Mohave Museum of History & Arts

The Mohave Museum of History & Arts opened in Kingman in 1968, after years of work by local people and the Mohave County Historical Society, which had been founded in 1961. The society calls it the cornerstone of cultural preservation in Mohave County, and it is also the society's headquarters, home to its archives and research library as well as its offices.

The collections centre on three themes that shaped northwest Arizona: Native American cultures, mining and ranching, and the part each played in how the region developed. The exhibits are grouped under Native American heritage, pioneer and frontier life, and mining and industry. The county's seat moved from Mohave City to Hardyville, Cerbat and Mineral Park before settling in Kingman in 1887, five years after the railroad founded the town.

The museum is the anchor of a small group of historic sites run by the society, and one ticket covers them all. The Arizona Route 66 Museum is a few blocks away in the Powerhouse on Andy Devine Avenue. The Bonelli House, at 430 E Spring Street, tells Kingman's past through the life of one of its most prominent pioneer families and keeps shorter hours, Tuesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The society is also raising money to restore the historic Mohave County Jail, built in 1909 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places with the 1915 county courthouse in 1983.

The society runs community events through the year. Its calendar lists a Heritage Day on November 15, 2026, celebrating the county's pioneer heritage with living history demonstrations.

Practical points: there is free parking on Beale Street and in the lot next to the museum. Photography for personal and academic use is welcome, but flash is not allowed in the exhibit areas, and commercial photography needs the society's permission. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing, and the society recommends calling ahead because hours can change.