Mesa Grande designated Arizona Centennial Legacy Project

Mesa, AZ – The Arizona Historical Advisory Commission has designated Mesa Grande as an Arizona Centennial Legacy Project.  Mesa Grande is a major prehistoric Hohokam site that flourished from about 1000-1450 A.D.  The main feature of Mesa Grande is a large platform mound, about 27 feet high and covering the size of a football field. The site is administered by the Arizona Museum of Natural History and within the City of Mesa.

“It is appropriate that Mesa Grande has been designated an Arizona Centennial Legacy Project,” Arizona Museum of Natural History Director Dr. Tom Wilson said, “because what could be more central to the legacy to the state of Arizona than its Native American heritage and living cultural presence?”  Mesa Grande was one of the main Hohokam sociopolitical centers in the Salt River Valley and controlled much of the great irrigation canal systems on the south side of the river.

To be eligible for such designation, Mesa Grande met the requirements of accurately portraying a significant aspect of Arizona history:  being accessible to large numbers of visitors; demonstrating collaboration in planning; producing a product that will endure after 2012, including educational components and developing a plan for implementation.

The museum is planning to interpret Mesa Grande for the general public and open the site to visitors.  A diverse planning team with representatives from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Gila River Indian Community, University of Arizona, Arizona State University, University of Advancing Technology and Pueblo Grande Museum is working with the Arizona Museum of Natural History to interpret and open Mesa Grande.  On March 7, 600 people attended the third annual Mesa Grande open house at the site.

Mesa Grande Cultural Park is funded by the City of Mesa, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the Arizona Heritage Fund and other funders.  For further information, visit the Arizona Museum of Natural History Web site at http://www.azmnh.org and click “archaeology.