Events – P.W. Litchfield Heritage Center

Upcoming Events

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Fireplace Room

Wigwam Resort

300 E Wigwam Blvd.

Litchfield Park, AZ 85340

Friday Fireside History

Held in the historic Fireplace Room at the Wigwam Resort.

Grab a drink at the bar and unwind by the historic Fireplace Room at the Wigwam to explore the past with a knowledgeable Litchfield Heritage Center docent. Learn how this award-winning iconic Arizona resort evolved over the past 100 years while enjoying good company and vibes!

FREE EVENT

April 18, 2025
May 9, 2025

Discovery Day - Pioneer Life

Hands-On History Event

Join us for Discovery Day on April 5 & 9, featuring the theme of Pioneer Life. Kid-friendly, hands-on activities will teach about the lives of pioneers and farm workers in the Southwest Valley. Learn how cotton was planted and picked, try doing laundry the old-fashioned way, and make adobe bricks.

Discovery Day events are Free to the public.

Saturday, April 5th – 10 am – 1 pm

Wednesday, April 9 – 10 am – 4 pm

Historic Litchfield Park Walking Tour: Discover the Historic Heart of the Southwest Valley

Event Overview:

Experience the history of Litchfield Park and its unique company town roots.

On this one-hour walking tour, a knowledgeable docent from the PW Litchfield Heritage Center will lead you on a 1.25-mile loop, which highlights several historic buildings, and discuss Goodyear’s influence in the Southwest Valley, the Western romance of Arizona tourism in Litchfield Park, and an era of forward-thinking city design.

See Special Events Page for details and dates

Heritage Lecture Series

Thursday, May 15, 2025

10:00 – 11:00 AM

Goodyear City Hall – Council Chambers

1900 N Civic Square

Goodyear, AZ 85395

The History of the Wallace and Ladmo Show

Presenter - Steve Hoza

If you grew up in Arizona between the years 1954 and 1989, you likely grew up with The Wallace and Ladmo Show. Though a children’s TV program featuring classic cartoon segments, it also included satirical comedy skits lampooning popular culture, appealing to kids and adults alike. With a remarkable 35 ½ year run on KPHO-TV5 in Phoenix, it was eventually broadcast throughout Arizona, northern Mexico and towns in California near the Arizona border.

Presenter Steve Hoza will speak on the history of this iconic Arizona children’s TV program and distribute show memorabilia, including Ladmo bags!

Steve Hoza is an artifact conservator at the Salt River Indian Community with a career in museums of over 40 years. He has authored two books on WWII in Arizona and is a recognized authority on WWII. He has interviewed hundreds of former POWs, guards, camp personnel, and civilians who used them for labor. A Phoenix native and friend of show creator Wallace Thompson, he owns the legal rights to The Wallace and Ladmo Show and runs the official website for the iconic Arizona children’s TV program.

FREE EVENT

The History and Mystery of the Gila River

Presenter - Christine Reid

Many people know about Arizona’s most famous river, the Colorado, but the often-forgotten Gila River has a rich and interesting history too. Reid will take the audience on a journey which begins in central New Mexico and joins the Gila River as it makes an historical journey through eastern and most of southern Arizona before joining the Colorado River. This program explores the geology that formed the Gila and the dinosaurs that splashed in it. You’ll learn about the history of prehistoric people who mastered and relied on the river. The human side of the Gila is brought to life through personal memoirs, field journals and anecdotes of the missionaries, explorers, and adventurers who followed it, to the pioneers who settled alongside it. The Gila River provided life giving water for agriculture, transportation, recreation, and inspiration for generations of people.

Christine Reid’s interest in Arizona’s diverse and rich western heritage developed and grew as a writer and researcher with the Pinal County Historical Museum and later as Community Scholar for the Anthem at Merrill Ranch continuing education program. Reid is committed to sharing the sometimes hidden or forgotten aspects of Arizona’s characters and history. Reid shares Arizona’s history in a relatable and engaging manner.

Thursday, July 17, 2025