The Museum that Moab Made.

In 1957 the Womens Literary Club of Moab applied to a Community Achievement Contest sponsered by the General Federation of Women's Clubs and the Sears-Roebuck Foundation. The hope was to win the $10,000 grand prize. While the club did not win first place a check for 150 dollars was presented to them and this became the seed for the Museum of Moab.

The museum drew on the help of numerous organizations such as the Rotary Club and Lions club. Personal donations from many citizens soon filled the small Cal Uranium building, which sat less then a block from the current Museum. Other collections were returned to Moab by the U.S. Parkservcie to be displayed in the New Museum.

Museum membership at the time was $1.50 for a basic membership with $100 dollars making you a life time member.

Things may have changed quite a bit but the Museum is still about Moab the city that made it.

Charlie Glass an African American Cowboy

Third from the left in this picture is Charlie Glass. Charlie was a long time resident of Moab. A ranch owner and a business man Charlie was a rarety in the west and especially Utah.

Often Utah is viewed as a very homogenous state being mostly of European descent but during the early part of the 20th century Moab had a sizable population of African Americans. Many of them came to work in the mines hauling ore out for further refining. Others like Charlie came to escape a savage life and memories from farther east.

Charlie's father had been considered an outlaw in Oaklahoma and eventually was caught. In a time when transporting prisoners was a difficult process the bounty hunters opted to kill Charlie's father and bring his head into to trial in northern Oaklahoma.

Charlie later related that his drinking habit was inspired by these events.

In a time when America was segregated Charlie stratled the line between white and black social groups. He had many friends among the white citizens of the Moab area. Yet he also loved to visit his own people who worked hard in the mines. The picture above is a rare picture of Charlie without his hat on.

Charlie was wounded in a violent skirmish with a group of Basque shephards in response to his shooting of one of their countrymen. Though Charlie survied the fight he passed away in transit to the hospital.

Charlie Glass represents a facsinating part of Moabs history. For more information on Charlie visit the museum an check out the Canyon Legacy.

Yes Moab Has a Museum

When I first informed my friends that I would be Director of the Museum of Moab the response was something along the lines of, "Moab has a Museum?" Unlike many larger towns and cities in Utah Moab boasts a small yet respectable Museum of Natural and Cultural History.

Built in 1958 the first Museum of Moab was a small one story building later growing to the current two story building and annex which was made possible by the funding of Dan O'Laurie

The Museum's Scope involve everything about Moab and the surrounding 150 mile Radius. Everything from early sea life to the 2002 Winter Olympic Torch has a place in the museum.
My Name is Travis Schenck I am the current Director of the Museum of Moab. I invite you to join me on my journey here at the Museum of Moab. As we explore the museum collections we'll also explore the history of Moab. I hope you'll enjoy the trip.