Museums in Phoenix

1700 W. Washington St. Central Phoenix

602-926-3620

In 1889 Arizona's state capitol moved permanently to Phoenix after hopping from city to city over a period of years. The original Arizona State Capitol Building in 1900, dedicated on February 25, 1901 and was designated a museum in 1977. The building served as the actual state capitol when Arizona became the 48th state in 1912 and the governor's office was located in the building until the mid 1970s. The building now houses the Arizona Capitol Museum and the Governor's Office, other departments and the Senate and House of Representatives are in nearby buildings. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic places. The collections in the museum are part of the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records and the collections include “Curtis the Collector: Native American Baskets, Pottery and Miscellany,” “David Swing Painting Collection,” “Images from the Edward Curtis Collection at the Arizona Capitol Museum,” and the “USS Arizona Silver Service Collection.”

10 articles

Arizona Military Museum

5636 E. McDowell Rd. East Phoenix

602-267-2676

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This museum is operated by the Arizona National Guard Historical Society, a private non-profit corporation, and aims to preserve the military history of Arizona. The museums' 25 exhibits contains all varieties of artifacts including uniforms, weapons, newspapers, maps and vehicles that showcase the history of the armed forces in the state. There are displays on prisoners of war, World War I and the Arizona National Guard. The museum was founded in 1975 and is maintained by officers and directors who serve as docents, working with National Guard support to direct and upkeep the museum. The building itself is a piece of Arizona history, constructed in 1936 as a Depression-era public works project. The raw adobe building served as a National Guard arsenal until World War II at which time it was converted into a maintenance shop for German prisoners of war who were held at a nearby POW camp.

2 articles

Arizona Museum For Youth

35 N. Robson Mesa

480-644-2467

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When it was founded in 1980 the Arizona Museum for Youth was the only childrens museum in the United States dedicated specifically to fine art. The museum was the dream of philanthropists Jack and John Whiteman and has become a place for Valley residents to introduce children to the world of art and discover self-expression. Exhibits at the museum include both traditional art displays and participatory components that allow children to explore the fine arts as well as their own creativity. The museum is housed inside what used to be a grocery store and one exhibit, Artville, is a mini-sized art-focused town for kids. The museum gift shop is also a great place to find affordable gifts for kids including a variety of books, educational toys and more.

9 articles

Arizona Railway Museum

330 E. Ryan Rd. Chandler

480-821-1108

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1 article

Arizona Wing Commemorative Air Force Museum

2017 N. Greenfield Rd. Mesa

480-924-1940

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The Arizona Wing Commemorative Air Force Museum is located at Falcon Field Airport in Mesa and displays a collection of aircraft from WW I through the Vietnam War. The collection includes planes such as the B-17G Flying Fortress Sentimental Journey, B-25, C-45, SNJ, F4 Phantom, Migs and other warbirds. You can even climb into the B-17 for a first-hand experience of what the cramped interior of the aircraft feels and looks like. Artifacts and memorabilia from that time period are also on display, reflecting military and aviation history. The facility 30,000 square-foot facility is surrounded by combat aircraft and offers a gift shop as well.

3 articles

ASU Art Museum Brickyard

699 S. Mill Ave. Tempe

480-965-2787

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44 articles

Berlin Gallery at the Heard Museum

2301 N. Central Ave. Central Phoenix

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4 articles

Biosphere 2

32540 S. Biosphere Rd., Oracle Outside the Valley

520-838-6200

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Outside of Tucson a giant glass sphere rises out of the desert. It's called Biosphere 2. The failed experiment in sustainable living now belongs to the University of Arizona, who use the building as a biological and climate-research facility. The Biosphere was constructed in Oracle, about a half and house outside of Tucson, between 1987 and 1991 and is still the larger enclosed system ever created. The university purchased the science research facility in 2011, turning it into a center for research, outreach teaching and lifelong learning about the planet and its systems. The 3.14-acre structure was originally built to be an artificial ecological system housing five areas based on different biomes, an agricultural area as well as spaces for residents to live and work. The first mission, in which eight crew members were enclosed in the structure, lasted two years from September 1991 to September 1993. The second mission, which began in March 1994, lasted only ten months.

2 articles

Children's Museum of Phoenix

215 N. Seventh St. Central Phoenix

602-253-0501

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Housed inside the historic Monroe School in downtown Phoenix, this kid-centric museum is a must for parents trying to cure the summertime boredom blues. Of course, the Children's Museum on Phoenix is a great place to visit truly any time of year, with awesome exhibits like the infamous “noodle forest,” a waving, wiggling rainforest of lime green and orange polyethylene foam tubes. Other highlights for the little ones usually include the giant three-level play area when you first walk in; a fully set up grocery store where kiddos can shop, pay, and restock to their hearts' desires; and Pedal Power a tricycle track, complete with a “car wash.” For adults the building offers plenty to enjoy since the renovated structure features many of its original elements. For example the oak floors are the same ones laid down in 1913 and the north and south stairwells still boast their original banisters.

16 articles

Dorrance Planetarium

Arizona Science Center Central Phoenix

602-716-2000

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1 article

Heard Museum

2301 N. Central Ave. Central Phoenix

602-252-8840

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From humble beginnings, when the Dwight and Maie Bartlett Heard founded the museum in what was then a small Southwestern town, to the impressive world-class museum it is today, the Heard Museum has come a long way. The Heard opened in 1929 and houses internally recognized collections of Native American artifacts and artwork. You can find century-old Katchina dolls, archives of traditional baskets, paintings, sculptures, jewelry, and clothing all created by members of Native tribes throughout the country. Though the museum aims to educate about the arts, heritage and lives of all the Indigenous peoples of the Americas, the emphasis lies on the American Indian tribes of the Southwestern region. In addition of the high quality collections the Heard offers education programming and festivals. The museum has two locations, one in downtown Phoenix and second in north Scottsdale both of which feature a shop and cafe.

235 articles

Heard Museum North Scottsdale

32633 N. Scottsdale Rd. North Scottsdale

480-488-9817

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8 articles

Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum

1 E. Main St. Mesa

480-644-6500

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132 articles

Penske Racing Museum

7125 E. Chauncey Lane North Phoenix

480-538-4444

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There are a lot of nice cars in Scottsdale, that's for sure. But there's only one place where you can oogle the goods of the most winning cars in the history of racing. In case you're not a racing fan the aforementioned “winners” refers to the Penske Racing Team, which has in fact been awarded the most wins in the history of the sport. Since they've already done pretty much everything else, they decided to build an 8,000-square-foot museum as an ode to their achievements. At the Penske Racing Museum, located among the high-end car dealerships in Scottsdale, diehard Penske fans can not only drool over memorabilia, but also catch some action in two full-size simulators, on a custom-designed racetrack, or on the off-road course. They also have 16 championship winning cars on display, including the 1984 Indy winner, the Pennzoil No. 6 car.

3 articles

Phoenix Airport Museum

3400 Sky Harbor Blvd. Central Phoenix

602-273-2105

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If you're a responsible traveler you probably arrive at Sky Harbor Airport more than two hours before your flight. Good for you, you won't have to run to your gate. That also means you have time to check out the Phoenix Airport Museum before you board your plane. The airport's collection of art includes almost 600 pieces of artwork that promote Arizona's artistic and cultural heritage. The works, which have been acquired for the most part with percent-for-art money or through donations, can be viewed at locations throughout Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Sky Harbor Rental Car Center, Phoenix Deer Valley Airport and Phoenix Goodyear Airport. The majority of the exhibits are on display for about six months at a time, though several collections are considering on-going and have been on display for several years. And unlike at a typical museum, all the exhibits at Phoenix Sky Harbor at open 24-hours a day.

18 articles

Phoenix Art Museum

1625 N. Central Ave. Central Phoenix

602-257-1880

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Located on the Central Avenue Corridor, a historic strip of Downtown Phoenix, the Phoenix Art Museum offers plenty to see for art aficionados and amateurs alike. It's the largest museum for visual art in the Southwest and offers 285,000-square-foot of collections that include more than 17,000 works of American, Asian, European, Latin American, Western American, modern and contemporary art, and fashion design. Since opening in 1959 the museum has hosted some 400 exhibitions and has been enjoyed by millions of vistors. Popular exhibits have included “The Art of Video Games,” “Order, Chaos, and the Space Between” and “Digital Print Fashion.” The museum also offer free admission every Wednesday night from 3 to 6 p.m. as well as on every first Friday of the month for the Downtown Phoenix art walk. It also houses the PhxArtKids galley, with pieces to appeal specifically to youngsters, a museum shop and the restaurant, Palette.

649 articles

Rosson House Museum

113 N. Sixth St. Central Phoenix

602-262-5070

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16 articles

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art

7374 E. Second St. Central Scottsdale

480-874-4666

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Tue-Wed, Sun 12pm-5pm, Thu 12pm-8pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-10pm

344 articles

Shemer Art Center & Museum

5005 E. Camelback Rd. East Phoenix

602-262-4727

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We can all thank Martha Shemer, a longtime Phoenix resident, for this picturesque art museum. Built in the 1920s the stucco home was purchased by Shemer in 1984 at which time she donated the property at no cost to the City of Phoenix. The only condition was that she wanted it to used to house an art education facility. In turning the home into the Shemer Art Center and Museum, she preserved a piece of Phoenix history and gave us all quite a gift. The impressive view of Camelback Mountain alone would be worth recognition, let alone the fact that the center host exhibits in its front room, art class in the kitchen and sculptures in the garden. The entire propert offers a calm, quite retreat with a distinctly enchanted ambiance that always seems to bring out our creativity and imagination.

62 articles

Titan Nuclear Missile Museum

1580 W. Duval Mine Rd., Sahuarita Outside the Valley

520-625-7736

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There's only one place in this country where you can stand, safely, within feet of a giant missile. And what do you know, it's right here in Tucson, Arizona. At the Titian Missile Museum guests get a taste of Cold War America by viewing one of the era's most dramatic vestiges, a preserved Titan II missile site. The complex is officially called 571-7 and is the only remaining site of the dozens that operated across the United States from 1963 to 1987. Luckily for everyone the weapons of mass destruction were never put into use so we can stand in the shadow of the 103-foot weapon and watch mock launch sequences today. If you're the super adventurous type you can even book an overnight stay in the crew facilities. And if you catch one of the tours you might recognize some of the view from the 1996 film Star Trek: First Contact since many of the scenes from the movie were filmed there.

2 articles

Arizona Doll and Toy Museum

602 E. Adams St. Central Phoenix

602-253-9337

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Featuring playthings of yesterday and today, plus a 1912-vintage schoolroom with antique dolls sitting in for the students.

1 article

Arizona Heritage Center

1300 N. College Ave. Tempe

480-929-0292

Museums

1 article

Arizona Historical Society Museum

1300 N. College Ave. Tempe

480-929-9499

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The facility features changing exhibits about the history of Arizona.

2 articles

Arizona Museum of Natural History

53 N. Macdonald St. Mesa

480-644-2230

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In more than 40 exhibits ranging from murals and skeletal reconstructions to three animated models (Tyrannosaurus rex, Pentaceratops and Stegosaurus), dinosaurs are showcased in the "Dinosaur Mountain" exhibition, roaring, snarling and devouring each other. The facility features a variety of changing exhibitions, many science-related.

23 articles

Arizona Pop Culture Experience

21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Ste 36-1310, #119 North Phoenix

480-515-4376

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At the Desert Ridge Marketplace kids and comic nerds can find paradise at the Arizona Popular Culture Expereince, crammed full of every sort of popular culture memorabilia. In the front room, you'll find rooms filled from floor to ceiling with figurines from Star Wars, Star Trek, Indian Jones and Doctor Who, as well as screen-worn costumes from Stargate and Caprica. Upstairs houses a labyrinth of racks holding plastic figurines of sports heroes, rock n' rollers and G.I. Joes. The entire collection belongs to Valley resident John Edwards, who's been collecting these and similar items since 1966. He created the museum to promote education and creativity and every where you look in the museum you'll find colorful boxes of figures, posters and more. Admission costs $5 a person though children ages six to 17 are $3 when accompanied by an adult.

2 articles

Arizona State Museum

1013 E. University Blvd., Tucson Outside the Valley

520-621-6302

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ASU Art Museum

51 E. 10th St. Tempe

480-965-2787

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Nestled in the middle of a sprawling, desert-pink complex, ASU Art Museum was designed by Antoine Predock in 1989. The galleries of the museum are arranged in three levels, with the main floor underground. Predock intended for the space to be mysterious and for the layout to be a little tricky to navigate; this way, the experience of the museum is truly a process of discovery.

206 articles

ASU Innovation Gallery

ASU Tempe Campus, School of Human Evolution and Social Change Bldg. Tempe

480-965-6224

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Housed on the ASU Tempe campus in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change building, the Innovation Gallery is a public space in which students prototype conceptual exhibits and programming, drawing from faculty research. Previously the ASU Museum of Anthropology, the gallery is now part of the school's Center for Archaeology and Society.

ASU Life Sciences Center

451 Tyler Mall Tempe

480-965-3500

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2 articles

Bisbee Mini Museum of the Bizarre

7 Howell Ave, Bisbee Outside the Valley

520-432-3308

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Chandler Museum

300 S. Chandler Village Dr. Chandler

480-782-2717

Museums

1 article

Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve

3711 W. Deer Valley Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85308 North Phoenix

623-582-8007

Museums

This archaeology museum and 47-acre Sonoran Desert preserve is home to the largest concentration of Native American petroglyphs in the Phoenix area. Open to the public for tours, the Will Bruder-designed facility serves as the primary exhibition space for the Center for Archaeology and Society.

1 article

Friends of Marty Robbins

156 N. Railroad Ave., Willcox Outside the Valley

520-766-1404

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Museums in Phoenix

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