Chandler Museum

Ostriches in Chandler.

The city of Chandler will be holding its annual Ostrich Festival this weekend. It’s a big event featuring rides, live music headliners and more. But why ostriches? 

Turns out, while ostriches are not native to Arizona, they go a long way back in Chandler to pre-statehood days when ostrich feathers on ladies hats were all the rage and Dr. Alexander J. Chandler had a herd of the exotic birds on his land. 

The Show caught up with Chandler Museum’s Jody Crago to learn more.

Kristilyn Baldwin Photography

Jody A. Crago

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