Last updated: April 10, 2024
Place
Gila River Indian Community
Quick Facts
Location:
21359 S Maricopa Rd, Chandler, AZ 85226
Significance:
Anza Expedition Historic Campsites #22-25
OPEN TO PUBLIC:
No
MANAGED BY:
The Gila River Indian Community is a Native American reservation in Arizona. It lies adjacent to the south side of Phoenix and is within the Phoenix Metropolitan Area in Pinal and Maricopa counties. Gila River Indian Reservation was established in 1859, and the Gila River Indian Community was formally established by Congress in 1939. The community is home for members of both the Akimel O’odham (Pima) and the Pee-Posh (Maricopa) tribes.
From October 30 to November 6, 1775, the Anza Expedition camped at four sites in the area that is now the Gila River Indian Community. Anza and Font called this place the "Pima Villages" and noted that the expedition was well-received and cared for. These are Historic Campsites #22-25. At Camp #25 Laguna del Hospital, Father Garces wrote, "We returned to camp, and having gone 2 leagues northwest arrived at some pools of bad water, where some of our party were made sick, and for that were they called Las Lagunas del Hospital."
Today, the Huhugam Heritage Center is a place that tells the stories of the history, culture, and language of the peoples of the Gila River Indian Community and honors the ancient Huhugam. It is designed to house and preserve the cultural resources of the Gila River Indian Community, including past and current archaeological findings. Through exhibitions, classes, programs, and collections, its goal is to educate the public about the rich cultural heritage of the Akimel O'odham (Pima) and Pee Posh (Maricopa) peoples.