"What is this place all about? This central Phoenix museum showcases pieces from Indigenous people all over the world, but with a focus on the American Southwest. The goal: to allow Indigenous people from across time to tell their stories through their own words, art, and artifacts. Founded in 1929, the Heard has earned a global reputation and should be a must on any visitor’s to-do list. The museum has some 44,000 objects in 12 exhibit galleries, including more than 1,200 Hopi Katsina dolls. What will we see here? Dresses and jewelry, arresting contemporary paintings, a Navajo hogan (home), a Pueblo horno (domed oven), and so much more. One set of rooms educates the public on the American Indian boarding schools that the U.S. government forced young Natives to attend until just a few decades ago. In late winter, the Head hosts the world hoop dancing championships. Dancers show off their custom routines, often flinging and twirling more than a dozen hoops at once. What did you make of the crowd? Studious and polite. What if we get hungry? Visit the onsite restaurant, Courtyard Cafe. The kitchen serves Southwestern staples like chilaquiles and posole. Try the hummus blended from desert-thriving tepary beans grown at an Akimel O’odham farm, sidekicked with toasted frybread. How much time will we need? An hour for a whirlwind visit, two to four if you want to digest everything and let the museum change you." - Chris Malloy
