A Brief History of Arizona State Museum

Arizona State Museum (ASM) is the oldest and largest anthropology museum in the Southwest.

Established by the Arizona territorial legislature in 1893 (with House Bill 42, written and submitted by George W. P. Hunt), the original name of the museum was Arizona Territorial Museum and was placed in Tucson on the campus of the only existing university in the territory at the time. The University of Arizona (UA) was established in 1885. When Arizona became a state on February 14, 1912, the name of the museum had to change, of course, from Arizona Territorial Museum to Arizona State Museum.

And that's how ASM got a name that sounds to some like it belongs in Tempe or Phoenix, but through that happy accident of history, ASM is and always has been in Tucson.

Arizona State Museum is precisely that, the state's official museum. It is the official repository for, and curator of, Arizona's archaeological collections. It is also the state's official permitting agency for all archaeological activity conducted anywhere in the state on state lands. Objects and associated research materials produced as a result of that archaeological activity fall under ASM's curatorial responsibilities. The museum's archaeological repository is the largest and busiest non-federal intake facility in the nation (second only to the Smithsonian)!

Because it is located on the UA campus, ASM serves the university as its anthropology museum and as a very active research and teaching unit, with educational programs for students of all ages and all levels.

ASM employs many of the world’s leading experts in Southwest anthropology and related fields. Its vast, varied, and ever-growing collections are recognized worldwide as unique and significant resources for the study of southwestern peoples. Many aspects of its collections are unparalleled by any other comparable museum in the world.

Hundreds of thousands of artifacts from numerous excavations shed light on the prehistoric Hohokam, Mogollon, and Ancestral Pueblo cultures. More than 26,000 catalogued ethnographic objects document the lifeways of historic and living Native peoples of the region. The museum's library, archives and photographic collections hold unique materials and primary documents garnered by pioneers of Southwest anthropology, as well as by leading figures in related disciplines.

At some 20,000+ whole vessels, ASM’s Southwest American Indian pottery collection is the world’s largest and most comprehensive. ASM is also home to more than 25,000 woven pieces of rare and outstanding baskets, sandals, cradle boards, mats, cordage, and preserved fibers.

The collective body of research conducted at ASM over the past century, coupled with its collections, tells the story of 13,000 years of human history in the region.

A significant portion of the museum’s renown comes from the fieldwork of its former directors, all leaders in their respective disciplines and known for cutting edge work: Byron Cummings (1915–1938), Emil Haury (1938–1964), Raymond H. Thompson (1964–1998), George J. Gumerman (1998–2002, bio), and Hartman H. Lomawaima (2004–2008, obituary).

Because of its ever-growing collections, the museum has had many homes on the UA campus. It has moved from a single room in Old Main (1893–1904) to a shared space with the library in the Douglass Building (1905–14), to Agriculture Hall (1915–29), to quarters in the lower regions of Arizona Stadium (1930–35), to a brand new building in 1936. In 1977 the museum expanded to a second facility—the former UA library building. Today, ASM’s two historic buildings are the first to welcome students and visitors as they enter UA's Main Gate at University Boulevard and Park Avenue.

Now in its second century, ASM is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. With full annual calendars of rotating exhibitions, educational programs, and public events, and in conjunction with volunteer and membership programs, ASM continues to serve the University of Arizona, Tucson, the state, and the world.

Current Director Beth Grindell (bio) was appointed in July 14, 2008. Prior to being named director, she served as the museum’s associate director. Beth is only the sixth director in the museum's history and is the first woman to hold the post.

George W. P. Hunt, Father of ASM

Beth Grindell named director, July 2008 (UA News)

History of the ASM Logo