Gilbert, AZ History: The Heritage District, Water Tower and 1913 School Museum

Gilbert, Arizona grew up around a railroad stop on William "Bobby" Gilbert's land in 1902 and became known as a hay shipping town. Today the best place to see that past is the Heritage District downtown, home to the 1913 school that is now the Gilbert Historical Museum and the town's historic water tower.

I show a lot of homes in Gilbert, and clients often ask what the town was like before the subdivisions. If you want the quick version of Gilbert's story, my moving to Gilbert guide covers it. This post is a closer look at the places where that history is still standing.

From Railroad Stop to Hay Town

Gilbert started as a stop on a rail line built through the area in 1902. The railroad built a siding on land belonging to Bobby Gilbert, and the stop and the farming community around it took his name. Sources I checked do not agree on the exact name of the railroad company or on every date, so I will stick to the parts they agree on.

Canal water and the railroad made farming work here. Alfalfa, cotton and dairy were all part of local life, and trains carried the crops out. Gilbert became known as the "Hay Shipping Capital of the World," a nickname the town still uses. Gilbert incorporated in July 1920, so the town passed its 100th anniversary in 2020.

The Gilbert Historical Museum

The museum sits in the old Gilbert Elementary School, built in 1913. Locals nicknamed the building "the Alamo." It stopped serving as a school in 1977 and reopened as the museum in 1982. It is the only Gilbert building on the National Register of Historic Places, according to the museum and Wikipedia's list of Gilbert's historic structures. The museum's site lists Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but call or check its website before you go, since hours can change.

The Water Tower and the Heritage District

The Gilbert water tower dates to 1925 and is listed among the Heritage District's historic structures. The museum describes it as a symbol of Gilbert's history rather than a working tower. Around it, the Heritage District holds other early buildings, including a 1918 jail and the Creed Building from 1918. The museum also offers a Heritage District history walk, so ask about it if you want a guided path through the old downtown.

If you like to pair history with a holiday outing, see my post on holiday events in Mesa, Chandler and Gilbert, or read how nearby Chandler's Tumbleweed Christmas Tree began.

Questions people ask

How did Gilbert, AZ get its name? Gilbert was named for William "Bobby" Gilbert, whose land was the site of a railroad siding built in 1902. The stop and the town that grew around it took his name.

Why is Gilbert called the Hay Capital? Gilbert became known as the "Hay Shipping Capital of the World" because local farms grew alfalfa and shipped it out by train. Sources give different dates for the peak years, so I do not give a single year.

Where is the Gilbert Historical Museum? It is in the old Gilbert Elementary School building in the Heritage District, at the southwest corner of Gilbert Road and Elliot Road, according to Wikipedia's list of Gilbert historic structures. Confirm hours with the museum before you visit.

Is Gilbert a city or a town? Gilbert is incorporated as a town, and it has been since 1920. You can browse homes there on my Gilbert listings page.