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    Dwarf Car Museum

    5.0 (30 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Dwarf Car Museum Photos

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    If you like excellent craftsmanship or if you're a gearhead or car enthusiast, this is a must see place to visit. You're free to roam around and check out all the cars, I would guess about a dozen. All scratch built inside and out!!!!!!!!!! They have Toyota drive trains and can be driven anywhere. Ernie is really cool to talk to. I can't say enough about this place. TWO THUMBS UP!!!!!!!!!

    36 Sedan
    Janet W.

    A diamond in the rough after 2 lane roads. Ernie Adam's took an idea and drove with it. Multiple cars dwarfed from 1910's delivery truck to 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air. A definite stop for your imagination to run wild and enjoy all automobile memorabilia.

    Dwarf delivery truck
    Darrellyn A.

    We met Ginger and Ernie. My husband was so happy to find this place and he and our son were able to speak with Ernie about his creations. The girls and I spoke with Ginger, his daughter in-law and she was delightful and very knowledgeable about every car. There are things to view inside and outside. There is a gift shop. Not sure if it was added after the review from 3 years ago, but the gift shop has t-shirts, books and a variety of nostalgia type things and toys you may remember from your youth and visiting a five and dime. Plan to spend about an hour to an hour and a half if you are super interested. We went on a super hot day and it was not bad temperature wise inside. If you are a car enthusiast and love interesting cars, every car in this collection is just amazing when you realize that every car is scaled down, working/drivable, and very detailed. Ernie's first car was made out of refrigerators!! There is a video to watch and you can see how he was able to scale down the tires and rims.

    Dwarf Car Museum, Maricopa AZ
    Bruce K.

    No charge for entry but they'll gladly take your donations. I had no trouble donating, buying a cold bottle of water and even getting a few post cards because this is pretty darned awesome. Great to meet the builder and his son who gave a great tour and explanation even though he's probably done it a million times. Ernie Adams built his first car in 1965, a 28 Chevy two-door sedan made from old refrigerators. Yes, I said refrigerators. It just went on from there and now he's bending and shaping steel and all sorts to make these FULLY FUNCTIONAL vehicles that are all just a little bit smaller than stock. You really have to make the journey to see this for yourself. It's amazing. [Review 17509 overall - 95 in Arizona - 1027 of 2022.]

    Fun random stop
    Rob M.

    A random stop I made during my travels in the desert. Pros: + Its a purely donation based stop. Leave what you feel is appropriate + All cars are built in house + A documentary video is on display which can burn some time during leisure travel + Almost all cars on display are completely functional + Friendly folks Cons: - It can be a little hot. You are in the desert Bottom line: More details are in my profile link, but totally worth a stop when exploring

    The dwarf car museum is absolutely worth the drive. Ernie's cars are immaculate and so fun to see. You can also see his workshop and projects in progress. His sons were very informative and friendly. The museum area also contains antiques and vintage toys. There is a "rust room" for visitors and also plenty to see outside the museum on the property. If you like cars or metal fabrication, you should visit!

    So much History and thank you to Ginger and Rick for telling us the history today. For anyone interested admission is 5.00.

    Gary R.

    I first saw this on YouTube a couple of years ago. I immediately added it to my bucket list of places to go. I finally had the opportunity as I was working in Phoenix this week. We arrived at 9 am and were the first ones there, which was great because we were treated like old friends when we walked in the door. The garage is a walk through automotive history, and feels like you are on site for an episode of American Pickers. The gentleman who build the cars Jean and Ernie, will share every aspect of what went I to building them with a knowledge of cars that leaves me feeling humble. Each dwarf car is not only an amazing piece of art, they are also functional road legal pieces of art. You soon realize when walking the garage and property that they are not running a museum. They are sharing acres of art with you. A quick walk around the property will introduce you to the Ernie's Garden, The pet cemetery and historic vehicles displayed in natural state of decay...which I find amazing. Keep in mind there is no store, or memorabilia to purchase, just simply a visitor log to sign and a donation box for donations to keep the place going. (They do have a small refrigerator with sodas for $.75.). Bring cash for donations and sodas. Take pictures, but I recommend talking and asking questions as that is where your real memories will be acquired. I give this a 5 out of 5 as it is a great detour from the freeway. If you are ever I the Phoenix area looking for a place to spend some time, swing down to Maricopa and be amazed at the art these men have created.

    "Little Bitty"
    Karla A.

    Doesn't look like much when you past by this place but, what a great surprise. This is totally a hidden gem. Dwarf repica cars made from scratch by 2 true artists Ernie Adams and Gene Tweedy. I wished I had more time to spend but we will be coming back to see the finished products. Gene was so friendly and welcoming and was explaining and answering all of questions. Thank you so much. Really enjoyed your place!

    Actually, very fun
    Robert C.

    Very fun. We had fun trip to Maricopa. The family that runs this place is delightful

    Entrance is through the doors into the warehouse.

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    1 month ago

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    4 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    11 months ago

    Lovely little museum, family owned and operated. Fun day trip with the kids! Lots of antiques and interesting bits!

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    4 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    9 months ago

    This place is great. Very great place to visit to see the skill and craftsmanship that is put into the cars.

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Really cool place owner builds car himself very different than what you would typically see going down the road!

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    7 years ago

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    5 years ago

    This is so awesome the beautiful craftsmanship of the cars are impressive to say the least

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    7 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Super cool place!! The guy who owns it is really nice and he has some videos playing in the back on how he makes the cars.

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    8 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Worth the stop! Great place with lots of history! Good parking. Ernie is still working in the shop!

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    Review Highlights - Dwarf Car Museum

    My husband was so happy to find this place and he and our son were able to speak with Ernie about his creations.

    Mentioned in 10 reviews

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    4.3(361 reviews)
    40.0 mi

    Much more than we could absorb in one visit !! We are already planning our return. We never…read moreeven made it to the second floor where the boarding school exhibit was presented.

    After discovering the Heard Museum in the book "1000 Places to go Before You Die", we put it on the…read morelist of ''must sees' for a recent trip to Phoenix. TAKE THE LIGHT RAIL We took the light rail to the museum from our downtown hotel. There's a stop just down the road. GET A DISCOUNT The adult entry fee was $26 and we used our AAA membership for an exciting $1 off. I feel by the time you're paying $50+ for a couple, the cost is getting off-putting. LOCKERS AVAILABLE We used their complimentary storage lockers for our carry-on luggage as we were on our way to the airport afterwards. You also have to stow water bottles in the lockers. There are a couple of water fountains around the museum in case you get parched. ALLOW HALF A DAY The museum is a quality museum with a lot to see and read, but you really have to be into southwest stuff to really appreciate it in my opinion. After a few hours we were getting slightly overwhelmed, glassy-eyed and tired/bored with aching backs. (To be fair, it was our fourth museum in 3 days, so we were a little burned out!) STAY FOR LUNCH We really enjoyed an excellent lunch at the cafe in the courtyard and highly recommend it. EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP(S) There's a high-end store where you can purchase expensive rugs, jewelry, sculptures, etc. and there's also the 'Mugs and T-shirts' souvenir store and a small coffee shop. RIDE SHARE DROP OFF AND PICK UP The ride share pick-up and drop off is around the back at one end of the parking lot. Helpful?

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    Musical Instrument Museum

    4.7(911 reviews)
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    I had such a wonderful time exploring the MIM! I highly recommend taking a day off to visit…read more There's so much to see, hear, learn, and experience here! Staff and volunteers are happy to be here and helpful. My faves were the artist gallery (Prince's purple piano!) and the experiential room where I could pound on a drum! Ahhhh. Two floors of meticulously curated items designed to inspire and educate you - just wow. Then, enjoy a coffee or snack or a freshly made salad or sandwich at their cafe. The food is exceptional, especially enjoyed on their patio. I stopped in to the gift shop and found a small token for my brother. If you can, also check out the many performers: some well-known and some up & comers - who perform in the comfortable performing arts theatre. They have a calendar of events on the website. The MIM literally has something for everyone. I think what's so great is I can bring guests to the MIM and not be bored b/c you can never see all there is to see in just one day!

    I've lived in Arizona a long time now and had never been to this museum, which is well-renowned and…read morehighly rated. I'd heard good things about their concerts, specifically. April is community college month and for that, they offered all MCCCD students and employees half off admission, which I took advantage of. I brought my friend here and we got two for one admission, plus entry to their special exhibition: The Magical Flute. After we got our tickets, we were given a headphones and audio set so we could hear. The music being played on the screens throughout the museum. No food/drink allowed, or backpacks. I was wearing a small one but was able to keep it with me by wearing it on my front, maybe so I wouldn't inadvertently knock things over if it was on the back. We started on the second floor and moved through the continents, starting with Africa, "Middle East" (aka West Asia), Asia, Latin America, USA/Canada, and Europe. Saved the two we were least interested in for last. Honestly, I was overwhelmed with the variety and amount of instruments; the orientation video said they have 10,000. I was curious how they amassed them all and hoped it was done ethically (saw a few spots that notated gifts and donations by certain people). I liked the similarities of instruments across geographical areas, and it made sense when I saw the Silk Road section and how trade connected these countries. I had quite the jump scare as I was moving through West Asia and I came across "Isr*el". That is NOT a real place and it should be correctly labeled as Palestine. I didn't even look at that exhibit as it made me too mad, and I vocalized my annoyance. Almost ruined my visit honestly, and I wish they would rectify this particular exhibit. I read a review that said it used to be Palestine; if so, shame on them for changing it. During the Latin American section, the power ran out on my portable headset so we went back downstairs and got new ones so we could continue to enjoy the music. It did make me think about how deaf people experience this museum in a much different way than people who can hear, as it becomes primarily a visual experience. I agree with my boba sistah who shared her desire to play with the instruments, as that same feeling came over me many times during my visit. I understand why this isn't allowed, but it takes some self-restraint. I must have missed the experience gallery with instruments that could be played, that would have been fun. Though the gift shop had a few instruments that we tried out. The special exhibit on flutes was fine, but not worth the extra price if I had to pay. I did recognize a familiar face: Ken Koshio, who plays the drums and flute at sunrise on Piestewa Peak. The museum also has an artist gallery of different musicians that I didn't find too interesting (Maroon 5? Taylor Swift? Really?). They have a cafe and we quickly perused the menu, but seeing items like a pork banh mi for $19 doesn't sound tempting. Overall, I would say this is a worthwhile visit and there is so much to take in and explore. I was glad to have gotten a deal on admission. Though I am super bummed about their exclusion of Palestine, hence my rating.

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    Great Lineup!!

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    Desert Botanical Garden

    4.5(2k reviews)
    40.6 mi

    My best friend and I visited Desert Botanical Garden after a lovely dinner in the area. She…read morementioned that she had tickets left over from a visit earlier in the day that granted admittance later in the evening/after dark. I had never been to Desert Botanical Garden despite living in the area for nearly five years, so I was quick to agree to tag along! We visited on an evening that was also dog night, so in addition to seeing the beautiful botanicals, we got to see lots of happy pups. Though my dog was not with us, I appreciated how they had lots of doggy bags, water bowls, and water stations at the ready for the dog owners. The exhibit was beautiful, seeing the lights intertwined with the plants and the cacti. This was truly breathtaking. I will definitely add Desert Botanical Garden to my list of places to take friends and family who visit me out west.

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    Wowww, I have heard about this garden for sometime but finally I made it happen to visit…read more As soon as you stepped in-- you already find yourself in the right place; calm, peaceful, beautiful and simple. The garden is well maintained and organized, quiet place for give yourself quiet time and meditation. The garden is not that big place to walk around, but it's definitely worth it if you feel like need to escape and looking for nature therapy--this is the one! Give yourself more time to sit back and enjoy the greenery. The staff is super friendly and welcoming! I will definitely come back again soon.

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    4.4(606 reviews)
    39.6 mi

    Was on a layover and decided to checkout some local activities…read more Parking was on the challenging side because it is also next to a theatre and a performance was scheduled. We visited on a Wednesday after 3pm...it's pay what you can and they're open til 8pm so that also added to parking congestion. No pressure to pay/donate but they did let us know the normal price. We opted to pay $5 vs. the regular $28 per person. I primarily wanted to visit the Yayoi Kusama room but loved the butterfly installation and the tiny rooms as well. They have a nice variety of art work overall. There were some areas that were closed off due to a private event, so didn't get to visit all exhibits and they also have some additional pay areas too. Highly recommend and would definitely visit again!

    PRICE SLIGHTLY STEEP Not my favorite art museum I've ever…read morebeen to as it lacks big well known pieces. I felt the adult price of $28 was too high, especially as a couple -- that's almost $60 for a day out of looking at some pictures. They do offer a AAA $3 discount, which we took advantage of. KUMSAMA FIREFLIES INFINITY MIRROR ROOM My favorite part was the Kusama Fireflies Infinity Mirror Room, where you wander into a room of darkness surrounded by mesmerizing twinkling lights and mirrors. I wasn't aware that this was there, so it was a pleasant surprise. LAYOUT I felt the museum has a slightly confusing, disjointed layout. GIFT SHOP There's a quality gift shop selling typical art museum items like jewelry, scarves, mugs, etc. LOCKERS There are complimentary lockers for backpacks/purses and water. WEB SITE Before our trip, I used their web site and found it confusing to find out the price of tickets and as to whether they were actually open on certain days. See my photos attached. Helpful?

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    Phoenix Art Museum - Local AZ artist Eric Fischl - made this painting after taking several photographs and mashing the painted images together into one canvas.

    Local AZ artist Eric Fischl - made this painting after taking several photographs and mashing the painted images together into one canvas.

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    Dwarf Car Museum - museums - Updated May 2026

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