Sun City: A Community Changed a Nation
Social Science/History | Registration opens 1/5/2026 12:00 AM MST (Arizona)
When Sun City first opened on Jan. 1, 1960, it was considered the world's first "active-adult" retirement community. An immediate success, Sun City gained national and international acclaim for its myriad activities and amenities specifically designed for retirees -- and literally overnight redefined what it meant to be a "senior citizen" in America. Using photos from the archives of the Sun Cities Area Historical Society to detail the history of early Sun City and showcases the efforts made by the Del Webb Corporation to depict retirees "having fun in the sun" and enjoying the golden years!
Bret McKeand
Please note: Bret is unable to lead this class, but Jerry Crowdey from the Sun City Speakers Bureau will carry on!
McKeand, Bret - is a retired journalist and current Sun Cities Area Historical Society President. As a reporter, editor, and publisher, Bret spent his entire journalism career with Independent Newspapers in Arizona. He retired in 2020 as president of the company’s Arizona operations. He is president of the Sun Cities Area Historical Society Board of Trustees, which owns and operates the Del Webb Sun Cities Museum. In 2010, he authored a book on the history of Sun City to benefit the society and the Del Webb Sun Cities Museum.