Heard Museum

"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." - Chris Malloy

"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

"Recognized for the quality of its permanent collections and temporary exhibits, the Heard Museum is an amazing museum of Native American art and culture. Its highlight is the permanent exhibit called “HOME,” presenting everything that defines the home for the indigenous people of the Southwest. Here, visitors can walk through a full-size Navajo hogan and a Hopi piki room, visit a Yaqui ramada, and examine a Pueblo oven. There are also over 400 Hopi katsina dolls, Navajo textiles, and Zuni jewelry pieces to enhance the experience for every type of visitor. Hands-on activities in the “It’s Your Turn” exhibit deepen the visitor’s understanding of these cultures. Expanding beyond the Southwest, the “Around the World” collection displays works of Native people from other parts of the world. The museum also hosts temporary exhibits and indigenous festivals and dances." - MATADOR_NETWORK

"The Heart of Southwestern Culture in Phoenix The Heard Museum is a can't-miss cultural institution in Phoenix. Founded in 1929, the Heard details and celebrates American Indian art, history, and tradition through exhibitions, interactive learning, and festivals supporting American Indian artists—a great opportunity to gain deeper knowledge of Southwestern heritage. Phoenix/Flickr."