Attractions

The mission of the Heard Museum of Native Cultures and Art is to educate the public about the heritage and living cultures and arts of Native peoples, with an emphasis on the peoples of the Southwest.  Since its founding by Dwight and Maie Bartlett Heard in 1929 - as a small museum in a small southwestern town - the Heard has grown in size and stature - to where now it is recognized internationally for the quality of its collections, its educational programming and its festivals - and Phoenix has grown along with it. The Heard is a living museum - giving voice to a uniquely American people.

• Heard Museum (Downtown) - 2301 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ

(Convenient, alternate access via 3rd Street & Monte Vista during light rail construction.)  Since its founding by Dwight & Maie Heard in 1929, the Heard Museum has grown in size and stature, to where now it is recognized internationally for the quality of its collections, its educational programming and its festivals. Today, the Heard Museum of Native Cultures and Art is a must-see Arizona landmark -- a place of learning, discovery and an opportunity to share Native traditions that will touch your heart. With exhibitions of cultural objects and fine art to jewelry and fashion, the Heard Museum offers the best in traditional and contemporary American Indian art. Year after year, the Heard continues to build upon its commitment to exhibit the finest works from its permanent collection as well as top-notch traveling exhibits and the best in emerging contemporary art from the museum’s permanent collection and beyond. All combine to make our exhibitions part of a living institution that embraces diversity.

• Heard Museum North Scottsdale - 32633 N. Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ

Heard Museum North Scottsdale debuts in a brand new facility featuring two exhibit galleries, a new Shop and a delightful garden cafe! As it has done for the past 11 years as part of the Northeast Valley, the new location of Heard Museum North will continue to present outstanding exhibitions featuring the renowned collections of the Heard Museum.

• Heard Museum West - 16126 N. Civic Center Plaza, Surprise, AZ

Welcome to the new Heard Museum West! Thanks to a generous partnership with the City of Surprise, this new community location brings the Heard Museum's renowned permanent collection and incredible programming to the West Valley. Heard Museum West offers an exhibition gallery showcasing more than 400 works of art from the Heard's permanent collection as well as a changing exhibition space. The location also provides classroom spaces for lectures, films and discussions. Be sure to visit the new Heard West Shop!

Scottsdale ArtWalk is much like a large, easy-going open house for the Scottsdale Arts District located primarily along Main Street and Marshall Way in Scottsdale Downtown. “America’s Original ArtWalk,” this weekly gathering takes place every Thursday evening (year-round, except Thanksgiving) between 7 and 9 pm. That’s when all member galleries belonging to the Scottsdale Gallery Association (SGA) open their doors to the public and show off the work of the Southwest’s outstanding artists.

A 30-year tradition, the ArtWalk process is simple — proceed at your own pace, wander into galleries that capture your fancy, stroll around a delightful area punctuated by dramatic statues, bubbling fountains, tree-covered courtyards, famed restaurants and more. Horse-drawn carriage rides and trolley rides are often available from plentiful free parking areas nearby.  People love the fabulous weather and Scottsdale Downtown ambiance, and they often plan an entire evening that combines ArtWalk with a foray for drinks, dining or the theater.  Be prepared to be surprised by the wide array of artistic styles that are represented by Scottsdale galleries, from Western traditional to cutting-edge contemporary, from Southwest landscapes and Native American subjects to Russian Impressionism and more. Scottsdale ArtWalk keeps you on your cultural toes!

Scottsdale ArtWalk is also a great place to “people watch.” Sure, famed artists may be guested at individual gallery receptions, or even demonstrating their work, but the art-walking public itself offers up a wide slice of life, a mix of locals and tourists of all kinds.

Historic Heritage Square

Historic Heritage Square is a striking remnant of Phoenix’s Victorian past. The Rosson House is the cornerstone of a city block dating from the late 1800s. Museums, shops and restaurants now inhabit the block, which encompasses the only remaining group of residential structures from the original townsite of Phoenix. Historic Heritage Square is a part of Heritage & Science Park that includes the Arizona Science Center (602-716-2000), Phoenix Museum of History(602-253-2734), restaurants and a parking garage. The park is operated by the city of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department in conjunction with the Rosson House-Heritage Square Foundation.

Arizona Science Center

Members of the Junior League of Phoenix opened a small "pilot" science center called the Arizona Museum of Science and Technology in 1984. Offering educational opportunities that complement the schools, this facility provided "hands-on" science learning to more than 750,000 children and adults during its 13-year history. The Arizona Science Center, with the assistance of a distinguished Education Advisory Committee that included representatives from the State's universities, school systems, businesses, and community groups, performed a needs assessment for science learning in Arizona. The findings were incorporated into the selection of exhibits, year-one programmatic offerings, and strategies to reach key segments of the public: youth, adolescents, parents, and teachers. The new Arizona Science Center opened to the public in April 1997. A new, voter-approved expansion opened in October 2004, including additional classroom and gallery space. Current facilities include more than 40,000 square-feet of gallery space containing more than 300 hands-on exhibits; an IMAX Theater seating 285; a multi-media Dorrance Planetarium seating 200; a suite of classrooms; amenities including a gift shop, food service and lunchroom; and support facilities.

The Phoenix Museum of History

The Phoenix Museum of History is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and exhibiting the early history of Phoenix. Visitors of all ages enjoy interactive and educational exhibits showcasing Phoenix’s metamorphosis from a dusty desert town to a modern metropolis. Now in its seventh decade, the museum continues to receive recognition and appreciation for its contribution to the cultural life of Phoenix. Come discover how time and place have influenced modern Phoenix, and the stories of the city's exciting and colorful past.

Rosson House Museum

Historic Heritage Square located inside Heritage & Science Park, is comprised of several beautifully restored turn of the 20th century homes (including the 1895 Rosson House) and buildings located on what was part of the original Phoenix townsite during the late 1800s. Today, the park itself is part of Phoenix’s downtown Copper Square. The Rosson House - Heritage Square Foundation & Guild, a non-profit organization, provides docents/volunteers, educational programs, special events and historical activities for visitors of all ages at Historic Heritage Square in downtown Phoenix. Our mission: To serve as a window in time through which present and future generations experience the culture and history of Phoenix through participation and education while acting as stewards of Historic Heritage Square.

The Shemer Art Center and Museum is located in an historic home built in 1919. Nestled in Arcadia, one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Phoenix, Shemer boasts a panoramic view of Camelback Mountain with a touch of nostalgia.

In October 1984 Shemer Art Center was born. Mrs. Shemer had two dreams: one to preserve a bit of Phoenix history and another to provide to the citizens of Phoenix an art education facility. In 1986 SACAMA (Shemer Art Center and Museum Association)* was formed to provide support and input into the operation of the art center. The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department is pleased to join forces with SACAMA to support and preserve this very special cultural and historical amenity for Phoenix.

Dedicated as our capitol in 1901, the copper-domed building has witnessed many landmarks in Arizona history.

Our state constitution was composed here in 1910 and it became our State Capitol in 1912 with Arizona's admission to the union. Social changes in the state, such as a commitment to fiscal conservatism and rapid population growth after World War II are reflected in the very construction of the Capitol building and its additions.

The governor's office, both houses of the legislature, and the Arizona Supreme Court all occupied the building together at one time. The historic Capitol building, now the Arizona Capitol Museum, continues to watch our state's political story unfold with its central position between the governor's office and the state legislature. It remains the primary symbol of democracy in Arizona.

The Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park collects, preserves, and interprets central Arizona’s history with special emphasis on the 20th century. This is one of four museum divisions of the statewide Arizona Historical Society.

Visit the museum to see exhibits related to the impact of water in the desert, the development of agriculture, and transportation, and the Home Front during World War II. Other galleries focus on urban growth and change, prominent individuals who shaped Arizona, and the Wallace and Ladmo Show, one of the longest-running TV shows in history.

Videos, interactive displays, and activities for children make this museum enjoyable for the entire family. Group tours must be scheduled in advance. Researchers can use the library, archives, and collections to learn more about the history and material culture of central Arizona. The archives contain a rich oral history and film collection, as well as thousands of photos and documents, including maps and architectural drawings.

Prominent collections present the history of Valley National Bank, Phoenix Little Theatre, Bayless stores, and household food preparation and kitchen ware. Artifact collections related to farming, World War II, and clothing depict the changing material culture of this area from the late-19th century to the present. Volunteers are an important part of the museum team. The museum provides a variety of experiences for volunteers, from leading tours to working with collections.

Stretching out over 95 acres north of downtown Phoenix is an 1800’s town with 29 historic buildings, no cars or smog, and townspeople including cowboys, lawmen, and Victorian ladies in period dress. Visitors can see the Opera House where Lilly Langtry sang; look through a rifle port in the actual cabin that survived Arizona's bloodiest range war; laugh through a melodrama; or browse through an 1890's dress shop and more including a blacksmith shop, sheriff’s office and jail.

In 1956, plans for a living history museum began with a group of Arizona history enthusiasts. Many landmarks of Arizona history were being destroyed by what many called progress. These enthusiasts formed the "Pioneer Arizona Foundation, Inc" Founders of Pioneer Arizona Foundation, Inc. include: Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lockett (who donated the state land lease to the museum) - Paul Fannin, Governor of Arizona in the early 1960s. – Senator Barry Goldwater – Senator Carl Hayden – Governor Wesley Bolin - George Babbit, Jr. - JoAnn Schmitt Graham, a journalist - Robert R. Weaver, a Phoenix attorney

The museum celebrated it's Grand Opening on February 15, 1969, with Phase 1 of the Living History Village. The Pioneer Living History Village you visit today is still in Phase 1. Over time and with contributions from the public, this Village hopes to one day complete the original founders' dreams so that our Western heritage here in Arizona is preserved for future generations to see. The village houses 30 historic buildings from the 1880s to the turn of the century. Most of them can be viewed and experienced by the public. We welcome field trips from schools, home schools, tour agents, destination planners and communities - The Village is a "Classroom Without Walls".

The Hall of Flame Fire Museum and the National Firefighting Hall of Heroes, located in Phoenix, Arizona, has almost an acre of fire history exhibits, with over 90 fully restored pieces of fire apparatus on display, dating from 1725 to 1969. Most of the exhibits are American, but we also have pieces from England, France, Austria, Germany, and Japan. The Hall of Flame sponsors the National Firefighting Hall of Heroes, which honors firefighters who have died in the line of duty or who have been decorated for heroism.  George F. Getz, Jr. founded the Hall of Flame in 1961. He organized the National Historical Fire Foundation as a 501(c)(3) non profit organization to promote the programs of a museum which he named the Hall of Flame. Mr. Getz began to collect fire apparatus after the Christmas 1955 present of a 1924 American la France fire engine from his wife, Olive Atwater Getz. The couple were fascinated by the rig, and Mr. Getz began to collect apparatus of all types from all over the world. In 1961 the collection was large enough for exhibit in a small museum in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, near the Getz summer home.

A few years later the Hall of Flame moved to Kenosha, Wisconsin, where it remained until 1970. In that year the Getz family moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, and Mr. Getz decided to move the Hall of Flame as well. In 1974 the Hall of Flame opened its present building in Phoenix's Papago Park, adjacent to the Phoenix Zoo and Phoenix Municipal Stadium. The Hall has grown from its original single gallery to six exhibit galleries, a library, store, theater, restoration shop, darkroom, storage galleries, and administrative offices. The Hall's present size is 50,000 square feet, with 35,000 square feet of exhibit galleries. The collection has grown to over 130 wheeled pieces, thousands of smaller artifacts, and a library with over 6,000 holdings and over 50,000 graphics.

Mr. Getz died in 1992. His grandson, George F. Getz, was elected to the presidency of the foundation. Mr. Getz' son Bert, his grandson Bert, and his granddaughter Lynn are also members of the foundation's board of trustees. The Getz family strongly supports the goals of the Foundation, which are three: The collection, preservation and exhibit of objects relating to the history of firefighting; fire safety education; and the recognition of firefighters who have died in the line of duty or who have been recognized for acts of heroism.

The galleries contain a wide variety of exhibits, including fire apparatus, artwork, uniforms and equipment, firemarks, alarm room equipment, and a large fire safety exhibit which includes a two room safety house, a mini-theater, and many hands-on exhibits for children. The museum has a theater with seating for 40 visitors that is equipped with a multi-media projector and stereo sound. Visitors can see videos relating to firefighting. The museum has created a ten-minute video that introduces visitors to the exhibits. In 1998 the museum opened a new gallery titled the National Firefighting Hall of Heroes. In this gallery we honor American firefighters who have received a national award for heroism, and we also recognize American firefighters who have died in the line of duty. The gallery contains a variety of exhibits which describe the social history of firefighting -- the volunteers, career firefighters, wild land firefighters, and paramedics. For more information on the Hall of Heroes, see our Hall of Heroes page. By the end of 2002, we will be opening a new 2,000 square foot gallery that will tell the story of wild land firefighting. The exhibit will include a fire lookout and exhibits related to the smokejumpers, helitacks, hot shots and Class I crews that make up modern wild land firefighting crews in the United States.

Beginning as a 3,000-square-foot room full of Arizona artifacts in May, 1977, the Mesa Southwest Museum is now an 80,000-square-foot facility with a budget of over $1 million. The museum features a multitude of exhibits representing southwestern natural and cultural history. Although the museum continued to grow throughout the years, the latest and grandest expansion thus far resulted from a 1996 City of Mesa bond election that approved $4.5 million for museum construction. This project was completed in May, 2000, and doubled the museum’s previous display area.

Exhibits for the expansion were funded by the Mesa Southwest Museum Foundation, which raised an additional $4.5 million, and by the Southwest Archaeology Team, the Mesa Southwest Museum Guild and the Southwest Paleontological Society, all museum associate organizations. In-house teams planned for, designed and facilitated the construction of new exhibits, providing a sense of pride and ownership for museum employees. The museum is now recognized as one of the largest “dinosaur” museums in the Southwest.

Education and research are high priorities for the museum. Many educational opportunities are available to museum patrons of all ages through classes, workshops, labs, lectures and other activities. A rapidly expanding collections area is currently responsible for approximately 48,000 objects accessioned by the museum. Visitors to the Mesa Southwest Museum experience an incredible journey through Prehistoric Arizona that begins with the formation of the solar system itself. Other attractions include the awe-inspiring three-story Dinosaur Mountain, Dinosaur Hall, Discovery Resource Center, Native Peoples gallery, Art of the Ancient Americas, a Spanish mission replica, Territorial Jail Cells, Arizona and the Movies, turn-of-the-century Mesa, the Arizona Highways Magazine gallery and more.

Two changing galleries—Galeria Baja and Galeria Alta—provide the venue for blockbuster changing exhibits from around the world. Other facilities operated by the Mesa Southwest Museum include the Sirrine House Museum, and the Mesa Grande ruins. The Sirrine House was built in 1896. This distinctive Queen Anne style home was deeded to the City of Mesa in 1980 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Mesa Grande ruins consist of an ancient Hohokam platform mound that was utilized around AD 1000-1400. It is located less than two miles from the Mesa Southwest Museum and is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Deer Valley Rock Art Center, a 47-acre nature preserve that contains more than 1,500 petroglyphs, merges past, present and future.

Managed by Arizona State University's Department of Anthropology, the center features petroglyphs left on more than 500 boulders throughout the Hedgpeth Hills, a sacred Indian site. In the visitor's center, designed by famed Southwest architect Will Bruder, interpretive displays examine the process of petroglyph production, preservation and interpretation.

The Glyph Shop offers a variety of items relating to rock art including books, clothing and jewelry. The site opened to the public in 1994 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Guided tours along the quarter-mile trail are available for school and adult groups or visitors may stroll along on their own.