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About Us


Mission

The Oracle Historical Society, Inc. was founded in 1977 as a non-profit 501(c)3 educational organization. The mission of the organization is to preserve historical artifacts and properties; to educate, to encourage awareness and appreciation of the unique cultural-historical heritage of the community of Oracle and surrounding areas; and to promote alliances that enhance the Society's ability to influence the future by honoring the past.

Board of Directors & Staff

President: Chuck Sternberg
Secretary-Treasurer: Cinnamon Schiek
Members: Margaret Guyton, Dick Kirkpatrick, Hector Lovemore, John Rendall, Arthur Smith, Kent Thornell
Ex officio: H. Tom Thompson
OHS Administrator: June Rettig
Museum Archivists: Karen Guss, Catherine Ellis

Acadia Ranch Museum

In 1978 the Society purchased and stabilized the Acadia Ranch building, which today serves as its headquarters and a museum devoted to regional history. In 1984, the Acadia Ranch was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places.

Archives & Collections

The Society counts among its collections and archives 250 historic photographs; the Alice Carpenter Collection of historic Hohokam and other Native American artifacts; the Huggett Family Collection of ranching artifacts, as well as author manuscripts, letters and other important examples of material and visual culture that best reflect our region’s rich ethnic diversity and history.

Funding from the Arizona Historical Society and Arizona Humanities Council, as well as the untiring efforts of two individuals – Karen Guss and Catherine Ellis – have allowed the Society to begin digitizing the collection, as well as update record-keeping. The Lisa Armstrong Memorial Reading Room offers a documents archive, research files and numerous books on local history. Please call (520) 896-9609 to schedule an appointment.

Capital Improvements

Thanks to grants from the Arizona Historical Society, Southwestern Foundation, Sonoran Searchers of Questers and the invaluable volunteer efforts of expert architectural preservationist Chuck Sternberg, the Society has made extensive capital improvements to the Acadia Ranch structure. These include the full restoration of its bath house (one of the oldest in Oracle), the full restoration of its Great Room, Dining Area and Kitchen, as well as major repairs to roof, drainage and plumbing.

Exhibitions

A new exhibition on the history of tuberculosis in Oracle was launched last spring, thanks to the generosity of the Arizona Historical Society. Curated by local author/historian Catherine Ellis and architectural designer Chuck Sternberg, this exhibit features a rich array of historic artifacts on loan from the McFarland State Park, as well as historic quotes, photos and articles.

The Museum also features a comprehensive introductory hallway exhibit on the history of the Oracle region that draws on the Society’s extensive photo archives (also funded by the Arizona Hisorical Society), as well as a display of paintings by cowboy artist Lee Kannally and an array of historic cowboy and other ranching artifacts. This spring a new exhibit on regional food traditions will accompany the visiting Smithsonian exhibition Key Ingredients: America by Food.

American Flag Ranch

In 1999, the Society acquired the historic American Flag Ranch, which the Society hopes to transform into an accessible resource for the community and visiting guests. (read about)

Lee Kannally Collection

OHS continues in its efforts to restore, catalogue and ensure the proper safe-keeping of the paintings of Lee Kannally, an early Oracle rancher whose primitive, unique and delightful depictions of 1920s cowboy life have gained wide popularity. We are joined in our efforts by Friends of Oracle State Park.

Future

As you might guess, achievements, past and future, take personal effort and time from the Board and the Society's membership as well as grants and generous tax-deductible contributions. To learn how you can become involved, please join our membership. You can download our membership application (click on link below) or find out more by visiting our membership page.

Membership Application: Download PDF form.

To correspond with OHS, please email OracleHistoricalSociety @ gmail . com or write:

Oracle Historical Society
& Acadia Ranch Museum
P.O. Box 10 • Oracle, AZ 85623