A presentation by
Carrie Gustavson Director, Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum
Denise Lundin Clerk of the Superior Court, Cochise County
Museum Association of ArizonaAnnual Conference
June 5, 2010
What are we?
The Cochise County Arizona Centennial
Committee, comprising members from museums,
county and city government, businesses, and historians, is tasked
with the planning of a countywide celebration ofArizona’s 100th birthday.
Who are we?
The diversity and inclusiveness of the Cochise County Arizona Centennial Committee has made this
working group fun!
Member organizations of the Committee are:
Amerind FoundationBisbee Mining & Historical MuseumChiricahua Regional Research CenterCity of BensonCity of BisbeeCity of Sierra VistaCity of WillcoxCochise CollegeCochise County Government Cochise County Historical SocietyCochise County Historians
Cochise County Tourism AllianceFt. Huachuca MuseumGadsden Hotel, DouglasHenry Hauser Museum, Sierra VistaRex Allen Museum, WillcoxSan Pedro Valley Arts & Historical SocietySierra Vista Historical SocietySulphur Springs Valley Historical SocietyTombstone Chamber of CommerceTombstone CourthouseTown of Huachuca City
So… What’s the plan?• Cochise County’s history reflects that of the State; in
essence our history is Arizona’s history in microcosm.
• Centennial project ‘History in the Park’ tells the story of 20th-century Cochise County from the perspective of those who made it.
• ‘History in the Park’ is an outdoor, travelling exhibit comprising 25 to 30 life-size photo cutouts based on historic images from our County’s museums & archives.
• With a planned kick-off at the 2011 Cochise County Fair, ‘History in the Park’ will travel to all Cochise County communities during the centennial year.
To which we are adding…• An accompanying booklet, offering the stories of each of
our selected characters, that will be available at our museums and libraries, free to all County residents.
• An interactive website cochise100.org that expands our audience and content, allowing us to share more with more.
The exhibit, website, and informative booklet
offers an anchor for local commemorative
activities through the centennial year.
Where did we start?Cochise County Arizona Centennial Historic Figure Matrix
Selecting Cochise County’s ‘history makers’ was a very detailed process, weaving together representative occupations, geographical
distribution throughout the County, and broad chronological coverage.
Cochise County Historical Figures: ‘The List’
George Warren
Rex Allen
Edward Monk
China Mary
Elsie Toles
Madeline Wyatt
Where are we now?
1. To secure state recognition through the Arizona Historical Advisory Committee Legacy program and the Arizona Centennial 2012 Foundation.
2. To introduce fundraising for the ‘Adopt a Figure’ program
3. To develop cochise100.org website
4. To secure partners for in-kind printing donation…
5. And… to have everything completed by September, 2011.
What’s next?
• 100% volunteer planning committee
• In-kind donation of historical research
• In-kind donation of website design & maintenance
• In-kind donation of graphic design for figure production
• Private donations, $450 for each historical photo-cutout
• In-kind donation of book design & editing
• In-kind donation of transportation & install (partnering with City & County Public Works departments)
• In-kind donation of book printing
Using our collective imaginations, knowledge, and resources … we have created a countywide Arizona Centennial Celebration in a recessionary economy with supporting budgets long lost down the proverbial rabbit hole… for less than $13,000 in private donations!
How is this funded?
The End
