Mohave Museum of History & Arts-Kingman

Elite '09

469

627

Teej T.

Urbana, IL

8/8/2008 1 photo

So, the Mohave Museum of History and Arts is like your aunt that sends you kinda gross sweaters that she made herself.

You know she means well, but it's still just lame/icky.

The museum is right off the 40, and I had to stop for gas, so it seemed like a pretty good idea.  Oh, my.

The volunteers are super friendly, and you have to be impressed with a place where the volunteers care very much and there's even a research library with a fulltime librarian on staff as well.  Too bad the city of Kingman has 27,000 people and hasn't been a major city since the gold mining boom ended nearly a century ago....

Where to start?  First there's a "Hall of Presidents," where a woman has painted likeness of all 43 Presidents and First Ladies.  Unfortunately, she died two years ago, so um....what're we gonna do next year with the new President?  Damn.

I got a liberal photo-op with Reagan (mocking of course), and hurried on to some cool exhibits on mining, some awkward ones on Native Americans, some creepy ones on clothing/costumes and a creepy but loving tribute to cowboy sidekick actor Andy Devine.  Never heard of him?  Me either, but the citizens of Kingman adore Devine, who is virtually their only famous denizen and have erected a virtual shrine to the raspy-voiced actor.  I saw EVERYTHING he ever did in the museum and then looked him up online (http://en.wikipedia.or...).  Kinda cool in a sweet, smalltown way.  I'm expecting one of these shrines when I pass on, Harbor City, CA, just so you know.

Finally they have a recreated old mining village and an actual 1890's Santa Fe railroad caboose.  Basically a thousand odds and ends.  But it did allow me to stretch my legs, even if I felt it wasn't entirely worth the $4 admission fee.  In all fairness, the fee also counts for free admission to another local museum based on the historic Route 66, but by then I was over local kitsch.

Good for whiny children, Kingman locals, and people you hate.

Oh, and anyone who knows who Andy Devine is.

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