Featured Exhibit: AZ Lottery at the Arizona Capitol Museum
Since we are not yet open for business, AMMNRE staff is always looking for creative new ways to share our collection with the public. One of these ways is through working with partner organizations to loan material for new exhibits. In 2018, the Arizona Lottery reached out to us about loaning mining artifacts for their guest exhibit at the Arizona Capitol Museum in the State Capitol building. We jumped at the chance to work with them, especially since we have an existing mineral display on the Capitol Museum's second floor.
The Lottery exhibit is located in an exhibition area on the first floor of the museum. It begins with an explanation of how revenue from the lottery benefits Arizona, with millions of dollars directed into state funds for education, transportation, and social services each year.
The next room showcases our collection items with a wall featuring mining artifacts similar to those used by Windfall Willie, turn-of-the-century prospector turned Lottery spokesperson. The items include miner's lamps, a shovel and pick, and a canvas miner's cap. After that, you can venture into Willie's office and take a seat at his desk.
Arizona State Library, Archives, & Public Records
Photo courtesy of the Arizona Capitol Museum.
We encourage our museum supporters to visit the Arizona Capitol Museum, located at 1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix, in the historic State Capitol building. The museum is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm and admission is free, though donations are accepted.
The museum's website states: "The Arizona Capitol Museum serves as a symbol of Arizona’s rich and colorful history. It preserves, educates, and makes accessible Arizona’s political, social, cultural, environmental, and economic history. Through its priceless collections and partnerships, the Museum hosts speakers’ series and events, invites public and private stakeholders, and engages the public with the goal of improving our visitors’ understanding of this distinct region."
Exhibits appeal to all ages and span 20 exhibition areas throughout the four floors of the building. As our geographical neighbor and one of our most supportive peer museums, we look forward to continuing our partnership with them.
Special thanks goes to the Arizona Lottery, exhibit designers OH Partners, and the Arizona Capitol Museum.
