AMMNRE Museum

Update June22: Great news for the museum!
The AZ FY2023 budget appropriates $12 million to the Arizona Board of Regents to be used for capital improvements at the AMMNRE Museum. Over the next few years we are going to see significant changes in the museum and it will re-open, finally! For more information, please visit the AMMNRE website.

The Arizona Mining, Mineral and Natural Resources Education (AMMNRE) Museum is a rebirth of the Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum under the University of Arizona’s Office of Research, Innovation and Impact. The museum is currently in development at the historic Polly Rosenbaum building on the Capitol Mall in Phoenix, where the Mining and Mineral Museum operated from 1991 to 2011.

Established through Arizona Senate Bills 1530 (2016) and 1415 (2017), the new museum will showcase the historical, cultural, economic, and social contributions of the mining, mineral, timber, livestock and agricultural industries of Arizona. The end-state vision is to create a recognized destination for life-long experiential learning, showcasing current knowledge, cutting-edge research and industry innovation. This vision includes the transformation of the 1921 building into interactive galleries, idea labs and public engagement spaces.

The mineral collection is at the heart of the AMMNRE Museum. It is intact and securely stored at the building. Click here to read a full history of the collection on the AMMNRE museum website. While the museum is not yet open, minerals from the collection are currently on display in traveling exhibits and loans to various institutions, including the Arizona Capitol Museum, the Arizona House and Senate, Bullion Plaza Cultural Center & Museum, the Cave Creek Museum, and others. In addition, the collection is showcased at the annual Tucson Gem and Mineral Show at the Tucson Convention Center, and through outreach events and educational partnerships.

The outdoor mining exhibits, including the Swallow Mine 5-stamp mill, are also intact and regularly serviced by the Monday Crew volunteers. Led by millman Charlie Connell, the volunteers assist with projects ranging from building cleanup to collections inventory and maintenance of the outdoor equipment. Many volunteers are active Flagg Foundation members.

At this time, the University of Arizona is focusing on facilities improvements and developing a vision for the future. Updates including upcoming events, volunteer info, and new exhibits are posted on the AMMNRE website blog, Facebook page, and Twitter.

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