Although Phoenix might not be known as a cultural hotbed, the city is home to an impressive collection of top-notch museums. These five picks are places that locals and tourists alike will fall in love with. From a one-of-a-kind gem in North Phoenix to a historic village downtown, check out these top five Phoenix museums that even locals love to visit.
The Musical Instrument Museum or MIM Center
One of Phoenix’s best kept secrets? The Musical Instrument Museum or MIM Center. It’s dedicated to showcasing musical instruments and is the largest museum of its kind in the world. The downstairs of the two-level museum features a theatre, an experience room where kids and adults can play different instruments, an observation window where you can watch instruments being restored, a special exhibition area (Stradivarius violins have filled the room before) and a collection of celebrity musician gear —like a dress Taylor Swift once wore— that’s sure to impress even the most casual music fan. Head upstairs to see instruments from all over the world.
Pro tip: The venue inside the museum is known for being one of the top spots in the Valley to catch a show.
Twitter: @MIMphx
Taliesin West
Although not a museum per se, Taliesin West (pronounced “Tally-es-in”) was famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s Western home. Visitors can learn plenty about Wright’s architectural style and his life at this striking Scottsdale spot, which also serves as an architectural school. Admire that Instagram-worthy shots of the home and the gorgeous desert surroundings here. Spend time in rooms where Wright once hosted the likes of Marilyn Monroe, watch as students work, and see where Wright spent hours creating his masterpieces. During slow times like over the summer, Taliesin offers discounted admission with proof of Arizona residence.
Photo credit: Taliesin West-credit Foskett Creative Courtesy of the Frank Lloyd Wright FoundationTwitter: @WrightTaliesin
Pueblo Grande Museum
Very few places in Phoenix feel old, but the Pueblo Grande Museum is one that does. The Museum is located on a 1,500-year-old site left over from the Hohokam Indians, the first people to call the Valley of the Sun home. See remnants of a village, home replicas, and historic canals. You also can purchase Native American art and gifts inside the museum, which features three galleries dedicated to the Hohokam. Best of all? This museum is just minutes from downtown Phoenix. The museum is open seven days a week October through April and closed Sundays and Mondays, May through September.
Twitter: @PuebloGrande
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Phoenix Art Museum
Downtown’s Phoenix Art Museum is the Southwest largest museum and is an easy place to spend an afternoon. According to the site’s About Us section, the museum features “18,000 objects of American, Asian, European, Latin American, Western American, modern and contemporary art, photography and fashion design.” Highlights include a collection of 80,000 photographs that are part of a collaboration with nearby Arizona State University. You also can see works by famed artists like Pablo Picasso, Georgia O’Keefe, and Claude Monet. Space itself is inspiring too. You can see a glowing ball-shaped chandelier inside and a striking waterfall fountain outside. Museum admission is free during the evenings on the first Friday and second weekend of every month.
Twitter: @phxart
Image courtesy of Phoenix Art Museum
Heard Museum
Downtown Phoenix’s Heard Museum is dedicated to advancing American Indian art and could only belong in Phoenix. The Instagram-worthy campus is set up almost like a college, with different buildings separated by outdoor walking paths. Check out Native American baskets, beadwork, clothing, jewelry, pottery, and textiles. From now through August 20, 2017, you can view works by Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. When you purchase a ticket, you get access to 12 galleries, free guided tours, and outdoor sculpture gardens. On the first Friday of every month, the Heard Museum offers free general admission from 6 to 10 p.m.
When you’re done museum hopping for the day, head to the great outdoors to check out these five great Phoenix hiking trails.
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[tweetthis]#Phoenix Has Some Many Great Attractions! Take A Trip To View These Top 5 #Museums In Phoenix![/tweetthis]
