Arizona Historical Society

Happy Valentine's (and Statehood) Day! 💘 🌵

These charming Valentine's postcards from 1906 and 1908 are part of the Arizona Historical Society's archives. Two of them were sent in 1906 to a young boy named Harold Goderey.

Which one is your favorite? 💌

#ValentinesDay #ArizonaHistory #Archiveslove

💙 It's #GivingTuesday!
Today, your generosity helps us preserve AZ's stories for communities across the state. If you believe in the power of history to connect, inspire, & educate, we invite you to support our mission today.
🔗 bit.ly/440gX4j

🧵🎉 Quilt Fiesta is back– celebrating 50 years!
Join us & the Tucson Quilters Guild on Feb 19-21 at the Pima County Fairgrounds for hundreds of quilts, judged shoes, vendors, raffles, & more.
More info: TucsonQuilterGuild.com
#TucsonEvents #quilting #quiltingcommunity #specialexhibit

The Poli'ini is more than a hairstyle, it represents cultural knowledge, girlhood, & the Hopi path from childhood to adulthood.
📸: c. 1938, photo of Hopi Maiden Sunbeam Namingha, REF: 100-0006136; c. 1938, Hopi mother dressing daughter's hair, REF: 100-0006138; REF: 100-0006141

The whorls are created by drawing the hair out to each side & coiling it into round, shallow shapes, traditionally with the help of a wooden frame or form to keep the structure even. The final shape is both practical & deeply symbolic—an expression of Hopi identity passed down through generations.

The hairstyle is shaped into large rounded side whorls that resemble butterfly wings, symbolizing beauty, vitality, & the transition into adulthood. In Hopi teachings, this style is worn by unmarried girls/maidens & signifies that they are preparing for future roles within their families & community

During Native American Heritage Month, we're honored to highlight the Hopi Poli'ini—often called the "Butterfly Whorl" or "Squash Blossom Whorl" hairstyle—worn traditionally by unmarried Hopi girls & young women.
#Hopi #ButterflyWhorls #SquashBlossomWhorls #Hopiculture #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth

#OnThisDay of Arizona history, Tucson launched a drive in 1929 for funds to preserve historic Fort Lowell but money was tight and the effort ended with the building of an adobe wall. This undated photo shows the ruins of the fort.
📸: c. 1920s, Buehman Studios, REF: B113637
#ArizonaHistory #Tucson

On Veterans Day, and throughout Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month, we honor Indigenous veterans and their extraordinary contributions to our nation's history.

#VeteransDay #IndigenousPeoplesHeritageMonth #NavajoCodeTalkers #dinélanguage

Today, on Veterans Day, we honor the service and sacrifice of all U.S. Veterans.

During WWII, Navajo Marines developed an unbreakable code based on the Diné language. This code helped secure Allied victory in the Pacific.

📸: c. 1930s, REF #: 44077
#ArizonaHistory #Cowboys #vintagephotography

#OnThisDay of Arizona History, the forerunner of the Rodeo Cowboys Association, The Cowboys Turtle Association, was formed in 1936 by 61 cowboys. Everett Bowman, then of Hillside, Arizona, was named the first president. This undated portrait shows Bowman on horseback.

Show your support! Please support my important cause!

If you would like to support the Arizona Heritage Center's recovery and help preserve Arizona's history, please visit: bit.ly/4hK17Av . Thank you for standing with us as we preserve our shared history. 💛

Show your support! Please support my important cause!

While our doors are closed, our work continues caring for collections, restoring damaged spaces, and preparing to reopen stronger than ever. We can't wait to welcome you back on January 6, 2026, and continue sharing Arizona's story with you.

The Arizona Heritage Center will be temporarily closed from November 10, 2025 to January 5, 2026, for major repairs following recent storms that caused flooding and infrastructure damage throughout the museum.

#ArizonaHeritageCenter #TempeAZ #ArizonaHistory #PreserveArizona #AHS

Happy #NationalCatDay! 🐾 Meet Roy Blue and Lawrence from Tombstone, AZ — though we aren't entirely sure who's who! We'll let you decide which one's the cat. 🐱

📸: c. 1920s-1930s, REF: 100-0006204

#ArizonaHistory #HistoricalCats

#OnThisDay of AZ History in 1933, Isabella Greenway was elected Arizona's first female member of Congress. This 1932 photo shows Greenway at the Democratic Convention in Chicago where she was Democratic National Committeewoman for Arizona.
📸REF: 10882
#ArizonaHistory #Womenshistory

📣On Thursday, October 16th, Raising Cane's is donating 15% of sales from participating locations to support NHD AZ!

Mention National History Day AZ at checkout or use code RCFUND96 on app/online orders between 3-9 PM.

Help students bring history to life!❤️
#NHD #NationalHistoryDay #RaisingCanes

☕Happy #InternationalCoffeeDay
Coffee breaks have long fueled AZ's history of ranching & riding. This photo shows riders on the trail near Tubac, having coffee before heading into the Coronado National Forest.
📸: Western Ways Collection REF:100-0001820
#ArizonaHistory #WesternWays #Cowboys #Coffee

Grand Canyon Airlines publicity shot near the Navajo Reservation.
📸: 1929, The Ruth Reinhold Aviation Collection, REF: RRA-AMP071
#ArizonaHistory #aviation #Navajo

Today is Sandra Day O'Connor Civics Celebration Day! ⚖

📸: c. 1955, young Sandra Day O'Connor in an apartment in Frankfort, Germany, PP MS 42_Day Family Collection, REF: 100-0002688

#ArizonaHistory #SandraDayOConnor #CivicsCelebrationDay #WomensHistory

Arizona is home to 22 sovereign Tribal Nations. We encourage you to explore the museums, cultural centers, and events hosted by Native communities to learn more & support their ongoing work!

📸: 1886, Left to right: Yanozha, Chappo (Geronimo's son), Fun, Geronimo, REF: PC19_78153

At AHS, we are honored to care for collections that reflect these histories and to share them in collaboration with Tribal communities.

📸: 1938, Hopi Pueblo Indian Mother Dressing Daughters Hair in the Hopi Maiden Squash Blossom Style, REF: 100-0006138

Indigenous peoples have lived on this land since time immemorial. Their stories continue to shape Arizona today.

📸: 1938, Navajo Indians carding wool and rug weaving in Native summer Hogan, REF: 100-0006131

#NativeAmericanDay #ArizonaHistory #IndigenousPeoplesHistory

Missed our Summer History Talks? ☀📚
Good News— you can now watch the full series for free on YouTube!

Start watching here: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

✨ Don't forget to subscribe to our channel for more Arizona History content!

#ArizonaHistory #VirturalProgram #SpanishperiodinArizona

✨️ Just your typical day in the archives ✨️

#archives #museumjobs #history

#OnThisDay of Arizona history in 1926, the Tucson Landmarks Association acquired the site of the Wishing Shrine, or El Tiradito, on Main Street. This undated photo shows a woman sitting in front of the shrine.
📸: c. 1920s, REF: 27597
#ArizonaHistory #ElTiradito #WishingShrine #Tucson

On this solemn anniversary, my we reflect on the unity that carried us through those dark days, and recommit ourselves to caring for and protecting one another.

🕯 We will never forget.

As she explained, "Wearing patriotic t-shirts was all that some Tucsonans felt they could do." For her, transforming those shirts into a quilt was a way to document Tucson's grief, compassion, and hope in the aftermath of tragedy.

This quilt was created by a U of A nursing student, Caroline Ellermann, during her last semester. After the attacks, she stitched together this piece as an expression of solidarity with the victims, their families, and the 1st responders who risked and gave everything that day.