A Look at the Superstition Mountain Museum

The Superstition Mountain Museum is situated on twelve pristine acres at the base of its namesake, the Superstition Mountains.  Located just outside Apache Junction, Arizona, the Museum collects, preserves and displays history, artifacts and folklore of the surrounding areas.

The Superstition Mountains are most notably known for the Lost Dutchman Mine and that of its founder, Jacob Waltz. Lost in time, but not in spirit, the thought of lost gold in the Superstition Mountains attracts visitors from around the world.  The museum has many books, documents, artifacts and maps regarding the Lost Dutchman and his gold.  As a matter of fact, the museum is also known as the “Lost Dutchman Museum.”

If you’re not familiar with the “Lost Dutchman” story: “It is told a prospector named Jacob Waltz had a rich gold mine deep in the rugged mountains east of Apache Junction. The story tells of a German prospector who made periodic trips into the Superstition Mountains and returned to Phoenix with quantities of gold ore. This old prospector braved the dangers of the marauding Apaches prior to his 1886 surrender to Geronimo at Skeleton Canyon…” more…

The Superstition Mountain Museum has a number of structures on its property that house an array of different displays.  There is a 20-stamp ore crusher that used to process mining efforts, one of only a few remaining in the world. They also have a couple of surviving structures from Apacheland, an area western movie set that suffered a devastating fire back in 2004. One of the structures includes the “Elvis Chapel,” which Elvis himself as well as many other well-known actors once filmed.  A number of Elvis fans actually get married in the chapel each year and is a nice source of revenue for the Museum.

The Apacheland Barn houses a number of period western displays, like an ol’ saloon, a hardware store, horse tack & carriages and even a vintage parlor studio in which you can get your picture taken in vintage clothing.  Additional displays include a sheriff’s jail and stagecoach stop where visitors can take pictures of each other.

The Museum is open seven days a week, from 9am to 4pm.  Admission is only $5 for adults with discounts for seniors, students and kids.  There’s a gift shop and a number of events throughout the year, so check their website for more information: Superstition Mountain Museum

To see additional Pictures of the Superstition Mountain Museum, click here.

Mike Shubic

Mike Shubic is a seasoned road trip travel video blogger, traversing the byways of the world looking for those hidden gems of the road. From unique destinations, unexpected discoveries, creative cuisine, intriguing inns to exciting attractions…the road is his page. The experiences are his ink. And every 300 miles, a new chapter begins. Whether you live vicariously or by example, Mike will do the exploring so you can have an adventure.
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