Oro Valley Historical Society

Thank you for considering the Oro Valley Historical Society!

Our mission is to promote research, preservation, education, and dissemination of history related to the Greater Oro Valley area.  

In 2025, we are 20 years old!  

We hope you will help us celebrate by donating at least $20.00 (or maybe 20 X 20!) in furtherance of our mission.  

We are an all-volunteer organization, receiving operational funds only from donors (like you!), grants, and gifts, and receive no funds from federal, state, or local governments.   We partner with the Town of Oro Valley to celebrate Oro Valley events and to maintain the historic aspects of Steam Pump Ranch.   

To keep history alive we do the following:

1. RESEARCH our changing exhibits in the Pusch House Museum on the Ranch and at the Oro Valley Library
2. EDUCATE our visitors to the Ranch in the heritage garden where you can experience life inside a Hohokam pit house!
3. DISSEMINATE historical information at the Oro Valley Library, at various schools, and to interested private groups at the Ranch and at their chosen location.  
4. Provide useful information to those who contact us interested in researching Southern Arizona history with our large collection of PRESERVED documents and artifacts from donors and Pusch family descendants.

Although Oro Valley was only incorporated 51 years ago, our area's history goes back thousands of years, and through our outreach, we have introduced our history to visitors and residents, seniors and youth.  This year alone, we have delighted over 600 visitors, and some comments we've heard - " Thanks for preserving the place and information."  "Pretty great museum."  "Thanks for all the hard work putting it together."  "Very unique piece of history."  "Very knowledgeable and kind volunteers."    "What a priceless treasure!"  "I wish I knew this kind of history about where I live." 

Stephen Spender said "history is the ship carrying living memories to the future".  We want to continue bringing that shipload of memories to all that visit Oro Valley.

Our small office is located in the Pusch House Museum at the historic Steam Pump Ranch, once owned by George Pusch, the first non-native settler in Oro Valley in the late 1800’s.   The Ranch is located on Oracle Road in Oro Valley, where our trained docents provide free tours of the Ranch.  

With it being our 20th anniversary, please consider donating at least $20 to help us keep Oro Valley history alive! 

See our volunteer opportunities below and know that you are welcome to join us - history loves company!

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