Museum pavilion opens Saturday

Rendering of the Desert Caballeros Western Museum Pavillion by architects Orcutt-Winslow

Past and future will meet this Saturday (March 15) when the Desert Caballeros Western Museum’s much-anticipated Charles T. Klein Pavilion opens at the historic intersection of the old California Highway and Highways 89 and 93 in downtown Wickenburg.

Located on what has historically been known as this western town’s “million dollar corner,” the Pavilion is expected to take on new landmark status not only as a unique gathering spot for community events, but as a new “cultural crossroads” for the community.

“Art, history and culture will intersect here as different generations and those with different interests meet under our new roof,” said Executive Director Royce Kardinal who both conceived of and spearheaded the Pavilion project.

The Pavilion’s Saturday opening will be held in conjunction with the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce and will be highlighted by a number of events celebrating Wickenburg’s 145th birthday. Among them will be a visit from none other than beloved American humorist “Will Rogers” (as interpreted by nationally famous Randall Reeder). Reeder, who is both a Rogers look-a-alike, and sound-a-like, will blend the well-known humorist’s quotes and facts about life in the 1920s and 1930s with commentary on the news today.

Other festivities will include Wickenburg’s own birthday cake being officially cut by Mayor Ron Badowski and longtime resident Garth “Brownie” Brown (perhaps Wickenburg’s most senior citizen). Both the cake and cupcakes will be served by the Museum’s auxiliary Las Senoras de Socorro to those who attend. Wickenburg resident Bill Green will bring out his popular albums to share rare postcards of the town’s past, and KBSZ-AM Radio’s Pete Peterson will conduct a “live remote” from the Pavilion.

Also not to be missed will be the unveiling of the famous Wickenburg Stage Coach and its “Final Stop.” The historic stage, restored several years ago with a donation from Vi Wellik, brought visitors to the area long before the combustion engine was invented; later, this “vehicle” ferried guests between the town’s train station and the Flying E Ranch during the decades when Wickenburg was known as the “Dude Ranch Capital of the World.”

Honored guests at Saturday’s dedication will include Charles T. Klein, former Museum board chairman and trustee, for whom the Pavilion has been named.

“It’s a real honor to have my name on the Pavilion’s new plaque,” said Klein. The former Wickenburg resident who now lives in Tulsa became a volunteer immediately after the Museum’s disastrous fire of December 1972. “You might say I got in on the ‘ground floor’ in terms of reconstruction,” he remarked. For 25 years, this dedicated volunteer helped to rebuild “Arizona’s most western museum.

Construction of the Pavilion was generously underwritten by the Charles A. Frueauff Foundation, whose first grant was made to Columbia University in 1951. As part of its donation to create an Arizona first, a “history in public places” exhibit, the Wellik Foundation provided the necessary funds for the Wickenburg Stage’s “Final Stop.” It also provided funding for public restrooms, and for much needed Museum storage space.

Built to reflect Wickenburg’s western character, the Museum’s 4,000-square-foot Pavilion was designed by Herman Orcutt of the Orcutt/Winslow Partnership of Phoenix. A trustee of the Museum, Orcutt is very enthusiastic about the three-year project.

“We started out quite modestly with a simple metal tent,” he said. “Then as the myriad functions of the Pavilion became apparent, it grew like “Topsy”!”

Responsible for building the Pavilion, Mike Frost of Frost Construction and Development pointed out that the Museum board, subcontractors and the town all worked together to realize the project.

“It was truly a lot of fun,” stated Frost, “and it is something for which we can all take pride.”

“We invite both new and longtime Wickenburg residents to join us for our Pavilion‘s dedication,” said Jeri Robson, chairman of the Museum’s board of trustees and its history committee. “As part of the celebration, we want to record oral histories of those who have lived their lives in Wickenburg, as well as honor our oldest living natives. These oral histories will become a part of the Museum’s archives.”

In keeping with the mission to serve as a “cultural crossroads” for the community, the registering of Wickenburg’s multi-generational families will continue on April 5 at the Charles T. Klein Pavilion in conjunction with a “Hassayampa River Celebration” planned for that day.

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