer and wrote some 33 books. I am currently reading his book, My Life as an Indian, as was suggested by the gift shop attendant. This museum also has a great gift shop attached and carrying lot of great books and butterfly items as this museum is known as the butterfly lodge and you will see plenty flying around. In the summer, on Saturdays, there is lots going on here and just check out their website to learn more. I was in town for Greer Days so got to enjoy the museum, gift shop, and also a jazz concert on Saturday night where thr museum also offered up food, hamburgers or brats. I absolutely loved this place and will be back again! And hopefully to close out summer here!!

What a beautiful place! I was guided by a very informative member with such history and…read moreinspiration! The House Museum was done so well and looked original. The gift shop was also very welcoming and had many treasures. The local stories for this area are incredible too.

Supplies are just OK, jewelry and art are mostly fake, overpriced, and not made by the tribes they…read moreclaim, if even made by Natives ar all. The male owner sticks to you like glue and constantly pressures you to buy, while spinning so called expertise. Don't waste your time, buy direct from stores or artist on the Rez

Well, if you really like being dogged by a big mouth, thinks he knows it all, high-pressure…read moresalesman bent on getting you to buy expensive art and jewelry stuff you don't want, this is your place. Otherwise, no thanks! There are plenty of good and reputable Native Supply and Art Stores out there, this just isn't one of them.

"Dagot'ee" (Welcome) and "Ashoog" (Thank you)…read more These are the greetings in the White Mountain Apache Language that you will likely feel when you visit Fort Apache Historic Park for it is a captivating destination that unveils the rich tapestry of history. Walking its grounds connects one to what happened in the past. It was a military outpost in the late 19th century site from the 1800s. This park honors the legacy of a turning point in history between the Apaches and the US Cavalry. Exploring the preserved buildings from over a century ago, over twenty in total, tell their tales. A museum and cafe also sit among the remnants of an Indian boarding school run by the Bureau of Indian Education. Quarters that sheltered officers and barracks for the ranks, with an old graveyard too, show both hardships and triumphs of those who made this place home. Each structure recounts stories of the Apache and soldiers who coexisted through changing times. Today, Fort Apache stands as proof of history that came and links cultures still alive. If you love history like me and want to learn about the life of the Apache tribe from the past to the present, this should not be missed. I, myself, frequent the park every time I pick up my mails since the post office is housed in one of the old structures. Outside the post office, you can also pet friendly dogs of families staying in those barracks. They love to get some treats too.

Fort Apache is a "must see" for those desiring to learn more about western expansion in the 1800s…read more Many buildings are well-restored and so many others remain from that period that you can imagine how the fort was "back in the day". Most interesting is that the Apaches welcomed the US Army into the stunning valley. One registers at the museum for a nominal fee and then you are free to roam all the property including the original site where the commanding officer lived as well as the continuously functioning US Post Office. And, do not miss lunch in the Arrowhead Cafe. The menu is brief but the food is yummy and freshly prepared. Adjoining the cafe is a shop for products made by Native Americans, even handmade clothes and fabrics to make some. We've lived the Arizona for 40 years and should have come much sooner. Also, a school has been on the property since 1920 and has been continuously occupied since then.

My girls and I just missed entering the Petrified Forest National Park near this entrance by about…read morean hour. So we paused at Crystal Forest Museum & Gifts for a while. Crystal Forest is not only a private gift shop NOT associated with the National Park, but they also a campground. Check this out if you are traveling with an RV or tent because Petrified and Painted Desert do not allow camping to my knowledge. The museum is near the RV parking area. A separate, larger gift shop is on the other side of the National Park entrance. I'm a fan of this shop because they sell a variety of petrified wood that you are not allowed to take from the parks. "Then how do they get the petrified wood?" My oldest asked me. I did not inquire about this with staff members. It was so dark and I knew I would be soon approaching winter storms, so I wanted to get back on the road. Restrooms were available. Arizona is more than just the Grand Canyon and Sedona... check this area out too!

Crystal Forest Museum & Gifts has a lot of interesting items that relate to the Petrified Forest…read moreand Painted Desert. This private gift shop is not part of the national park and is located outside the south entrance. They have a really nice collection of colorful petrified wood here. It is illegal to take petrified wood from the park, so this place is a great option to purchase some. Next to the gift shop is a campground with approximately 20 spots. Most sites have sheltered picnic tables. You can camp with an RV, tent or sleep in one of their teepees. Just check with the gift shop for availability. There is no camping inside Petrified Forest National Park, so this is your best option.

My husband & I participated in the tour of Casa Malpais. All we can say is, WOW!! What a hidden…read moretreasure! How come we never heard of this amazing site before?!?! Our tour guide, John, was fantastic. He shared facts mixed in with humor and theories of these ancient people. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

The Casa Malpais museum is in the Springerville Heritage Center. There are 4 museums in the center…read more Admission to Casa Malpais museum is free. It is a small museum with beautiful artifacts from the Casa Malpais site. Museum hours are Monday-Saturday, 8 am-4 pm (year-round). Site Tours run Tuesday - Saturday from March through November. Tour Times are 9 am & 1 pm-weather permitting. There is a limit of 14 people per tour. You go to the site in a van because they have it closed to protect the site because it's locked to protect the site. Tours are closed on some holidays and there are some sold out dates. Check the website or call for specifics. We took the tour which starts at the museum with a film explaining the site and has and introduction by Hopi and Zuni elders. It explains what will happen on the tour and what you need (good hiking shoes, hat and water. The fee for the tour is $10 for adults, $8.00 for seniors and $5.00 for youth under 18 yrs old. Jeff Fisher did our tour. He was a wealth of knowledge about the site and gave us so much information. We really enjoyed it and you can really tell he cares about the site. He helped us imagine how life was at the site. The site includes an astronomical calendar, a great kiva, ancient stairways and rock art from the Mogollon culture. The hike is about a mile going uphill 150 feet in elevation (though it seemed much more) and includes some steep, rocky sections. The tour takes approximately 2 to 2.5 hours to complete. I highly recommend this tour. We have already planned on returning next year.

It's my happy place. If you're a type A personality this might not be a good fit. If you like to…read moreunplug (no internet), take walks on an open range, read, run with your dog off leash, roam the earth, enjoy the stream... this may be your dream spot. No online reservations... a large paper calendar is used. Just relax... breathe... enjoy.

We've stopped here a few times when in the area and recently we had a vacation in Greer so decided…read moreto come and see what kind of goodies the store had. Ended up getting some blueberry jam, which is so good! The property here is beautiful and our pups loved running and rolling in all of the green grass. Had the chance to briefly talk with Wink, which is always a pleasure! Wonderful place to visit and hang out and they are available for events, etc.!

This museum is worth a trip before or after you get your "Standin' on the Corner" statue photo, or…read moreon your way to the famous La Posada. Winslow is a charming town with nice, very welcoming people who appreciate your visit. The Old Trails Museum highlights the area's history and unique characters who made this town their home. But a real gem is the small but very well-stocked gift store focusing on Hopi and Navajo art. Prices are exceptional and your purchase helps both a local Native artist as well as a not-for-profit cultural institution. Take a breath, get off the Interstate, go downtown and enjoy this unique Western community. Some parts of the town may look like it is stuck in the Fifties, but in this frenetic, distracted, over-stressed society, maybe that is not all that bad while we are on a vacation! Stand on the corner and enjoy Winslow!

If you want to know the history of Windlow, this little museum is the place to find out. They have…read moremany artifacts and historical descriptions. The person working there was very knowledgeable and informative. The museum is small and only allows 6 people in at a time. The door is locked but will be opened to let people in a few at a time. I love how you are greeted by a giant gopher snake as you enter the museum.

Great museum! Lots of history. Enjoyed looking at all the great displays and the jail where they…read moreheld the prisoners until trial.

Unfortunately, there's not much for the Route 66 traveler in Holbrook (although locals were…read moreprobably strongly disagree), but there is this free museum, housed at the old courthouse. Admittingly, I was only there to get my Route 66 passport stamped. But the lady encouraged me to look around, and there was a lot of cool artifacts and information about the city of Holbrook. Plan on about 20-30 minutes here as there are many rooms to explore the town's history. The museum is free, but donations are accepted. They also have plenty of souvenirs, especially Route 66 ones.

This roadside attraction isn't cheap but it delivers. You want to see where a meteor hit old…read morePlanet Earth and left a giant crater? Well, I do, and that's exactly what you get. I don't know why so many Yelpers refer to this business as a "scam." The name of the business is METEOR CRATER and that is what you get to see. What exactly were you expecting? Make sure you take the free tour. If you don't take the tour, I just don't know what to say. Inside the main building, there is a decent area with exhibits you can peruse and check out the history of other meteors that hit the earth. Some of the other meteors left craters far, far bigger than this one. Our tour was about an hour long or so--I cannot remember how long exactly--but you get to walk along the rim and hear interesting stories about all the mining efforts inside the crater and the loonies who have fallen in and so on. Even a plane crashed inside this thing. Again, make sure you take the tour. We didn't have time to watch the free movie, although I wish I had done so. There is also a separate area of young kids. There are several free looking devices (you know, those stationary binocular type things) outside the main structure where you can look into the crater. Those are fun to use. Yes, this is expensive but this is also a roadside attraction that is worth the detour. Plan on spending about two hours here. They also have a little cafe with food and booze (including espresso martinis, for goodness sake), if you really want or need to get liquored up in the middle of nowhere, I guess.

We made a stop at Meteor Crater during our road trip, one of those places you feel like you should…read moresee at least once. And to be fair... it is impressive. It's exactly what it sounds like, a massive crater, and there are some interesting exhibits and information that make it a neat, educational stop (especially for kids). The staff was also very friendly, and the clerk at the front desk was especially welcoming, which we appreciated. That said, if I'm being completely honest, the price point was hard to justify. At $29 per person, it felt very steep for the overall experience. For what's offered, something in the $12-$15 range would feel much more reasonable. I'm glad we saw it, for us it was one of those "check it off the list" places, but not something I would personally return to or go out of my way to recommend at the current price.