Exhibit to close at Litchfield Park museum

The P.W. Litchfield Heritage Center will close its exhibit, Crossroads of Change, on Sunday, Sept. 28, wrapping up a nearly year-long run that chronicled a pivotal era in the West Valley’s transformation.

The black-and-white photography exhibit, featuring the work of local photojournalist Jim Painter, captures life in the region during the 1980s and 1990s, a time marked by the sale of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.’s farmland and the completion of Interstate 10. Painter served as managing editor at the West Valley View.

Organized into thematic sections, Crossroads of Change traces the area’s evolution from its agricultural roots to a growing suburban corridor. Highlights include images of cotton fields, Luke Air Force Base, Phoenix Raceway, and the Phoenix-Goodyear Airport, all of which shaped the region’s identity.

At the heart of the exhibit are candid photographs of community life: rodeos, parades, festivals, and pageants, offering an intimate look at the lives of West Valley residents during a time of rapid change.

Painter’s images have been on display since October 2024. A farewell event for the exhibit will be held on Sunday, Sept. 28, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Heritage Center. 

The Heritage Center will next host a new exhibit titled Lighter Than Air: Balloons, Blimps and Dirigibles, opening Sunday, Oct. 19, from 4 to 6 p.m. The exhibit will explore the area's lesser-known connection to the U.S. lighter-than-air movement, a story that begins with Paul W. Litchfield, the Goodyear executive and aviation pioneer who helped usher in the era of American airships in the early 20th century.

More information is available at pwlhc.org.