Rooms Featured in the Museum

 As you enter the Military Room you are greeted by uniforms from the Marine Corps, Navy, Army, & Air Force. Navajo Code Talkers are featured with a commemorative wall honoring these and other Native American tribes for their contribution to the war effort with the use of their native languages creating the “code”. There are books for research studies of soldiers from Navajo and Apache county that served in WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. We honor all of our veterans past and present by leaving a light shining on  this exhibit,

 WE SHALL NEVER FORGET! 

 This exhibit is the most sobering in the museum. In early June of 2002 a human created fire began, it was called the Rodeo Fire. The weather was hot and extremely dry, the fire grew quickly. In a few short days, another human created fire was started to the north of the Rodeo fire, it was called the Chediski fire. The two fires merged into one raging monster destroying 468,638 acres of beautiful forested lands and burning over four hundred seventy buildings in its path of fury. The combined fire was not brought under control until July7, 2002, at that time it was the fourth largest fire in United States history. The fire was bearing down on Show Low with all its might, just four miles from the Show Low Museum, the fire slowed down and our town was spared. You will see burnt items, artifacts, pictures, and personal stories of archived information about the fire from its inception to the current efforts of forest and wildlife rehabilitation.

 George and Lilly Woolford were an important link in the early days of Show Low. They operated the ACMI dry goods store. George was a deputy county sheriff and served as Justice of the Peace, he was a carpenter and a part-time dentist, if your died of a tooth infection George could build you a coffin to be buried in. Lilly ran the small motel and cafe, her grandchildren have shared their memories of the wonderful meals she would prepare for her family and often strangers at no charge. Descendants of George and Lillie have been a vital link in the making of the Show Low Museum, still living and working in the town of Show Low. The Woolford family has shared George’s desk and chair,  telephones, ledger books, dentist tools, and Lillie’s phonograph, her granddaughter, Jackie Woolford Solomon beautiful sewn wedding dress along with the sewing machine that made the dress. Numerous fashion items of the time, and family portraits. 

 In 1924 William Cady moved 500 Louisiana lumber employees to what was then Cooley, AZ to start a lumber mill operation. In 1926 James G. McNary, a financial partner to Mr. Cady was elected president and became the full-time owner. Thus the town was named McNary. The mill produced lumber from the forests of Arizona’s largest stand of Ponderosa yellow pine.  The town was the center of commerce having the McNary General Store, hospital, hotel, theater, barber shop, & skating rink. The Apache Railroad came from Holbrook bringing supplies and taking out lumber. This room displays items from the old McNary school and barber shop, along with mill pictures & printed articles about the town. In the mid 1970’s the White Mountain Apache Tribe and Southwest Lumber industries agreed to end the one hundred year lease for lumber production on the Apache Indian Reservation. The mill shut down the lumber operation, workers moved on. With little money to support the town, the town of McNary began to wither away. Today McNary is a shadow of what it once was, “The Most Beautiful Town In the White Mountains of Arizona”. 

 Show Low has had 18 different post offices locations since the 1870’s. Most were in homes. The 17th was the first one to be built by the United States Postal Service. This room was an approved Post Office twice, once on May 3rd, 2003 as a Celebration Station when the City of Show Low celebrated its 50th year of incorporation anniversary and on February 14th, 2012 as a Celebration Station for the 100 year Arizona Centennial. While located in the Woolford home, it was the towns designated Territorial Post Office and became the first official U.S. Post Office when Arizona became a state on February 14, 1912.
During the two approved celebrations held in the Show Low Museum post office room, the post master, John Hogg and staff hand stamped each visitors letter with a special seal in commemoration of the anniversary. The walls are displayed with photos, stamp pictures made by school children, and the history of all 18 post offices that have served Show Low Arizona. 

 This early 1900’s kitchen exhibit is lovingly dedicated to Donald Borrego by his wife Angie. In this kitchen you will see how the pioneer families lived without electricity and running water, and the use of a wood stove to heat and cook with in their homes. The hefty “ice box” will tell the story of how they kept their food cold. The old wooden washing machine with homemade lye soap will make you appreciate the convenience of the modern-day washing machine. Butter churns and other hand-held kitchen tools are on display for a fun game of guessing what they were used for. The shelves are lined with old spice containers, cook books, and will leave you with a flood of memories of home-made cooking at its best. 

 Edson Whipple was an early pioneer in the White Mountain area. His descendant, “Winkie” Wendell Whipple was for many years the president of our Historical Society. Winkie worked with the City of Show Low, served as the City’s mayor and council member, with his dedication to both the city and the museum, both entities have a solid foundation to further their combined interest in the City of Show Low. Winkie was a “REAL” cowboy! He enjoyed working his ranch and having barbecue cookouts.
The written history of Edson’s descendants are on display in this room for the visitor to enjoy reading and reflecting on a bye gone era in Show Low. Artifacts in this room include beautiful dresses worn by Anna Whipple, Edson’s sitting chair, Winkies cowboy hat, rope and gloves, and several written family history books. 

 Both the McNeil and Stratton families were among the early pioneer families that arrived in the Show Low area in the early 1900’s. The strong suit of both men and women are featured in this room. Ben McNeil’s saddle, spurs & chaps, handed to his son Jim then to his son Duke, one can imagine the tales the cowboys would tell at the end of their day spent in the saddle. Mary Ann McNeil was mother to fourteen children, yet found time to hand write the area’s first newspaper, creating beautiful hand sewn clothing for her family, and tending her magnificent flower and vegetable gardens. Shirley Stratton Jones was one of the area’s first Registered Nurse’s working with Dr. Dysterhaft in McNary. Shirley’s nursing uniform, stethoscope, & glass needle syringe are featured, along with her lovely silk dance dress with a mink stole, one can imagine how beautiful she was dressed to the nine’s for the dance at the Blue Moon. Additional heritage items are quilts, family bible, hand tools, home-made soap and family photos. Many of the families descendants still live in the area. 

 The Toy Closet is a display of many children’s toys and games from a bygone era. On display is the game of Cootie, Donkey Kong, board games and a child sized wagon. Many toys from the time before cell phones and electronic games.