Gilbert Historical Museum holds artifacts, photographs, oral histories and archives that chronicle Gilbert’s rich history. Stroll through our exhibits to explore the rich history of our town.
Don’t forget to stop by the HD SOUTH Gift Shop to pick up a souvenir before you leave. The quilting gift shop used to be the school nurse’s office and the south gift shop used to be the principal’s office!
What was like life at home in Gilbert in the early to mid 20th century? As well as being home to our active quilting bee; this exhibit contains a variety of artifacts of common household items from that period, an antique telephone collection, as well as, clothing worn by Gilbertonians from the 1920s to the 1960s.
In this Generations room, you’ll find many items and artifacts donated by the descendants of some of Gilbert’s earliest families. You’ll learn about the pioneering spirit of the people who shaped our town’s history, as well as the history of Gilbert’s first five churches.
In the Farming Exhibit you’ll discover more about Gilbert’s deep agricultural roots. Gilbert was once known as the Hay Shipping Capital of the World. Alfalfa, cotton and dairy farms were vital to the success of the town in the early 20th Century. Did you know there was even an ostrich farm? Learn more about the early farming families, check out the blacksmith shop, and enjoy hands on activities about farm tools and machines.
Learn how our community’s amenities have evolved as our population grew from less than 1,000 to over 280,000. See a map of Gilbert with boundaries from different eras, and get a taste of old school life in an early 20th century classroom; the older Gilbert generation may remember when they ran through the halls of this glorious old school building as students.
Gilbert was named after land speculator William (Bobby) M. Gilbert, who sold his land to the railroad. The railroad established a siding at the site, around which the town started to grow. As the town grew, businesses started to flourish. Learn about the early Gilbert businesses that occupied some of the buildings that still stand in the Heritage District. Of course, with a growing population, Gilbert’s public safety needs also increased. Learn more about the evolution of Gilbert’s police and fire departments.Be sure to try your hand at building a town with the hands-on activity board which includes streets, buildings, landmarks, and local amenities.
This exhibit celebrates the Gilbert residents who proudly served in our armed forces. With numerous uniforms, flags, weapons and many other items donated by Gilbert residents and veterans, this room offers an interesting local perspective to World Wars I & II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars. We have dozens of interesting artifacts brought back from ‘over there’ by the brave men and women who represented our town and our country in wars around the world.
Gilbert wouldn’t be Gilbert without the railroad; in fact if it wasn’t for the track, we wouldn’t be here! The sound of train horns blasting are constant reminders of Gilbert’s railroad past. Our Model Train exhibit is an ongoing project with our partnership with the Gilbert Model Railroad Club (GMRC). Our exhibit depicts the railroad as it was around the1950’s through early 1960 showing the trains’ route to and from Gilbert. Visit the exhibit and the GMRC Saturdays 10 a.m-1 p.m. During regular museum hours only the Gilbert portion of the track is available to view.
For more information visit Gilbert Model Railroad Club – Home
We’re proud to continue a traditional American craft – the art of hand-quilting lives on year-round at HD SOUTH. Our live quilting bee is one of only a handful of quilting bees in the country to still operate all year; you can find the live exhibit in our Home Life room.
Our group of quilting volunteers works on traditional wooden quilting frames to finish quilt tops from the public. Their work benefits the museum financially, with proceeds from the completion of each quilt going to the museum. Stop by and say hello to the quilters in the Home Life exhibit during your next visit; you’ll find them there most Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings.
Special Exhibits
Timeless Beauty
September 15th – November 24th
step back in time and discover the tools, trends, and timeless allure of beauty through the decades in this fascinating exhibit from the collection archives at HD SOUTH. Timeless Beauty showcases a curated collection of vintage beauty gadgets, cosmetics, and personal care items. Explore how evolving ideals of beauty shaped innovation and style and learn how these once-cutting-edge inventions reflect the culture, fashion, and social norms of their eras. This nostalgic exhibit invites visitors to reflect on changing routines of self-care and the enduring desire to feel confident, creative, and beautiful. Whether you’re intrigued by the science behind the styles or simply love a good throwback, this exhibit offers a charming and insightful look at the history of looking your best.
Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15TH – October 15th
Stories and pictures of Hispanic families who were instrumental in the settling and progress of Gilbert. In this exhibit you’ll have the opportunity to read about early life for Hispanic settlers, including recollections surrounding hard work, family times, and community. Don’t miss your chance to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and learn a little more about the people who helped shape Gilbert. Exhibit admission is included in the price of museum admission.
Harvest in the Heritage District
Fall is calling, and we’re gearing up for a season full of festive fun! Harvest in the Heritage District returns for its third year, kicking off September 26 and running through November 2. This month-long celebration invites visitors and residents to enjoy special events, temporary art installations, fall promotions, and more. New this year, popular American sculptor Ray Villafane, known for his whimsical pumpkin vignettes will create a fun and interactive scavenger hunt called, The Great Gilbert Gourd Hunt. Ray’s work has been showcased around the globe—everywhere from the White House to the Desert Botanical Gardens. For more information about Harvest in the Heritage District, please visit discovergilbert.com/harvest.
12th ANNUAL GVAL MEMBER SHOW
On exhibit in the Severson Center at HD SOUTH from November 7-December 3, artwork created by members of the acclaimed Gilbert Visual Art League. This showcase of gorgeous pieces highlights an assortment of mediums such as acrylic, pencil, oil, mixed media, and much more. There are nearly 100 pieces on display, some are for sale with a portion of the proceeds benefiting HD SOUTH. Member show admission is included in the price of museum admission. For more information visit www.gval.org.
THROUGH BILL MASTIN’S LENS
November 17 – January 26, 2026
Step into 1950’s Gilbert through the eyes of long-time resident, photographer, and owner of Gilbert’s one and only airport—Bill Mastin. This collection of never-before-seen photographs, donated to HD SOUTH by the Mastin Family, captures everyday life, familiar streets, and the spirit of the Gilbert community and surrounding areas. Each image preserves a rare glimpse of time and place that shaped our Town’s history. These pictures let us travel back in time and see Gilbert the way Bill Mastin saw it all those decades ago. These special photographs will be on display from November 17-January 26.