Scottsdale Historical Museum, Scottsdale, Guía del visitante y qué hacer cerca

The Scottsdale Historical Museum is a local history museum housed in the Little Red Schoolhouse, a brick building from 1909 in Scottsdale, Arizona. It began as the town's grammar school and went on to serve as city hall, library and more, which makes it one of the best places to understand how Scottsdale grew from a small desert settlement.

The story behind it

The schoolhouse was built in 1909 for just $4,500. It had two classrooms upstairs, and the lower level did double duty for town meetings and as a church. In those years Main Street was a very different place, and the neighbourhood to the south was home largely to Mexican families who had come to Scottsdale for work.

Few buildings in town have worn so many hats. As the century went on, the schoolhouse was used as Scottsdale City Hall and the Justice Court, then as the public library, and later as the Chamber of Commerce. The streets around it were eventually reshaped into Civic Center Park, and the old school became the museum you see today.

What to look for

• The red brick walls of the schoolhouse, which look modest and sturdy beside the more modern buildings and landscaping of the Civic Center area.
• The compact shape of the building, which holds two classrooms and a lower level, and which is a good prompt to picture a whole town gathering in such a small space.
• Windows to the West, the large sculpture by Louise Nevelson in Civic Center Park nearby, dedicated in 1973 and known as the city's first major public art piece.
• The contrast between the old schoolhouse and the park around it, a reminder of how much of Main Street's early life has been rebuilt.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about 30 to 45 minutes to see the building from outside, stroll the park and look at the sculpture, longer if you go in.
• Check current opening hours before you go if you want to visit the museum inside, as they can change.
• Morning or late afternoon is the most comfortable time to walk here, especially in the hot months, so bring water.
• Old Town Scottsdale is a short walk away, so the museum fits easily into a wider afternoon on foot.

See it on a quest

Playing Historic Old Town Scottsdale: A Western Adventure is a good way to meet the schoolhouse. You reach it on foot as one stop on a longer route through Old Town, the app tells you about the place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.

Ghost Hunt in Scottsdale takes a spookier angle on the same streets. You walk between the places on the route, hear about each one when you get there and work out a puzzle in front of you. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Scottsdale suits anyone who likes a story with their sightseeing. You travel on foot from stop to stop, the app fills in the background of each place, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.