A New Look River of Time Museum reveals new interactive exhibits BY AMY WOLFF The global pandemic took its toll on many organizations across the Valley, including the L. Alan Cruikshank River of Time Museum & Exploration Center in Fountain Hills. The museum was closed for nearly two years. But in late March, the doors of the interactive, family-friendly museum will open to the public again. While the closure was difficult on the nonprofit museum, the organization made good use of the COVID-19 downtime by embarking on a significant remodeling project. The center, which is named after one of Fountain Hills’ early residents and owner of the local newspaper, completed a nearly $100,000 renovation. Grants and support from donors helped revitalize the museum, which now features updated interior space, interactive displays, more interpretive elements, and expanded stories of the area’s earliest inhabitants. “After more than 18 months, and lots of construction, we are thrilled to announce our facility has been reimagined and enhanced with even more interactive components and exhibits that tell a colorful story of the region and the people who inhabited what is now Fountain Hills,” says Cherie Koss, the museum’s executive director. “We are proud to welcome back patrons to share the remarkable history of the Lower Verde River Valley through creative exhibits, our remarkable art displays and docent-led group tours.”
Building the future
The L. Alan Cruikshank River of Time Museum & Exploration Center, which opened in 1989, explores the rich history of the Lower Verde River Valley and strives to educate patrons about the history of region and how present-day lives are connected to the past. As visitors journey through the museum, its exhibits showcase the ways desert dwellers — from the ancient Hohokam and Yavapai to early ranchers and modern-day settlers — found ways to create an oasis in the Verde Valley, which is now Fountain Hills. The timeline of the museum begins before humans inhabited the area and extends to the future, including the impact of scarce water resources on the densely populated desert environment. “Our ultimate goal with the remodel was to introduce a facility that reaches beyond the traditional concept of a ‘museum’ and engulfs the visitor in experiences designed to entertain while sharing the multitude of stories that depict life in the Lower Verde River Valley and emphasizing the role of water in supporting that life,” Koss adds. The museum’s mission is to inspire people across the state to explore and learn more about an important piece of local history through relevant topics and experiences. Using the natural and social sciences of the region, museum leaders are focused on preserving and interpreting the past to understand the present and promote future sustainability.
hallway exhibit showcases the Smithsonian Traveling Poster Exhibit titled “Journey Stories,” which explores how movement has shaped the nation. The display takes a broad look at expansion and migration from earliest settlers and Native American displacement to the effects advancements in transportation have had on mobility. Visitors are challenged to
The L. Alan Cruikshank River of Time Museum & Exploration Center will reopen in late March. (Submitted photo)
compare their personal “migration” stories to those depicted in the exhibit. Interactive displays include a one-ofa-kind, augmented reality sand table. The tactile exhibit can be manipulated
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New museum exhibits
As part of the renovation, the museum was updated to include an art gallery and exhibition space that features stunning works by Fountain Hills’ first resident, Sally Atchinson. The gallery’s contents will change several times throughout the year and will feature a selection of artists and exhibits related to the Southwest. The museum’s first gallery Part of the remodel included adding interactive displays such as the “Pack Your Trunk” activity. (Submitted photo) www.LovinLife.com
MARCH 2022
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