ROOTED HERE
The history of Gilbert
Gilbert's historic center, canal paths and desert preserves sit within one of Arizona's largest towns.
People who shaped Gilbert
These milestones are an introduction, not a complete local history. Follow the linked city and museum sources to explore the people and places behind them.Read the local historical account.
Watch the city’s history
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Footsteps Through Time: A History of Gilbert
A local history film shared by Gilbert, Arizona.
Watch on YouTube ↗Famous people born in Gilbert
See all 30 famous people
- 1902
A railroad siding takes a name
William “Bobby” Gilbert provided land for a railroad right-of-way, and the siding and community took his name.
Town of Gilbert ↗ - 1910
The first store
Ayer's Grocery Store opened as the community's first store.
Town of Gilbert ↗ - 1911
An agricultural town develops
Dam and canal development helped establish Gilbert as a farming community.
Town of Gilbert ↗ - 1912
The first post office
Gilbert's first post office opened inside Ayer's Grocery Store.
Town of Gilbert ↗ - 1920
Gilbert incorporates
Gilbert officially incorporated as a town on July 6.
Town of Gilbert ↗
See the history for yourself.
Walk Gilbert’s Heritage District along Gilbert Road to HD SOUTH, housed in the 1913 Gilbert Elementary School building. Check current opening hours before visiting HD SOUTH, home of the Gilbert Historical Museum.
For deeper research, the Gilbert library resources is a starting point for archival material and research help. Historic photographs have their own permissions; we link to the collection instead of treating every old image as free to reuse.
Selected milestones researched September 13, 2026. This is an introduction, not a complete account of the city’s history.