Things to do in Verde Valley, Verde Valley: The Best History Museums

January 31, 2022 Phylicia Berquist

Discover the best top things to do in Verde Valley, United States including Douglas Mansion, Jerome Historical Society Mine Museum, Sedona Heritage Museum, Jerome State Historic Park, Clemenceau Heritage Museum, John Bell Railroad Museum, Sedona Motion Picture Museum.
Restaurants in Verde Valley

1. Douglas Mansion

Route 89A, Jerome, Jerome, AZ +1 520-634-5381 http://azstateparks.com/Parks/JERO/index.html
Excellent
49%
Good
42%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 233 reviews

Douglas Mansion

This former home of a mining baron became a state park and a museum in 1965.

Reviewed By AZJoeW - Sun City, United States

The Douglas Mansion is the main feature of the Jerome State Historic Park. This is well worth the stop. It is a self-guided tour of the mansion and there is a 30-minute film about the history of Jerome, AZ. The views are also spectacular looking north towards Sedona. Unlike the rest of Jerome, parking here is easy.

2. Jerome Historical Society Mine Museum

200 Main St, Jerome, AZ 8631 +1 928-634-1066 [email protected] http://azstateparks.com/Parks/JERO
Excellent
41%
Good
47%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 224 reviews

Jerome Historical Society Mine Museum

Houses a collection of minerals and provides information about Jerome's mining past.

Reviewed By prescottmtngal - Prescott, United States

Went with friends. Add this to your day you will enjoy it. Very Friendly staff and nice gift shop with lots of copper items. Lots of local items to view.

3. Sedona Heritage Museum

735 Jordan Rd Jordan Historical Park, Sedona, AZ 86336-3576 +1 928-282-7038 [email protected] http://sedonamuseum.org/
Excellent
56%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 198 reviews

Sedona Heritage Museum

The Sedona Heritage Museum presents the history of the Sedona area, from post-Civil War days to the present. Located in Jordan Historical Park, the Museum is composed of 3 historic landmark buildings, a tent house replica, and a restored movie set building; exhibits of pioneer mementos, farm equipment, historic photos, and more can be found throughout the buildings and along the pathways of the park. Besides an encounter with history, it's a great place for a picnic lunch. And the beauty of Sedona's red rocks makes it a perfect location for a wedding ceremony.

Reviewed By loreneb298 - Hicksville, United States

What a great find worth the stop! We took the audio tour and learned so much about the town, the history and even the geology of the area. The people working there are so helpful and kind. The curators paid close attention to detail.

4. Jerome State Historic Park

100 Douglas Road, Jerome, AZ 86331 +1 928-634-5381 http://azstateparks.com/jerome/
Excellent
51%
Good
40%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 574 reviews

Jerome State Historic Park

The Douglas Mansion has been an eye-catching landmark in Jerome since 1916, when James S. Douglas built it on the hill just above his Little Daisy Mine. This former home is now a museum devoted to the history of the Jerome area and the Douglas family. The museum features photographs, artifacts and minerals in addition to a video presentation and a 3-D model of the town with its underground mines. There are more displays outside along with a picnic area offering a beautiful panoramic view of the Verde Valley.

Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States

My wife and I love to visit ghost towns, the remains of old mining camps in California, Montana, Nevada, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. One of our favorite stops is Jerome, Arizona, a 45-minute drive from Sedona, across the Verde Valley. Established in 1965, the Jerome State Historic Park has survived budget cuts that closed the park from February 27, 2009, to October 14, 2010. Today, it is open seven days a week thanks to additional funding by Yavapai County, the city of Jerome, the Jerome Historical Society and the Douglas family, which built the Douglas Mansion in 1916 that remains the major attraction in the park. The mansion was built by Jimmy Douglas, the head of a family of mining entrepreneurs, on a hill above his Little Daisy Mine. It features a museum with photographs of the family, the town of Jerome during its mining years, mining artifacts, minerals, antique mining equipment, a video detailing the history of the town and a 3-D reproduction of the town showing the mine shafts underneath the town. The mansion also features a wine cellar, billiard room, marble shower, steam heat and a central vacuum system which was much ahead of its time. Constructed of adobe bricks made on the site, the Douglas Mansion is the largest adobe structure in Arizona. Outside, a picnic area offers a panoramic view of the Verde Valley and Verde River and the Red Rocks of the Sedona/Oak Creek Canyon region. The mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

5. Clemenceau Heritage Museum

1 N Willard St, Cottonwood, AZ 86326-3651 +1 928-634-2868 [email protected] http://www.clemenceaumuseum.org/
Excellent
58%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
0%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 38 reviews

Clemenceau Heritage Museum

Reviewed By Maggie_NHam - Nottingham, United Kingdom

An interesting museum. Seems to be a former house turned school. Originally owned by a Frenchman, Colonel Clemenceau and bought by his friend Mr Douglas when he fell on hard times. The museum has a bit of bio info on the founder and also Mr Douglas. The museum has info on the origins of Cottonwood and mining in the area. Also, artefacts from 1920s/30s onwards, such as domestic appliances, business and telecoms equipment, bit of jewellery, clothing. And there's a school room. There's also a fab railway museum built 25 years ago by enthusiasts displaying the 7 railway companies that operated here. The museum is run very pleasant and knowledgeable volunteers. Admission is free but donations are welcomed, suggest a minimum of $7-8 would be in keeping with local ones.

6. John Bell Railroad Museum

300 N Broadway Verde Canyon Railroad Train Depot, Clarkdale, AZ 86324-2302 +1 800-293-7245 [email protected] http://verdecanyonrr.com/journey/at-the-depot/
Excellent
13%
Good
75%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
13%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 8 reviews

John Bell Railroad Museum

The John Bell Museum, teeming with vintage artifacts ranging from 100-year-old switch locks to railroad lanterns that span the same distance of time, is free and open daily to the public. Over the past 28 years, the keen-eyed maintenance-of-way crew has unearthed these hidden treasures along the railroad tracks. Originally located inside the southwestern-style depot, the museum was named for original car attendant and longtime Clarkdale resident John Bell. In 2008 the collection was moved to its current home, a restored boxcar on the patio grounds. Eye-catching storyboards, overflowing with details on the Verde Canyon encounter, pioneer spirit and railroad lore, installed along the quarter-mile length of the depot’s loading platform. Decades have passed since the John Bell Museum first opened and the evolution of the exhibit will continue with every new artifact found, or donated, to the collection.

Reviewed By 335leslieu - Scottsdale, United States

The Verde Canyon Railroad is a beautiful ride into the outback of Arizona. Get there early enough to check out the museum to get a real appreciation of the history. Lots of interesting artifacts, pictures and railroad memorabilia. Trains are FUN!

7. Sedona Motion Picture Museum

271 N State Route 89A, Sedona, AZ 86336-4218 +1 928-282-0597
Excellent
6%
Good
6%
Satisfactory
25%
Poor
13%
Terrible
50%
Overall Ratings

2.0 based on 16 reviews

Sedona Motion Picture Museum

ThingsTodoPost © 2018 - 2024 All rights reserved.