Heritage center announces free September activities

The P.W. Litchfield Heritage Center will host two family-friendly Discovery Days programs and a special lecture this September, offering hands-on history and a deep dive into one of Arizona’s most storied towns.

The next Discovery Days, “History & STEM: Farming Ingenuity,” will take place Saturday, Sept. 6, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and again Wednesday, Sept. 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Children and families can learn about the creativity of farmers through interactive demonstrations and STEM-based activities.

Discovery Days are monthly programs designed to bring local history to life through the lens of art and science. Each session highlights aspects of the Southwest Valley’s heritage, including the history, arts and culture of communities such as Litchfield Park, Goodyear, Avondale, Tolleson, Cashion, Liberty and Waddell.

Later in the month, the center will present its Heritage Lecture Series featuring “The History of Wickenburg” on Thursday, Sept. 18, from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Goodyear City Hall Council Chambers at 1900 N. Civic Square.

The lecture will be led by Joe Stevens, a master docent from the Desert Caballeros Western Museum in Wickenburg. Stevens, who has lived in Wickenburg for 30 years, will trace the town’s history from its early days with influential mountain men to its contributions to Arizona’s mining industry and its role in the founding of Phoenix — revealing little-known facts about the area’s development.

Stevens also conducts tours of Wickenburg and the surrounding region, which he describes as a setting for amazingly rich history.

The Heritage Center encourages residents of all ages to attend, explore, and connect with the unique stories that shaped the West Valley.

For more information on upcoming programs, visit the P.W. Litchfield Heritage Center’s website or contact the center directly.