Rim Country Museum

About the Museum:

The Northern Gila County Historical Society operates the Rim Country Museum and the Zane Grey Cabin located in Green Valley Park on West Main Street at...The Rim Country Museum and replica of the Zane Grey Cabin are quaintly nestled within the green rolling hills and three lakes of the award winning Green Valley Park, which was built around these historic structures. The Rim Country Museum complex consists of the oldest Forest Ranger Station and residence still standing in the Southwest. The Ranger Station is the original from 1907.  The ranger home, now our gift shop and office, was rebuilt on the same foundation in 1933-37.The exhibit hall is a replica of the two story 'Herron Hotel' known as the 'Hilton of Payson' in the early 1900's. Additionally we have a circa 1900 Haught cabin that was painstakingly moved to our grounds. Also on the grounds is the top portion of the Forest Service fire lookout tower that was originally located on Mt. Ord.

The exhibit features a section about Arizona’s Territorial Years from 1863 to early 1912 and will feature Rim Country personalities who contributed to Arizona’s growth toward statehood. Duett Ellison, of Ellison Creek and later Pleasant Valley, was Arizona’s first First Lady. In 1904 she married George W. P. Hunt, who became the first governor of Arizona, Also featured is the contribution of Samuel Ache Haught II, owner of the H-Bar Ranch in Rye who served in the 23rd Territorial Legislature.

Misssion:

To Acquire and Preserve Artifacts and Writings Related to the History and Culture of Northern Gila County for Exhibit and Research.