The Litchfield Park Historical Society and Museum, 13912 W. Camelback Road opened a new exhibit last month, detailing the history of the Goodyear-Avondale area.

The “Stagecoaches to Spacecraft” exhibit, in partnership with the Three Rivers Historical Society, showcases photos and stories of the people who founded, settled, encouraged growth and led the cities of Avondale and Goodyear.

“It’s been fun to trace the history of the area that began with a stagecoach stop on the banks of the Agua Fria River to two modern cities that can brag of contributing to the space program and astronauts that were a part of our communities,” the Three Rivers Historical Society stated in its newsletter. “Avondale and Goodyear continue to embrace growth and strive to improve the lives of their citizens.”

Settlement in the area began on the west bank of the Agua Fria River where Billy Moore built a stagecoach stop, complete with horse corrals, a cold-water well and eventually a general store and post office. The stop was called Coldwater. Coldwater later became a town, which then became known as Avondale.

The exhibit details how national historical events like the Dust Bowl, the Great Depression and World War II brought people to the region and how the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. coming to the area transformed the community.

Visit lphsmuseum.org.