The Cave Creek Museum transformed during the summer months and opens its doors on Oct. 3 to fascinating new exhibits and reimagined spaces. Seasonal activities – educational, engaging and entertaining – for all ages, are scheduled throughout the 2018-2019 season.
The featured exhibit this season is “Cowboys Don’t Do Lunch, The Photographs of Herb Cohen,” a collection of Herb Cohen photographs (until now, kept as negatives and not exhibited) printed by Jerry Sieve, a fine art photographer and Arizona Highways magazine photographer. The portraits Cohen created during the 1970s captured the mannerisms and way of life of desert foothills cowboy culture and reflected a precise technique and eye inspired by Ansel Adams.
Sharon Brening is the Cave Creek Museum 2018-2019 Artist in Residence. Brening is a traditional realist painter, painting in layers and glazing as the old masters did. Among many honors, Brening was the first woman to win the prestigious gold medal for oil painting at the Annual Western Artists of America Show in Texas.
Her work will hang in the Museum’s Ansbaugh Auditorium throughout the season.
The Pioneer Wing has been reconfigured to include new and refreshed exhibits, among them a reinterpretation of mining and local geology and an old favorite, Cave Creek Characters. “Also this summer, we proudly installed The Grace Schoonover Archaeological Library,” said Karrie Porter Brace, Executive Director, Cave Creek Museum.
“The family of our local avocational archaeologist Grace Schoonover gave the Museum her library and archive of Southwestern books, reports, papers, and research.” The Archaeological Library and a new study space gives patrons an opportunity to learn more about cultural resources and ancient peoples of the Sonoran Desert.
Also new to the Cave Creek Museum is 2nd Sundays at CCM, a Family Passport Series with topics ranging from cowboys to mining, history to desert animals, and perhaps a western musician, too! 2nd Sundays at CCM take place every second Sunday at 2pm. Participating children will create CCM Passports that will be stamped at each event. Collect at least five stamps over the 2018-2019 season to get a special gift from the Cave Creek Museum! 2nd Sundays at CCM kicks off with “Petroglyphs are Fun” on Oct. 14.
The Adult Discovery Series returns with presentations on “Cowboys Don’t Do Lunch, The Photographs of Herb Cohen” with Jerry Sieve, a talk led by Cave Creek artist Sharon Brening, Kraig Nelson’s insights into “William B. Hellings, Pioneer Extraordinaire,” and “The Maya World,” a photo journey to Guatemala and Honduras with CCM Executive Director Karrie Porter Brace.
Outdoors, the Golden Reef Stamp Mill roars to life once a month. And work continues on the Stamp Mill Tramway from Continental Mountain, scheduled for completion in late fall 2018. Historic buildings are exhibited behind the Museum, creating settings for history to live again in imagination and research. For example, the Tubercular Cabin is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places – Arizona.
Two fundraisers help support the Museum, and put the “fun” in “fundraising”: the 10th Annual Miner’s Dinner on November 13, 2018 and the Annual Home Tour & Kitchen & Garden Boutique on March 10, 2019.
The Cave Creek Museum is open October 3, 2018 through May 31, 2019. Hours are Weds/Thurs/Sat/Sun: 1:00pm – 4:30pm and Fri: 10:00am – 4:30pm. Admission is $7 Adults; $5 Seniors; $5 Students; Children under five are free.
Stay up to date on all events at Cave Creek Museum by visiting www.cavecreekmuseum.org.
Cave Creek Museum Calendar of Events
Unless otherwise noted, events are free of charge, although donations are cheerfully appreciated and always needed. Times and Topics are subject to change without notice. Reservations are always suggested and may be made by calling 480-488-2764 or emailing: [email protected].
October 2018
Wednesday, 3rd – OPENING DAY – 1:00 – 4:30 pm.
Saturday, 13th – Golden Reef Stamp Mill Run – 1:30 pm.
First run of the 2018-2019 Season! Feel the rumble and hear the roar as the Golden Reef Stamp Mill, a powerful ore-crushing machine, goes to work. The Cave Creek Museum Dream Team spent nine years rebuilding and refurbishing this 100+ year-old stamp mill after it was carried down from nearby Continental Mountain. This is Arizona’s only fully operation ore stamping mill. It’s an incredible sight and so are the stories surrounding it.
This program gives families the opportunity to learn about rattlesnakes, gila monsters, gopher snakes and desert tortoises in the safety & comfort of the museum. Explore various methods of staying safe in our desert environment!
2nd Sundays @ CCM take place every second Sunday at 2pm. The topics in this Family Passport Series range from cowboys to mining, history to desert animals and perhaps a western musician, too! Participating children will create CCM Passports that will be stamped at each event. Collect at least five stamps over the 2018-2019 season to get a special gift from CCM!
Saturday, 20th – Cave Creek Museum Presents: “Adult Discovery Series”
2:00 – 3:30 pm. “Cowboys Don’t Do Lunch, The Photographs of Herb Cohen”
Join us to hear Jerry Sieve’s presentation on Cave Creek’s own amateur photographer. Books available for purchase.
November 2018
Saturday, 10th – Golden Reef Stamp Mill Run – 1:30 pm.
Come watch the Golden Reef Stamp Mill in operation. It will be crushing gold bearing ore found at its original location on nearby Continental Mountain.
Sunday, 11th – 2nd Sundays at CCM – 2:00 – 4:00 pm.
Code Talkers in WWII
Celebrate our Veterans as we learn about Navajo Code Talkers and their impact on WWII. Families will have the opportunity to practice their Navajo and crack a secret code.
2nd Sundays @ CCM take place every second Sunday at 2pm. Participating children will create CCM Passports that will be stamped at each event. Collect at least five stamps over the 2018-2019 season to get a special gift from CCM!
Tuesday, 13th – 10th Annual Miner’s Dinner – 4:00 – 8:30 pm.
Join us at the Museum for a special run of the Golden Reef Stamp Mill at 4:00 pm., enjoy blacksmith demos, visit the Museum, bid for fun and amazing items at our silent auction, then settle down for a delicious all-you-can-eat chuck wagon dinner provided by the World Famous Buffalo Chip whilst tapping your toes to the tuneful western song stylings of Mike Ewing, Cowboy Balladeer. One of Cave Creek Museum’s most popular fundraisers! $55 per person for all the food, friendship and fun you can handle!
December 2018
Saturday, 8th- Golden Reef Stamp Mill Run – 1:30 pm.
The Golden Reef Stamp Mill is Arizona’s only fully operational ten-stamp ore crushing mill. Come watch the ten 1000 lb. stamps slam down in synchronized precision, hear the pounding echo against the desert foothills, just as it did 100 years ago. Our stamp mill was carried down from its former location at the Golden Reef Mine on Continental Mountain and is the only one in AZ operating within 5 miles of its original site.
Sunday, 9th– 2nd Sundays at CCM – 2:00 to 4:00 pm.
Cowboy Christmas
It’s holiday time at the museum! Join Gary the Singing Cowboy and Dusty, his trusty horse in some holiday caroling. Then see Santa Claus for a free photo, and enjoy his favorite snack (cookies & milk)! 2nd Sundays @ CCM take place every second Sunday at 2pm. Participating children will create CCM Passports that will be stamped at each event. Collect at least five stamps over the 2018-2019 season to get a special gift from CCM!
Saturday, 15th- Cave Creek Museum Presents: Adult Discovery Series – 2:00 – 3:30 pm.
Join us for a talk led by Sharon Brening, our artist in residence this season. Learn about how her canvases allow her viewers a personal glimpse into the lives of people that shape the American landscape.
