You Will Learn About the Rich History of the Indigenous People of the American Southwest in This Popular Museum

Do you love visiting museums? We already covered 10 fascinating museums in Phoenix where admission is free. But if you want to explore other must-visit places, you should definitely include the Heard Museum in your list. This museum takes pride in its collections of Native American artifacts and artwork. You will be delighted to see the century-old Katchina dolls, jewelry, and clothing created by some members of Native tribes throughout the country.

There Are Recognized Collections of Native American Artifacts and Artwork at the Heard Museum

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The Heard Museum is a private, not-for-profit museum in Phoenix, Arizona. It is dedicated to the advancement of American Indian art, and treats its visitors to the stories of American Indian people from a first-person perspective. It is also home to many interesting exhibitions of traditional and contemporary art. The pieces displayed here are mostly made by American Indian artists as well as artists influenced by American Indian art. If you are looking for a distinctive perspective about the art of Native people, especially those from the Southwest, this is the museum you need to visit!

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This museum actually started out as a small museum in a humble southwestern town. It slowly gained popularity and has grown in size. Today, it is recognized internationally for the quality of its collections. The museum’s educational programming and festivals also do not disappoint. Undoubtedly, they’ve definitely come a long way! They also have a big collection of over 40,000 items. In addition, they house a library and archives with over 34,000 volumes. Heard Museum has over 130,000 square feet of gallery, classroom, and performance space. For sure, you will have fun touring this museum.

The founders of this museum are Dwight B. and Maie Bartlett Heard. It is also said that much of the archaeological material in the Heards’ collection came from the La Ciudad Indian ruin. The Heards purchased this ruin in 1926 at the 19th and Polk streets in Phoenix.

What Else is There to See?

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Heard Museum takes pride in its collections of Native American artifacts and artwork. You will be delighted to see the century-old Katchina dolls, jewelry, and clothing created by some members of Native tribes throughout the country. There are also archives of traditional baskets and paintings that you might find interesting. You should know that this place places an emphasis on the American Indian tribes of the Southwestern region. The museum also has a shop and a cafe.

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Experience The Heard’s exhibition galleries and check out the ongoing shows and changing exhibits featuring an array of artists and art forms. In case you are wondering, some of the current exhibits include the following:

Signature Exhibits

Native People in the Southwest
Learn all about the Native peoples of the Southwest by hearing them tell the stories in their own words. This exhibit displays the traditions from the past and present, and examines the Native peoples’ definition of home. You will find the Pueblo horno, Navajo hogan, and hundreds of katsida dolls (around 400) on display.

Away from Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories
This is the updated installation of the long-running Boarding School exhibition at the Heard Museum. Longtime The Heard guests know that this is the museum’s most thematically powerful exhibition.

Ongoing Exhibits

Around the World: The Heard Museum Collection
This permanent collection features everything collected and preserved for more than 75 years. You can find the work collected by the museum founders, as well as the donations of artists and collectors! This will literally take you around the world.

The Third Dimension: Sculptural Stories in Stone and Bronze
Sculptors are pretty awesome. You will see some of the most exciting and moving American Indian fine art of the 20th and 21st centuries here at the Heard Museum. This museum houses the masterpieces of leading American Indian sculptors such as Allan Houser and John Hoover Gifts.

Changing Exhibits

Grand Procession: Contemporary Plains Indian Dolls from the Charles and Valerie Diker Collection
Be inspired by the exceptional collection of dolls or “soft sculptures.” These dolls provide a figurative reference to Indigenous peoples from the Great Plains and Great Basin regions. These people lived in the area during the late nineteenth century.

You Can Also Shop at the Heard Museum!

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If you love art so much, then you should come to the museum shop that boasts wonderful items by talented American Indian artists. You can be assured that the integrity and authenticity of the art offered for sale are well intact. There are some days when the shop holds periodic specialty markets for American Indian artists to display. They don’t just sell art. They also educate the public about art.

By supporting the museum’s shop, you will also be supporting their mission to provide income to the American Indian artists and their families who sell to the shop. Furthermore, these artists will be able to carry on the cultural traditions and art forms to future generations. Choose from beautiful handmade artworks such as rugs, jewelry, pottery, or katsina dolls. They always display some new additions in the shop, so make sure to visit often!

Heard Museum Details

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Heard Museum Hours
Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am – 4 pm

Members Early Entry
Saturday and Sunday from 9 am – 10 am

Heard Museum may be closed until further notice due to the current global health crisis. If you want to visit this place, check their website regularly or call their office for updates.

Contact No.: 602 252 8840
Location: 2301 N Central Ave, Phoenix, Arizona 85004
Website: https://heard.org/

Check out other cool museums by looking at our other articles: You can tour a Queen Anne Victorian House Museum in Phoenix. If miniature art is more up to your speed, you should head to this museum in Tucson.