The Superstition Mountain Museum’s free lecture series “Legends and Lore of the Superstitions and More” is held Thursdays through March 28.

The series brings together local scholars, personalities, historians, artists and authors to introduce attendees to the rich culture of our region, according to a release.

Lectures are held at 2 p.m. Thursdays Jan. 4-March 28 in the museum’s outdoor amphitheater, 4087 E. Apache Trail (State Route 88) in Apache Junction.

To enjoy the presentations fully, attendees are requested to:

• Bring your own lawn chair;
• Don’t forget a hat and sunscreen;
• Please, no smoking;
• Please don’t leave your dog in vehicle;
• Coffee and cookies will be available for purchase with all of the proceeds going to the museum for continuing educational programs; and
• Come early and have lunch on the grounds (food will be available for purchase).

All Superstition Mountain Museum Programs and presentations are subject to change. Go to superstitionmountainlostdutchmanmuseum.org or call 480-983-4888 for the latest information.

The Superstition Mountain Museum is a nonprofit facility organized and run by the Superstition Mountain Historical Society.

Remaining featured presenters and dates this year include:

• Feb. 29 — Conrad Storad on “Animated Reading Rattlesnake Rules.” Arizona’s national-award-winning children’s author Storad will deliver an animated reading of his book “Rattlesnake Rules.” Storad weaves a science and nature story about getting along from a rattlesnake’s perspective. Learn about this Arizona native and other local creatures of the desert on which Storad based his book’s characters. He says that nonfiction stories should be fun. That’s exactly what he tries to do with each and every book that he writes for young readers. Storad is the author or editor of more than 50 science and nature books for children and young adults and his books have earned him numerous state and national awards.

• March 7 — Zarco Guerrero on “Día de los Muertos.” The museum welcomes sculptor, muralist, storyteller and performance artist Zarco Guerrero for a Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) presentation. Expect hilarious and moving tales, with original characters including: the poetry spouting “El Vato Poeta,” the flirtatious “La Comadre,” the clueless “Special Ed,” the wise “El Abuelito” and other roles that Zarco has created. This lecture will be an introduction to the museum’s annual three-day event “The Magic of Mexican Artistry,” March 8-10, 2024. This presentation was made possible through the Arizona Humanities AZ Speaks Program.

• March 14 — Teton Ken on “Arizona: The Rest of the Story.” With a nod to journalist Paul Harvey, Teton Ken will reflect on Arizona’s past and present. He will weave a tale punctuated by his personal observations that have been formed along his life’s path as a prospector, actor, magician, storyteller, zoophilist and advisor. You won’t want to miss this time with one of the museum’s treasures.

• March 21 — Roger Naylor on “Awesome Arizona: 200 Amazing Facts.” Arizona is rugged and gorgeous and historic and weird and funny and utterly magnificent. It’s full of surprises, not what most people expect at all. Naylor will pile up the evidence of this during his lecture at the museum, drawing from his book “Awesome Arizona: 200 Amazing Facts About the Grand Canyon State.” He will relay the essence of Arizona from its wild and wooly past to its breathtaking scenery to its startling geology to its incredible diversity of cultures and terrain. Naylor is a member of the Arizona Tourism Hall of Fame. His work appears most weeks in the Arizona Republic newspaper. He has also written for The Guardian, USA Today, The Week, Country Magazine, Arizona Highways and dozens more. He is the author of several books including “The Amazing Kolb Brothers of Grand Canyon,” “Boots & Burgers: An Arizona Handbook for Hungry Hikers,” “Arizona Kicks on Route 66” and “Crazy for the Heat: Arizona Tales of Ghosts, Gumshoes, and Bigfoot.”

• March 28 — Jack San Felice on “Lost El Dorado of Jacob Waltz.” His lecture is based on more than 25 years of research and diligently searching Arizona’s Superstition Mountains for the world famous Lost Dutchman Mine. His research runs contrary to the tale of the mine being in the western Superstitions near Weaver’s Needle. He relies on factual and scientific evidence to aid in the search for precious metals and the illusive mine. He has been an avid hiker, horseback rider, four-wheeler and serious researcher of the Superstition Mountains and nearby areas for over 28 years. He is the author of the “When Silver was King,” “Superstition Cowboys,” “Lost El Dorado of Jacob Waltz,” “Lore of the Superstitions” and numerous short stories. He also has lectured in central Arizona for more than 25 years on local history, including tales of the Superstition Mountains. He is a longtime member of the museum and lives with his wife Winnie in Mesa.