The Community That Changed A Nation!

Sun City, Arizona

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Sun Cities Area Historical Society is to promote public awareness and appreciation of the history of Sun City and Sun City West. The Society collects, preserves, and displays materials and artifacts striving to inform present and future generations of the pioneering heritage of these unique active retirement communities.

THE SUN CITIES MUSEUM

The Museum is the only building in the Sun Cities to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Museum officials were notified after several years of applying for the designation, the museum was finally granted historic status.

The organization was created in 1985 with a mission to preserve and present the history of Sun City and Sun City West. The museum is located in one of the first five model homes built by the Del E. Webb Corporation in 1960 as it prepared to launch Sun City, the nation’s very first master-planned, active-adult retirement community. The community opened to the public on January 1, 1960. The five model homes, along with Oakmont Recreation Center and a golf course were open to the public on that first weekend.

The home has been restored and features rotating exhibits focusing on the history of the community, as well as its developer – Del E. Webb – and the clubs and organizations in the retirement communities. “We’re extremely proud of our museum and think it’s a fitting honor to be recognized as one of our nation’s historic landmarks,” said Bret McKeand, president of the museum’s board of trustees. The National Register of Historic Places is the “official list of the nation’s historic places worthy of preservation.” The list is overseen by the National Park Service. Presently there are over 80,000 places on the list. Locations on the list in Arizona include the Wrigley Mansion, Hunt’s Tomb, Petrified Forest and Canyon de Chelly National Monument. The Del Webb Sun Cities Museum becomes the first property in either Sun City or Sun City West to earn the designation.

👀 WHAT’S AT THE MUSEUM

Arizona History Books

We now carry an assortment of books about Arizona.

Early Arizona ~ Route 66 ~ Luke Air Force Base ~ just to name a few

Great stocking stuffers

Our New Displays Are Up!

SUN BOWL

POSSE

PRIDES

C.A.R.S

👀 WHAT’S COMING

New Displays are in the works!

New PAVERS have been installed!

Move the slider to the right to see a view of our 1960’s living room.Then move the slider to the left to see a view of our 1960’s bed room.

DOCENTS NEEDED

We are looking for volunteers interested in serving as docents at the museum. The docents help to guide museum visitors through the house and tell the story of Del Webb and the Sun Cities. Prospective docents will be given extensive training and will work alongside other docents. This is a great opportunity for those who appreciate local history, our museum and enjoy meeting people. The next new docent training begins on January 6th. For more information, call 623-974-2568 or complete the volunteer form by clicking HERE. Be a part of preserving and sharing the history of Sun City.

Jack Douglas Hosts Valley of the Sun Featuring The Sun City Retirement Community (1962)

MEMBERSHIP

Membership is vital to our continued operation. Please join today and encourage your friends, neighbors, organizations  and local businesses to become members too!