Cave Creek Museum features historical lunch boxes
Cave Creek Museum is featuring an exhibit that showcases lunch boxes throughout history.
Historical metal lunch boxes were used during the late 1800s mining days through 1940. According to JoAnn Stuckey, executive director for Cave Creek Museum, one of the most popular meals enjoyed by Arizona miners during that era was pasties.
“Pasties are associated with Cornish miners who brought their traditional food to the new world,” says Stuckey. “Pasties were hearty meals that had the appearance of a half pie. The pastry was folded over a mix of meat and vegetables then pressed to seal in the filling. Hardworking miners ate their meals, often in dark conditions, using carbide cap lights that attached to their hats.”
At the time, miners also frequently placed their claims in a Prince Albert tobacco time to protect their critical mining paperwork. The can and documents usually were tucked among rocks in the northeast corner of the claim site. This method of marking worked because of mutual respect and understanding.
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The 54-year-old 501© (3) museum’s mission is to preserve the artifacts of the prehistory, history, culture and legacy of the Cave Creek Mining District and the Cave Creek/Carefree foothills area through education, research and interpretive exhibits. The Cave Creek Museum is located at 6140 E. Skyline Drive in Cave Creek, Ariz. Open October through May. The museum can be reached at 480.488.2764 or cavecreekmuseum.org. Where History Comes Alive.
