Fort Tuthill Military Museum
The Fort Tuthill Military Museum in Flagstaff, Arizona is a museum dedicated to the preservation and presentation of over 150 years of distinguished histories and traditions of the 158th Infantry Regiment, 158th Regimental Combat Team, and current 1st Battalion 158th Infantry Arizona National Guard. Exhibits housed in the two historical buildings, previously the regimental headquarters of the National Guard training facility named after General Alexander M. Tuthill, explore the role of the “Bushmasters” from their establishment in 1865 as the 1st Regiment Arizona Volunteers to the 2005 deployment to Afghanistan. Primarily using mannequins to create life-like exhibits complete with mock surroundings, the museum team is able to highlight the changing uniforms, weaponry, and accessories both original and replications to create a chronological timeline of the Arizona National Guard’s involvement in securing Arizona as a state, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the invasion of Afghanistan.
Though women and minorities have always been involved in efforts related to the Arizona National Guard the museum’s exhibits do not reflect this and present a narrative focused around the accomplishments of white men. No women mannequins are on display and the only minority mannequins present are that of a Native American representing the First Volunteer and two Japanese soldiers outfitted as World War II era enemy soldiers. Presenting the history of the Arizona National Guard in this way erases the contribution of women and minorities as complex historical actors in the 150-year span that the museum has chosen to address. The production of a physical exhibit highlighting the role of women in the Guard was proposed in November of 2019 and I was tasked with working under retired Brigadier General Gonzalez to conceive and construct an exhibit that would replicate Army Sargent Mary Herrera complete with her uniform and period correct weaponry as well as wall hangings analyzing the involvement of women in the War on Terror and complying with ADA regulations. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 concerns the completion of this physical exhibit set to be revealed on May 16, 2020 is no longer possible.
While museums all over the world have been forced to close to in-person visitors due to the global pandemic, the Fort Tuthill Military History Museum has been hit especially hard as a small non-profit operation. Located just a few miles outside Flagstaff in the county park, the volunteer run operation came to halt in the middle of updating and refocusing the museum. Five days after a major work day where board members dismantled various exhibits in hopes of integrating technology, interactive experiences, and a simplified viewer experience; the park was designated as Coconino County’s COVID-19 drive-through testing location. Police and private security companies guard the park and barricades have been set up making the museum inaccessible six days a week and a potentially life-threatening location. The two buildings, with exhibits left in shambles stay in an incomplete state while efforts have been turned to archival only. Archival practices have become increasingly important to the museum during this turbulent time upon realization that the museum’s lease states that the property can be taken over at any time for county use. Andy Boyd and I have been working to add objects to Past Perfect, an archival program, at an accelerated rate in order to be prepared for the worst while attempting to practice CDC social distancing guidelines. All other efforts to ready the museum to open have ceased, as all other board members are in the high risk category.
