Museum Hours: 9AM to 4PM • Open 7 days, Monday - Sunday

Events

“Hats On” for American History (Feb. 10)

A fun way to learn American History!

On Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 1:00 p.m., retired teacher Dan Johnson will be in the Elvis Chapel with his special program “Hats On” for American History. Dan will be presenting American History in a way you’ve never seen it before. Dan proves that learning history can be fun—what he calls a “Life in the Past Lane” performance teaching experience!

This free presentation is an interactive, live time-line program that portrays 21 American history themes, covering the past with more than 35 historical hats & dress styles.  Old U.S. flags, artifacts and period music will also enhance much of our country’s history.

Dan W. Johnson is a “refocused public educator” who has taught history/geography for several decades in the Cambridge/Isanti public schools in Minnesota. He and his wife continue to live in MN and continue to travel but enjoy the warm winters in the Apache Junction area. He believes our motivation/goal should be to “Learn from the Past” to “Live for the Present” to “Prepare for the Future!”

"Elvis" Chapel

Originally an important feature of the Apacheland Movie Ranch, the “Elvis” Chapel is an amazing location to hold your special event. Whether a wedding, elopement, renewal of vows, memorial service, or celebration of life, it is available for events every day from 8am to 8pm. The air-conditioned chapel seats 75 guests comfortably. A bridal room with bath is located in the rear of the chapel.

The Elvis Memorial Chapel is a movie prop that was used in the 1969 Elvis Presley western “Charro!” — the only movie Elvis made in which he did not sing, but played a strictly dramatic role. During the movie shoot, a specially-made steeple was constructed and put on the chapel so that it could be blown off during an explosion central to the movie’s plot.

It’s a survivor of two fires: one in 1969 and one in 2004, which decimated Apacheland Movie Ranch. The Elvis Memorial Chapel was donated to the Superstition Mountain Museum by Sue and Ed Birmingham.

The Elvis chapel is one of three venues on the grounds used for weddings and other private events.

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