The following links are provided as a convenience only; they are not a recommendation of any product, service, or organization. Arizona State Parks maintains this list at its own discretion. Links will open in a new window and leave the Arizona State Parks website.

Pinal County Historical Museum

Founded in 1958, the Pinal County Historical Museum, a 501 (c)3 nonprofit, is the oldest historical organization in Pinal County. The museum shares Florence and Pinal County’s rich stories through exhibits and educational programs. The museum covers Florence’s rich history and cultural diversity from pre-contact Native Americans to 21st-century local families who have lived, worked and attended school—continuously enriching our collective stories. See exhibits including cactus furniture, Florence’s Historic District, Second Territorial Prison, farm implements, and more. The museum houses a large and diverse research collection from which exhibits, and programs are created, as well as opportunities for academic and community-based research. Serving 5,000 visitors annually, the Pinal County Historical Museum is an economic asset to Florence. Visit the gift shop for handmade art, candles, jewelry, books, and gifts for kids.

715 S Main Street, Florence, Ariz.
520-868-4382

https://www.pinalcountyhistoricalmuseum.org/
https://www.facebook.com/pchsmuseum1

Tonto National Forest 
The Tonto National Forest embraces almost 3 million acres of rugged and spectacularly beautiful country, ranging from Saguaro cactus-studded desert to pine-forested mountains beneath the Mogollon Rim. This variety in vegetation and range in altitude (from 1,300 to 7,900 feet) offers outstanding recreational opportunities throughout the year, whether it's lake beaches or cool pine forest.

Apache Trail Historic Road
Located in the Tonto National Forest, this historic road covers some of the most rugged terrain in Arizona. The land surrounding the road rises steeply to the north to form the Four Peaks Wilderness Area and to the south to form the Superstition Wilderness Area. Steep-sided canyons, rock outcroppings and magnificent geologic formations are all along the road. Takes about 5 hours to drive.

Superstition Wilderness Area 
This Wilderness was designated in 1939, and was expanded to its present size in 1984. It now contains approximately 160,200 acres. There is a well-developed trail system, and the western end of the wilderness receives heavy use during the cooler times of the year. The area is starkly beautiful and often rugged, but can be inhospitable to those not equipped to meet nature on her own terms. Searing heat and a shortage of water are typical conditions in the summer.

Apache Canyon
A wonderful canyon hike in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona that begins 3.3 miles East of Tortilla Flat. Very strenuous.

Saguaro Lake
Gorgeous desert lake with largemouth and yellow bass, walleye, bluegill/sunfish, catfish, and crappie.

Roosevelt Lake
Theodore Roosevelt Dam, the first major structure constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation on the Salt River Project (SRP), spans the Salt River to form a huge reservoir. The dam is 280 feet high and 723 feet long. Once the largest man-made lake in the world, Roosevelt Lake offers diverse recreation opportunities. The lake covers more than 17,000 acres when full.

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument 
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument preserves an ancient Hohokam farming community and “Great House.” Created as the nation’s first archeological reserve in 1892, the site was declared a National Monument in 1918.

Related Links

McFarland Collection Photographs 
See select photos, organized by time periods, from The McFarland Collection. Presented by the Pimal County Library.

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