Lots to see and learn here, and guided tours available at scheduled times, though I preferred to…read moreroam the museum at my own pace. Posters and film clips of westerns like A Man Called Horse (1970) and Clint Eastwood's The Outlaw Josie Wells (1976). Handcuffs of all kinds on display (more accurately described as "retaining devices") in a western themed set. Mac Schweitzer's impressive collection of artworks, including depictions of desert animals and the wild west, especially a multitude of horse pieces. Countless paintings and artifacts on the second level, portraying native american history, the buffalo, and the evolution of american west landscapes. Scenes of collective work in western life among cowboys, herders, and traders. I found Eddie Basha's cottonwood tree root carvings interesting. And I was especially a fan of "Rabbit Hunt" by Loren Phillips (Hopi). Fistful of Colors in the north gallery explored the diverse meanings of color, such as the term "feeling blue", and how colors tell stories, evoke emotions, and create connections. The room transitioned into displays of movie posters, explaining why those from different countries vary in the way they are presented. Interactive exhibits throughout allow visitors to learn about Shakespeare in the Old West, women of the rodeo, even a scavenger hunt to find "escaped animals" in the museum. I was amused by fun facts like the first circus (Ryland's traveling show) taking place in Tombstone Arizona Territory in 1880, or how the full saying of "Ay Chihuahua" translates to "Yikes! How many Apache Indians are there without sandals!", referring to Apache raiders like Geronimo invading northern mexico wearing calf-high deerskin moccasins. There was also a small sculpture garden outside and gift shop worth checking out before leaving.

One of my goals this year is to be more like a tourist even though I'm a resident. Meaning hitting…read moreup the types of spots that tourists would visit in Phoenix and Scottsdale. Case in point: Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West. I stopped by on a Sunday afternoon with my mom to check out this museum that specializes in Western and Native American art. Here's what I really like: complimentary docent-led tours three times daily. We got to participate in two of them. They're a great way to get a more in-depth view of the museum. With that being said, even if you explore the museum on your own, you'll have a great time doing it. It's a two-level museum and there's plenty to read about and check out. We spent roughly three hours there and probably got through about 50% of the museum. Here's what I didn't like: they have two back-to-back video presentations in the small theater. They unfortunately weren't happening when I was there due to a private event. Bad luck on my part. Also, general admission is a bit pricey. Outside of the price, it's a fantastic museum. There's a complimentary parking lot across from the museum or you can find street parking. And it's a few blocks away from the heart of Old Town Scottsdale. You'll see Arizona's landscape represented in paintings, Native American artwork, Western movies, and much, much more. I'll definitely be back again!

zHuhugam Ki Museum was the starting point for linking past material culture with the present. To…read morethe North, on the Fort Mc Dowell Reservation are the Yavapai, the Indigenous people using and living in all the Verde River Basin. To the south are the Akimel O'odom People of the River, the Gila River. A group of Piipaash people called "Mariposa" by Spaniards, then Maricopa by English speakers lived on the Gila River beyond the Sierra Estrella. They are descended from the Yuman Tribes of the Colorado zRiver. The lands the museum is on are lands of the Akimel O'odham of the Salt River. Conflict brought Piipaash people to these lands. These groups of people speak Yuman languages. Humans have lived in the region at least 8,000 years. The "sandwich house" of wood, Sahauro ribs and Adobe houses the displays, store and experts. Outside are a ki brush structure and vaki "shade houses" built for centuries. Mesquite trees are very important in the culture. A Mesquite mill was recently added in the outdoor patio.Harvested cholla buds are processed in the patio. There are outdoor stoves for cooking flour tortillas. If you're connected to the Museum's Seasonal Cycle you will participate in meals here. This museum honors and preserves the past of the Akimel O'odham and Piipaash people of the Salt River. It is also an anchor for present day cultural practices. If you really care about this valley and want to scratch the surface of it's deep human history this is a good starting place. Plus you may get a chance to eat and dance. Arts and Crafts sold here too.

Small museum packed with a ton of history! Free admissions. Staff very knowledgeable and friendly!…read moreLots of Native American gifts to buy with a big sale in September!

It was interesting but many of the petroglyphs were high in the rocks. It made seeing them…read moredifficult. I guess the best part for us was the building. There we could get some information about the peoples that drew them. In my opinion, a better place to see petroglyphs more closely would be at White Tank Regional Park.

Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve In the Phoenix, Sun City area…read more Open 8 to 2 Wednesday through Saturday. There is a small entry fee but I don't mind helping to support the University's work I think it's $5 for seniors. Of course covid has changed everything so you need to check in on the Is hours with the website. There It's very accessible although it's not really a paved ADA wheelchair accessibility A beach wheelchair might do fine if someone was helping to push. It's a gravel trail so seniors that are mobile should have no problem. Families with children should have no problem. It's a little more than a quarter mile down the trail. They seem to be relying on the audio tour inside and outside though I believe it's posted on spotify. It actually makes me a little sad that they're not relying on volunteers or students as much anymore. It seems to be a trend and it's probably related to covid possibly, to modern Digital Culture rather than human interaction culture that I and my generation come from. I'm also sure like everyone else in the service industry it's urban industry they're finding it hard to get volunteers and employees. It reminds me of the self service lines in grocery stores and retail now, It's all about speed and efficiency rather than service. There was an archeological student from the University of Arizona, who was doing some kind of trail sweep who I naturally engaged in a conversation with, she had a wealth of information about the site and she enjoyed talking about it as well as some of the frustrations of trespasser's and worrying about artifact theft and vandalism. There was no one else around so we talked for 45 minutes. When I asked her about her future in archeology she felt that it was probably going to be in museum work cause that was the only place that you could possibly get a salary if you weren't teaching. I always enjoy listening and learning from bright young people about their passions. The rock art was produced by Archaic (before 150 CE,) Hohokam (1 - 1450 CE,) and Patayan (ca. 900-800 CE) cultures. It focuses on the rock art found a short way from the building on an outcropping of basalt boulders found along a quarter mile trail facing southeast. Unfortunately I wasn't smart enough to ask the student about differentiating from the different the different time periods of rockheart and asking her to show me some examples. I really recommend a visit especially for families and seniors of a certain age or for initial cultural markings experience. It's will also help you get oriented to the indigenous culture of the Phoenix area. The museum and interpretive centre discusses the site and its petroglyphs as well as tools and pottery associated with the site and Hohokam culture. Archaeology of the site includes features aside from the rock art which are described in the museum, but are not accessible to visitors. These include the remains of a pit house with middens and cooking areas, and the foundations of two masonry rooms top the outcropping where the majority of petroglyphs were found. It's heartening to see that this site helped to preserve an acreage of desert from encroaching development, the fragility of such sites will only increase with with increased tourism, and they do there best to manage it. A small number of rock art pieces were actually moved to their current location when the nearby dam was built. (All moved pieces are so identified.) The preserve is the result of a partnership by a number of organizations, including the Army Corps of Engineers, Maricopa Flood Control District and Arizona State University. The site is protected and operated by Arizona State University.

How cool is it that a Phoenix community/neighborhood has its OWN historical society and museum!? In…read morefact, Sunnyslope Historical Society is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year! How long it takes you to visit this little gem depends on how much you engage the volunteer working that day (most likely long-time Sunnyslope resident). The museum is housed in the historical People's Pharmacy building once located at Central and Dunlap and relocated to Hatcher Road in 1999 for use as a museum. The pharmacy was the first drive-through drug store in Arizona. Standard exhibits include Sunnyslope through the years and a display on pharmacy equipment. Until May you can check out an archeology exhibit of Hohokam artifacts on loan from the Cave Creek museum. Come May, the State Quarter traveling exhibit will be on loan there. Past exhibits have been on mining and military service. It is free to visit but is only open seasonally. Visit on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays or Sundays between noon and 4 p.m. from September through May. If you join Sunnyslope Historical Society's mailing list, you'll get notices about special lectures, like the one coming up in June on Health Seekers in Arizona. Also on site and typical of the area is a 1940s house, which volunteers are in the process of restoring.

Had a wonderful tour with a very capable male docent. Very interesting displays, memorabilia,…read moreinformation. Well worth a stop if you enjoy the retro vibe. Video was worth seeing. Well done!

Very interesting and very informative. Ann Whitley our tour…read moreguide is super and entertaining. Loved the history of Dell Webb first development in AZ It's a must see if your in the area

Oh, the potential!…read more The George Washington Carver High School is now a museum and cultural center (almost). The school originally opened in 1926 as a segregated school called the Phoenix Union Colored High School. After Carver died in 1943 the name was changed to honor him. The school remained open until Arizona desegregated in 1953 (it closed in 1954). Before you enter you are greeted by a statue of Carver that was added in 2004. Carver is best known for his innovations in farming. He developed the crop rotation method of planting soil depleting crops one season and soil enriching crops the next. He also developed over 300 uses for peanuts (a soil enriching crop). His ideas helped save the southern farming industry. He also found ways to make dyes from different crops. He gave most of his ideas away instead of profiting from them based on his belief that God was giving him the ideas to pass along. It's a challenge to visit the museum. The website says that the hours are M-F from 10-3. We called Thursday and there was a message indicating that they were closed for the day. We arrived at 10:15am today and the sign in the door stated they were closed. We took some pictures outside and were on our way back to the car when a man asked if we wanted to see inside. (It is a negative that it is hard to visit; however, it appears that it is mostly run on a volunteer basis with little funding, so it is to be expected...but it is still unfortunate.) The curator, Princess, greeted us and gave us a private tour. She was extremely informative giving us information about each exhibit and stories that have been shared with her. The stories come from the teachers and students who were actually at the school from 1926-1953. The museum has a lot of potential, but needs a lot of work. Most of the exhibits are not in cases yet and out in the open...which makes me cringe after being to so many museums that focus on preservation techniques. The displays include pictures of the students, a history of life in the area (including a kitchen and bedroom area from the 1940s). They have a display of all of the Phoenix area schools that were named for African American leaders. In the center of the buildings is the Sculpture Garden which has the"That Which Might Have Been Birmingham 1963" sculptures. The four statutes are a memorial to the four girls killed in the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. The pant on the walls around the garden is unique as well. It sort of looks smoky as part of an homage to the bombing as well. There are a few other exhibits inside as well; one for area churches, for a student who was an inventor, for the accolades of the sport teams who played for Carver. It is definitely a work in progress. The gym floor is torn up because it was not in the condition to remain. They will be replacing it and at some point (2010 or beyond) have the facilities open to rent. It seems like it will take a lot of money to have it restored...but will be wonderful to see once it happens.

George Washington Carver was my boyhood hero and this museum is a great place to bring the kids. I…read moreplan to become an annual member to help support their work. Dr. Carver was born a slave and orphaned during the Civil War. Carver was the name of the man who owned him. He went on to get an earned Master's in biology as well as honorary doctorates and was a professor and Head of the Agriculture Dept. At the Tuskegee Institute for 40 years You may know him as the Peanut Man.

Happenstance bright us to this location. The staff was…read morefriendly, helpful and knowledgeable about the cultural centers displays. The place was very clean, well organized and maintained. The center has a wealth of history and information about the Irish culture. I'll need more time as there is plenty to see and experience.

This place is an absolute oasis! It's a little bit hidden away, but just magnificent. I've taken so…read moremany people from my work here and they absolutely love it. There is a beautiful park right behind it that you can walk around. There's even a cool porch swing out in the park right in front of the parking lot. They have a gorgeous courtyard with a little French bistro set up. The bathrooms are so clean. It's free to visit this cultural center and this museum. If you wanted to check out books, you would have to pay for a membership, but you can hang out there and read books while you're there. The ladies that run the place are just the kindest people in the world. They're so knowledgeable about Irish history and can tell you about your last name and your lineage. I love coming here. I can't say enough good things about it. It's truly a hidden gem in Phoenix.

EDIT 12/13/17- For some reason the Yelp Gods changed my listing from the correct "PhxArt Project:…read moreCityScape" to "CityScape Phoneix". Lol I'm not sure who was put in charge of this listing but Phoenix isn't even spelled right so be aware of the correct name for the shop and the correct websites: http://www.phxart.org/project http://www.cityscapephoenix.com/events/phxartproject-cityscape-presented-by-the-phoenix-art-museum/ From November 24 to January 7, the Phoenix Art Museum has a pop up shop selling gift items, with performances and special exhibitions for display. The shop is spacious and the items were all very unique and would make cute or funny gifts. They could probably fit some more items in this space for sale but it was a fun store to browse in while we were at Cityscape. The installation at the shop when I was here was Saskia Jordá's Cacerolazo. If you're at Cityscape it's worth a stop since you get a shopping experience and get to see some modern art all in the same place.