Tyson's Well Stage Station

Quartzsite, Arizona

What brought me to the Tyson's Well Stage Station Museum is actually in the parking lot behind the building: a collection of a dozen or so miniature stone houses known as Barrett's Village. Walter Barrett spent eight years of his retirement constructing the tiny town out of cement and rocks collected in the local desert, then donated them all to the museum for everyone's enjoyment. The buildings include scale replicas of a church, an ornate English Castle -- even Barrett's own house.

But there is plenty more to see inside the museum, which occupies an adobe stage stop built in 1866 on the coach line between Ehrenberg and Wickenberg. The old building is full of interesting displays on the history of the Quartzsite area, and friendly and knowledgeable docents are on hand to answer questions ... of course my camera sought out a few of the museum's most bizarre corners.

Camel caravan outside the museum.
Upon entering the museum, visitors are greeted by this friendly local known as "Jake."
School is in session.
Pool-hall diorama.

Directions: On the south side of Main Street, just west of Highway 95. Admission to the grounds and museum is free, but donations are welcome.

Last visited: November 2008.

For a photo of Quartzsite's other miniature village, go to my Adamsville web page.

Standard disclaimer: Sites are described for entertainment purposes only, as they were at the time of my last visit. I can not vouch for the current condition of the site or its accessibility.