November events at Cave Creek Museum | Things To Do

In addition to its regular exhibits and programs, Cave Creek Museum is hosting fun, interactive and educational events throughout the month in keeping with its mission to keep the history, culture and legacy of the Cave Creek/Carefree foothills area alive.

Arizona Gold Mining Experience

Cave Creek Museum will open its Arizona Gold Mining Experience, a massive and operating exhibit, on Saturday, Nov. 11 and Saturday, Nov. 25.

The expansive outdoor experience begins in the museum’s lobby with a lively retelling of the Cave Creek mining district’s history. Guests then move outside for demonstrations that showcase the hard rock ore extraction process for which Cave Creek is renowned.

The highlight is Arizona’s only fully operational ten-stamp ore crushing mill, which sits just 5 miles from its original site on the mountain. The 10, 1,000-pound stamps slam down in synchronized motion to pound the ore removed from the mine into a fine gravel.

The experience continues as guests peer into a mineshaft to show the blasting techniques used by hard rock miners. Next, onto the new blacksmith shop for a demonstration of the many skills used when parts and tools had to be fabricated on site. Guests are then encouraged to try their luck at the gold panning station, where museum volunteers show visitors how to pan for ore and minerals just like the prospectors did.

Admission is $15 for adults and free for children 12 and under. The event takes place from 10 to 11:30 a.m., with check-in beginning at 9 a.m. Pre-registration is required, as this is a popular event, and can be done online.

Family Fun Days: ‘Little House in the Desert’

From 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12,  the Cave Creek Museum will present Little House in the Desert as part of Kiwanis Family Fun Days.

“What was life like as a child during the pioneer days?” Johnson said. “Was it all work? We don’t think so. Come to the Cave Creek Museum to see how kids had fun in times past.”

Cave Creek Museum will feature games that children would have played, some fun craft activities using items that were available at the time. Children will even learn how to make their own bread and butter. To reserve a spot, visit cavecreekmuseum.org/event. 

‘Looking Back’

“Looking Back” a new, original play inspired by the true story of Cave Creek ranchers Dick and Evie Engel, is a community-wide effort.

The play kicks off Desert Foothills Library’s new Living Library oral history program. It was written by local playwright Andrea Markowitz, who enlisted the Cave Creek Museum to track down historical facts. The Desert Foothills Theater stepped then joined in the project to bring the story to the stage.

“Looking Back” will be performed at 2 p.m. Nov. 17, 18 and 19 at the Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at dfla.org.

Story of the Unknown Soldier

Saturday, Nov. 18, Matthew Scott will reprise his presentation of how the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery was created, including the selection of the fallen soldier.

“It’s hard to describe how moving this story is as he describes the emotion-wrenching process as well as the pomp and ceremony that accompanied the soldier’s reunification with his homeland and interment in the crypt at Arlington National Cemetery,” Johnson said.

In fact, it was Scott’s presentation in May 2022 that was the catalyst for the Veterans Memory Garden.

The “Story of the Unknown Soldier” presentation, which will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Cave Creek Museum, costs $10 and includes an all-day museum pass. Register at cavecreekmuseum.org/event.

Note: The museum’s Cave Creek’s Haunted History event on Nov. 17 has sold out.

The 53-year-old museum’s mission is to preserve the artifacts of the prehistory, history, culture and legacy of the Cave Creek Mining District and the Cave Creek/Carefree foothills area through education, research and interpretive exhibits.

The Cave Creek Museum is located at 6140 E. Skyline Drive in Cave Creek and is open October through May. For more information, visit cavecreekmuseum.org or call 480-488-2764.