Reviews of Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. (Museum) in Phoenix (Arizona).

Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West

959 Reviews

392 Comments

Museum

Art museum

3830 N Marshall Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85251, United States

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Information of Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, Museum in Phoenix (Arizona)

Discover the opening times, the location, contact, popular times, photos and real reviews by internet users.

This place has a very good rate, they treat their customers well and you’ll feel welcome, super recommended

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Reviews of Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West

Zan Lee

If you’re a fan of Southwestern, Native American, or anything Cowboy related you have to check this museum out. I was in town visiting family from Los Angeles and was pleased to find a large and informative museum out of the big city. They have tons of exhibits divided into 2 floors and different sections. Currently there is an extensive exhibit on the photography of Edward Curtis. He documented Native American and Western life and on display are some truly great images of a time that will never come back around again. The images saved that part of history in a way which is great to see. They also have a lot of western themed art on display as well as all sorts of spurs, lassos, saddles, chaps, and all sorts of cowboy gear from Texas style to California style, which I knew nothing about coming in so it was nice to walk away with a lot of information about something I thought was just standard. Overall it’s a great museum with a lot of great content. I spent about 90 minutes but could have stayed longer. Parking is also really easy in the area and free, which is nice change for me. I would recommend and will be back again sometime in the future.

LBomb369

Amazing museum for western history fans. Focusing on Native people and cowboys. A lot of beautiful American Indian art and educational pieces. Very Interesting cowboy displays. A lot of fantastic sculptures. Just a little bit of everything. And very reasonable entry fee. I could go on and on. We found this by "mistake' and it was a highlight of our trip even though we were there for an Eagles victory over the Cardinals 😁. This is a must see. Get ready for a picture bombardment. I couldn't take enough!

Wayne O

This museum has a treasure of art from the American West, Canada and Mexico. There's more than we could see in two hours and look forward to returning. Lots of oil on canvas paintings, saddles, western guns and belts. pottery and much more . A featured exhibit on our visit was Edward S. Curtis and there was much to read and discover from his work. The building itself is fascinating for build and design both inside and exterior (including a weeping wall that collects rainwater from the roof).

Chip Mills

Very nice museum celebrating western culture and native Americans. The kids really enjoyed the scavenger hunt they participated in while they were here. Very clean facility and very friendly staff. We highly recommend museum to anyone interested in the history of the old west, particularly if you like bronze sculptures.

Sally Garrison

Western art is not the highest on my list of things to see, but I am kicking myself for not discovering this museum until now. I have a whole new appreciation for the genre. The exhibitions are fantastic. Looking forward to future visits.

Sydney Warner

The museum is amazing!!! They give everyone a sheriff's badge sticker to wear for your visit. Everyone was fantastic and multiple currators stopped to tell people interesting facts and stories! The pictures and pottery on display were awesome to see. The history is fantastic and they have an additional art gallery on the second floor!

Fernanda García

Amazing museum and very friendly staff! Thank you again Gail, our tour guide, for such a nice tour! We learned so much from our visit - would definitely come again if I'm ever back in the area.

Trevor Hyatt

Very cool place. Awesome exhibits with great information about native history and frontier interaction and expansion. 14 exhibits in total and each one fascinating. Two stories to explore. Lots of bronze statues, historical artifacts, paintings, etc. a great authentic lens into how the past looked. The building itself is very nice. Cool architecture and design. A clean and welcoming place.

Sudjai Itsara

Great western and native Indian history and display . Well organized , many beautiful art objects by Nempeyo from the Hopi, John Coleman native Indian sculpture collection. Currently the exhibit of Light and legacy: Art and techniques of Edward S.Curtis - the famous Native American photographer.

Shari Elliott

One of the finest museums on western art I have been to. As a professional tour guide I have been to most of the western art and/or history museums west of the Mississippi. The building and it's grounds are well done. The docent led tour was very informative...I will be going back soon?

Rose and Mike Farmer

Great western museum. Spend a couple hours here. Western artists, sculptors and artifacts. Also a great place to see Edward Curtis's famous native American photographs.

S M K

A gem of an art and cultural institution. From the building itself, to the art/objects held within and the excellent staff, this a true asset for western art. The building is striking and a work of art. The deep, rich color and textures give visual interest before you even step inside. There are art sculptures outside as well. This richness is throughout the interior as in the sculpture garden. The museum collection is varied and presents a decent number of native items and points of view as well. I really enjoyed the exhibit on pencil artist and more, Paul Calle. His legacy was jokingly encapsulated best by a docent who said he was the greatest artist you never knew about. The staff are another standout element of this youngest museum Smithsonian affiliated institution. There are docents and staff all over. The docents are providing hourly tours of different exhibit galleries with tons of context and opportunities for questions. The gift shop is small and has many tasteful western art items. I liked the wood Arizona state map journals and cowboy boot Christmas stockings. The museum, only open since 2015, has the feel of a long established institution. They showcase local artists as well as present a full breadth western art. I look forward to what new exhibits they bring.

Debbie B

Very nice, organized, lots to see and read. There were a couple of things that kids could touch, but not much. Mostly a lot of reading. Very interesting and amazing stories of the past.

Carolyn

This is an amazing museum. The collection holds an excellent array of Western memorabilia. The photo in front of the camp is a treasure. A host will take it for you. The more I learn about the West, the more I appreciate the exhibits. This is a must visit.

Kaila G

The exhibits were very well done and kept us interested and engaged throughout the process. I found myself enjoying every minute of it, taking in the art and its' significance in history. As others have said, it will probably take 2.5 to 3 hours on average to see everything. Turned out perfect for us, started in the mid afternoon, then went for dinner and drinks afterward.

Evans

LOVE LOVE LOVE the entire presentation from the building to the exhibits and the organization of the place. Not the biggest museum I have ever been but for a non-profit organization, it is exceptional. Staff were friendly and helpful. They seemed to have genuinely wanting to be there and have a passion for the history of the west. Love the gift shop even though it's small. Great variety of product and choices. Do visit and experience one of the local gems! Highly recommended.

James Janidas

Great museum. Some portions of the museum are still under construction for new exhibits. Those parts will be open some time in October 2021. Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Underground public parking is right next door.

Michael Barger

This was an excellent experience! While I'm not usually a museum kind of guy because of ADHD, we really, really enjoyed this tour. Gail did such an excellent job of explaining southwestern art and pottery (which she personally collects and has passion for) and the artists / Native Americans who created them. She brought it all to life with stories about their lives and culture. While this museum is beautifully designed with stellar art, I highly recommend taking the "free" tour for insight and context. Gail and Lisa are both great guides to tour with. 🌞

Tim Pritchard

What a great museum. A lot of great stuff here. From traditional pencil drawings to multiple mediums, then into Native American pottery, then bronze statues that were amazing. Be sure to visit the upstairs, and the patio in the middle as well. Then more if the old west and crime type display. Great stuff everywhere.

Gloria List

What a great place to see a piece of American history. From the authentic Native American clothing to the western boots of the American cowboy. Walking along their open areas you will encounter beautifully carved images of the native Americans which line along the path ways. Throughout the exhibit there are beautiful paintings and artifact from both the Native Americans and the cowboy era. There are beautiful handmade Indian clothing, gloves, western saddles, and much more on display. Check for times and days when they are opened and handicap access and Covid safety may be in place. Follow me for more reviews and place to go.

Viktoria-Leigh Wagner

We had such a great time here. If you love history, highly recommend!

Shane J

Well worth visiting if you are near by. Museum is a treasure of items and the staff are knowledgeable. Good for all ages too

Abbey K

So interesting! Being from the east coast, I know very little about the West, so it was cool to learn more. Not a huge museum, but lots of exhibits to read. Huge Native American section based on the books the North American Indian with lots of pictures and descriptions. If you take the time to read everything, you will learn a lot. The Western cowboy section is very cool too - lots of exhibits from saddles to games used in saloons. The real Wanted posters and headlines I found fascinating!

Rodney

Not only a great selection of western art, artifacts accompanied by useful information with each exhibition. The museum facilities are equally as beautiful inside and out. Just a pleasant environment to enjoy they history of the west. The western art represents many styles all nicely displayed. A real treasure.

May Munoz

It is like traveling to the west. The pottery, the tents, all the tools used by the people to ride horses, build fires, the exquisite photographs, the warmth and welcoming of the employees are wonderful.

wanda bogin

Western Spirit was the perfect place to begin a Southwest tour for our group of 50. They LOVED their visit! The Museum’s fascinating exhibits and the docents’ knowledge and stories were a wonderful introduction to Western history. It is truly impressive in every way!

Bernadette Taylor

Learned a lot about indigenous people and the photography of Edward Curtis. Amazing pieces of art and pottery. Would go again to continue tour. So much to see.

Ted Wachholz

Very interesting displays of Native American and Western art and artifacts. The pencil sketches and oils are beautiful. They even have a really cool 3D painting that spans the floor and one wall, whereby you can take a photo and it looks as if you are in the Western scene.

Sydney Bolinger

Fantastic museum. We spent nearly two hours here. Not massive, but the quality of the exhibits is very high. We loved the Maynard Dixon art collection. If you’re new to town or visiting the area, it’d be a really special thing to do. Make sure you attempt an epic photo at the mural by the horse saddles! Shout out to the security guard who helped us with it.

Allison Rinker

I could spend way more time in that museum. I especially liked the featured works by a man named Edward Curtis who extensively photographed the Indians. The images were stunning!

DANNY KidSuper LIN

Excellent exhibits with various paintings, sculptures and artifacts from back in the day. Learned a lot on the history of native Indians and the early settlers. Free admission for all the moms on this mother's day!!!

Amy Wyatt

This museum is BREATHTAKING!! This is a MUST visit if you have any interest at all in Western history, especially Arizona history. So many things to see and the building itself is a work of art! They put together an amazing learning series for our homeschool group. We've attended the first two and can't wait to see what they have in store for the next 2. They truly care about educating, even brought their landscape artist in to give us an extra lesson on how she designed the landscaping. Support this museum! You will not be sorry!

Holly Simmelink

We spent a lovely Sunday afternoon fascinated by the photos and stories by Edward Curtis. As a resident of the Pacific Northwest I was shocked I had not seen his images before. We were pleasantly surprised the main exhibit was photography and we learned a lot about copperplating. The other exhibits were fascinating including the paintings upstairs by Paul Calle and his family... What a talented bunch! The old timey western equipment on display was also educational and interesting. Don't miss the Kids in Focus display in the upstairs hallway! This museum really has something for everyone!

Chris Pedersen

Good variety of native American roots and history and early southwestern culture mixed with modern ranch photography. Was fortunate enough to visit with one of the exhibitors sons. (He just happened to be there) Really capped off a good visit to Western Spirit.

msbusyblonde

I went with my two little kids during a free weekends during the Pony Express. I probably wouldn't have gone without it being free until the kids were older but this was a nice way to get to see it. My three and five year old actually enjoyed seeing the statues and especially the astronaut photos. I really enjoyed the Paul Calle exhibit One volunteer was very informative and was explaining the exhibit to my children and I and the kids actually listened. A beautiful museum

Tommy Xia (夏晨阳Tommyxcy)

A cute museum featuring western culture, especially Native Americans near downtown Scottsdale. The Curtis photography exhibitions of native Americans are amazing, and the building design is interesting. Limited on variety of topics compared to some more well-known museum, but that’s mostly expected.

C H

I really enjoyed coming to this museum! We came here on a whim and spent close to FOUR hours here looking over all of the paintings. They have great interactive exhibits and many things on display that show off Scottsdale's rich history. I also enjoyed the stamp exhibit and getting to see Paul Calles amazing paintings for myself was amazing!

Chris Bauer

One of Scottsdale’s newest & best museums of western art. Many paintings & bronzes of Cowboy Artists of America have been on display here. My personal favorite is John Coleman, his bronze’s are legendary! Barry Goldwater’s photos are currently on display. If you appreciate Western art, this is a must see!

Indre Valinskaite

Great staff - super friendly.. great exhibition bigger than expected, I am slow explorer would need at least 3hours.. Building architecture it self is an art and pleasant to just to sit in small garden outside after visiting nearby Bakery Ruze

Paul Schulte

This is a gem of a museum that I did not know existed. It consists of two floors and the first is the main exhibit and the more contemporary art. The 2nd floor is the older art and photographs. And let us not forget the saddles, spurs, holsters, etc. Expect to stay about 2 hours.

Yoneko Johnson

Great museum for all things western and learning the history of the land and Native Americans. Beautiful art and interesting exhibits. I suggest taking a guided tour- the staff are friendly and knowledgeable.

David Wynn

Friendly and informative staff, well organized. Lots of artifacts from the Westward Expansion era (everything's cowboy you ever want to see;) paintings, sculptures, videos...it is a nice place to spend few hours when you are in Phoenix. Highly recommend.

HerbnKathyRV

Very nice museum documents western U.S. history with lots of displays of western wear, art, bronze castings along with special periodic displays. We were there to see the special Barry Goldwater exhibit.

Micah Anderson

Really cool museum. If you like art, especially native american art, you will love this place. Thats not all they have though. There is lots of paintings and sketches of landscapes throughout the southwest US, as well as some interesting pieces depicting things like the beatles and the moon landing. The pictures, sculptures and pottery are so beautiful i found myself taking pictures of nearly everything in the museum. There are several information screens that go into detail of certain artists or styles of art through the gallery. They also have several drafts of certain paintings showing the begining stages of the piece to its final draft, which was very cool. The employees were very friendly. And there is also lots of old west artifacts like saddles, holster, indian wardrobes and other things from that era. Will be hoping to return in my future visits to arizona!

Brian Saylor

Beautiful museum. The statues in the courtyard were amazing. I loved the two upstairs exhibits “Mountains to the Moon” and the explorers of the west.

Wes Wang

I am a Remington Sculpture fan. I was very happy to see a original Remington "Mountain Man" display in the museum, together with many other artists' master pieces. It is a fun place to visit, suitable for a whole family to enjoy together.

Susan Passarelli

If your in the Mood for Western & Native Art, this is the Place to go! Fabulous Artwork & Sculpture! Loved the Diversity of the Artwork shown! There is Beauty Inside & Out! It is an Eco Friendly Building too!

White Eagle

Nice museum. Not big but full of information and beautiful art. Definitely place for visit if you are in the area.

Christopher Allison

Wonderful museum filled with authentic artifacts and historical items. Great detail have been put into each exhibit, giving the viewer the best and closest thing to a hands on experience.

Joy Ohara

Beautifully designed building with wonderful textured concrete walls. The sculpture garden is my favorite space. Exhibits are interesting but slants more white Americana. Worth a visit if your in the area.

Katherine Wijenaike-Bogle

A good museum. Skip the intro movie, which isn't actually about the history of the west. The collection of Hopi pots is great, as is the Native art. The Western saddles and guns are exciting too.

Amir Khamesi

Very good place for walking and enjoy all art galleries around. There are plenty of galleries, restaurants, cafeterias, and West museum. I like that place. For sure kids will enjoy the sculptures, and things there.

Kimia Soroush

One of the greatest museums I have ever visited!! Strongly recommend to everyone!

Doris McAdams

Nice museum. They don't do the movie that tells one about the museum. I had been searching for the historic district for two hours. No one seems to know where it is. Sigage for the historic district is very poor. I didn't appreciate the look or lack of help or compassion from the ticket person. I was very sweaty from trying to find the place. She acted like I was a homeless person looking for a cool space.

Bert

My personal feelings "Meh" (not a museum fan) My wife and father enjoyed the artwork and history stuff. Plenty of opertunity to learn and appreciate some local art and historical pieces. The guides seemed knowledgeable, unfortunately the one that caught us, did so as we were about to head out.

Karen Gotcher

Loved this place. Not so huge you cannot see it all but some really interesting exhibits! The Hopi pottery is beautiful. They have a really fun wall and floor painting you can take your own picture looking like you are getting ready to ride a horse. There are some really great collections that are on loan from different individuals including Barry Goldwater. Lots of neat old posters around if you have ever watched a western movie of cartoon!

Louis Glass

Was not expecting much, so I was very pleasantly surprised. This is a top-rate museum in a beautiful space. Exhibits include Western movie posters, pueblo pottery, bronze sculptures and fine art paintings. Informative with quality museum pieces. If anything was lacking, it may have been historical background information.

Benjamin Kastelic

This place is incredible!!! You must visit this place if you are in the area. Lots of great art, great history and you can spend 1-2 hours in this place. Some one of a kind art from Sitting bull and Edward Curtis. I will be back With the family and invite all my friends here.

Barry York

Great staff. Very nice venue. If you love photos and pictures, this is a great stop. I’d love to see more artifacts in the future.

P Q

Excellent museum detailing Lewis and Clark's explorations of the American West through maps, sculptures, and the entire set of paintings by Charles Fritz of their expedition. Beautiful bronze statues of Native Americans, especially chiefs. A fine collection of western landscapes. Great cowboy art and a fantastic collection of spurs, chaps, and saddles. Sometimes they have movies and lectures. And the building is stunning and beautifully lit.

jann welch

So informational! Bronzes - fantastic. Saddle corral, bits, spurs, bridles; exciting to this horse lover! Every aspect og the place, including the docents, was enjoyed by all of us.

Marcella G

The hike was definitely a challenge but the views are breathtaking! Make sure you have water.

Will

We love this place. It was amazing (and sad at the same time) to see all the pictures and read the stories behind them. Staff very friendly

Douglas Fant

What a great museum just tucked into the downtown Scottsdale area. Some really excellent Wild West memorabilia. Worth a visit!

Paddy Hoy

The Barry Goldwater exhibit was the reason for the visit and it was good. But the remaining exhibits were worth the trip. Well done!

Homer Ray III

The inventory of artifacts, memorabilia and collections of western artists and photography is overwhelming. What a fortunate opportunity to see such a masterful display.

Steve L

Amazing museum, totally awesome place to go learn and see so many things. Howard, our Docent, made it come to life for us, recounting how things really were and what folks faced when they migrated and lived out west. Extremely educated on the area and west in general, he was a wealth of information and brought out so many facts that kept everyone amazed. Definitely go experience it for yourself, VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Forrest Rider

Really fun walk through some excellent well laid out exhibits!

Jess Montgomery

Interesting mix of art and history. A great way to get out of the sun for a bit and learn about the Western Sprit!

Sabina Maza

Informative and well curated. The volunteer guides are extremely friendly and knowledgeable

Cheryl Robertson

Could have spent 4 hours instead of 3. Informative creative beautiful. Historical both far back and current.

Patrick O'Leary

Fabulous new building. Amazing collection for the Western Art enthusiast. Don't miss the Edward Curtis exhibition

Oksana Trokhymenko

I spend amazing time in this museum!!! Thank Your for to re-opened and welcomed new visitors!

Mr Robberts (robb86)

Phenomenal presentation and great selection of paintings, antiques and sculptures. Well worth the price of admission. Beautiful facility. If you like the wild west and art, this a definite must see.

Kitty Carlisle

I loved everything about this museum: the building itself, the friendly & informative staff, & the exhibits. Some of the bronze sculptures are so realistic!

CK

Movie posters, Lots of paintings and sculptures of native americans and mountain men. Large display of cowboy tack. 3D photo op.

J Kiernan

Nice museum that compliments the Heard museum in the valley. Lots and lots of reading and fun things to do. The museum is clean and the staff are very friendly. There is underground parking available for free.

Kanwalpreet Bhatti

Was in Scottsdale for the weekend and visited this place. Very nice, but it's more of an art gallery than a museum. Definitely take the tours, the tour lady was a wealth of information and very entertaining.

Wonder Wendy

We're so glad that we took out of guests there. Enjoyed it so much that we became members. Affiliated with the Smithsonian. Great place to visit

Ken Faubel

This a great place to get some of the local flavor of Phoenix and Scottsdale. The art, pottery, photography and Western artifacts were perfect for our three young adult traveling companions. The special exhibit about Goldwater's photography was also interesting.

Brent Roberts

Great Western museum in the heart of old town Scottsdale. Awesome set of exhibits and super friendly staff. Participate in the BoA free museum days. Check details at BoA website.

Heather Kay

We really enjoyed this museum. Note: bring your own headphones for audio tour.

chris stevenson

Nice new museum. Staff is very friendly. The free parking underground in the rear worked like a dream. Lots of period pieces covering all perspectives. Stayed longer than planned and enjoyed every second.

Katherine Callingham

Very excited to see them hosting this subject. Many thanks.

Don Bruns

Nice museum, some great exhibits and a wonderful photo exhibit (which seems to move with you) near the "gift shop", don't miss it if you go.

SGMP

Superb cowboy exhibition of north american culture. A must visit to explore the native history.

Mark OBrien

The Western Spirit Museum was a wonderful experience. The photography by Edward Curtis is outstanding along with the history of the Native American Indian tribes. In addition beautiful art work and a very clever photo opportunity. Make plenty of time, we spent more than two hours viewing and completely missed the second floor. Ooops!😣😂

James Kieft

Very informative and interesting displays. Some interactive displays were closed due to Covid-19.

Cory Gant

This is a beautiful museum. Our docent was a great resource of information and the exhibits are excellent!

Sandy Kochis

Very nice museum! If you live in Arizona this is a great place to stop. Wonderful history really enjoyed it! Looking forward to going again.

barbara quintanar

Interesting, only 4 stars because some parts of museum was under construction. But price cut for entry that day made it worth it.

Larry G

Wow, what a collection of Native American pottery, art and western history. Very interesting. Friendly staff.

Steven Brownstein

Incredible place. Exhibits and displays well laid out. Would definitely come back. Learned so much.

Cris Melo

I learned a lot about pioneers and the conquest of the Wild West! Very friendly and knowledgeable staff.

mark nagorka

I enjoyed this museum. While the vast majority involved Edward Curtis photography of native American people, his work is just unbelievable and extensive considering the time period he captured his subjects.

Michelle Glisson

Wow! This is one of the greatest museums I've been to. So many amazing pictures and artifacts. Truly diverse, covers all aspects of the Old West. I will be returning!!

JAMES FITZGIBBONS

Wonderful 3 hours spent here. Tours of Paul Calle exhibit and Edward Curtis exhibit were educational and entertaining. While the information shared was good, the tour guides Ed and Tom were sensational, can’t say enough good things about the 2 of them. It was a delightful afternoon. Thank you Tom and Ed

David Guthrie

Be sure to take the tour where they talk about the function of the building as well as all the great art

Lynne Fonseca

They have very good tours. There is a lot to see, so make sure you have lots of time.

Willie Jones Jr

Had a great time learning about history of the old west

Sonia bonilla

Visited for the first time with my sons school, definetely a great experience. Such wonderful staff.

Robert Richardson

I recommend allotting 1.5-3 hours for this museum at this time. As someone who is not from around here I really loved this place. I wasn't familiar with Maynard Dixon and learning about his life and seeing his work was a great experience. When it comes to museums, I'm definitely a stop and read everything a d admire every piece type person, so your mileage may vary, but I thought it was well worth the entry fee.

meg dobson

A refreshing look at the Old West from sculptures, paintings, actual tack and saddles, and the special exhibit right now is a huge collection of copper plate photos of native communities before disease, prejudices, and politics changed everything. My favorite was Luzy, a weaver from the Pima heritage. Many photos of Native ceremonies. Inspirational and thoughtful. A must see. If you can come when the Hash Knife Pony Express races into town from Holbrook? Even better.

Warren Foster

Classic Old West.The story teller wasn't boring but educational. The Art was magnificent and the Saddles made want to get on board.One spot to take note of.

Roberta Ellis-mcdaniel

Absolutely a must tour. Fascinating and very well laid out all through the 2 floors. Pleasant staff and good parking.

SAFE SPORT

Very nice place for the cowboy and indian history and fine art.

Dave Evans

Very interesting exhibits. Really shows the history of the old west!

Iowa Reviewers

Excellent western art museum; our family enjoys the arts, has visited many museums and galleries, and we all agreed that it was quite well done. A variety of exhibits for different tastes, displays of western memorabilia, and a nice gift shop. Friendly staff and good places to sit indoors or outside. I highly recommend it!

Jen Beaty

This museum is truly gorgeous. There is so much to see and learn about. There are tons of paintings, photographs, sculptures, pottery, saddles, blankets, etc. It is super clean, very well done. They have scavenger hunts to help engage children. The employees are so nice, really helpful and great to be around. We had a lovely time.

Ted Ruberti

Decent and surprisingly clean. Could be because they're in the middle of rebranding as Holiday Inn. Points off for the highway noise, which was a bit loud... felt like we were sleeping in the road! Of course, I am used to a nice quiet street!

Rodney Hess

A very complete view of Western life in the 19th and early 20th century as told by several artists. There is a very wide array of Western wear - too much in my opinion. There was an awful lot of what looked like the same thing. The artwork displayed was spectacular with long descriptions of the artist's work.

Brent JOHNSON

Great museum, lot of great information and historical facts. Laid out well. Would go again. Only down side ... high cost if you have a family. Brent

Scott Barclay

Fantastic and interesting. I learned something new in every display. Never as you would think it would be, but instead smart well-curated material that unravels the complex story of the West visually over the last 300 years. Incredible collections

D. L.

Wonderful place. So many great exhibits.

A Granger

My daughter and I were pursuing Old Town Scottsdale and stumbled upon this museum and thought let's check it out. I was pleasantly surprised by the quaint displays, friendly knowledgeable staff and the beautiful art. I truly enjoyed the gun display and reading the old news papers.

Glenn Holmes

Need a few hours to take in all the excellent exhibits.

Verna Namuchende

I loved the art and photos that tell of the American history

Barbara Jean McAtlin

We had such a great time here. Clean, well laid out, interesting exhibits. Can't wait to go again!

Jim Hernandez

Excellent exhibits and friendly staff. Impressive Native American exhibits. The museum could be enhanced by adding the contributions of Spanish and French explorers. Also, I was surprised that there was no mention that many of the cowboys were Mexican and Black (“lariat” comes from the Spanish “la reata” or rope). What about the Buffalo soldiers?

Kathy Roth

I loved all the American Indian statues. A gentleman who workef there walked around and answered all our questions. He was very informative. I would recommend this for anyone who loves history.

patricia seybold

What a great experience. We loved all of the exhibits. The best was having our picture taken in the outdoor scene. Highly recommend

Tim Bade

It’s a great new building and the paintings upstairs are an attraction worth seeing, but unfortunately that only makes up a small part which is not worth $20. Wait till free Smithsonian day once a year if you’re a local!

Tiffany Podhorez

I had never heard of Maynard Dixon or Paul Calle before visiting and I was astounded by their work - esp. Calle's unbelievable detail. At first I thought his paintings were photographs. If you love southwest landscapes, native American culture, and old west history you will love this museum. So glad I visited.

Christine Duncan

Really fun place if you enjoy Western themed art. Wonderful information about each artist and a great display with Native American pottery. The staff were happy and friendly and helped take our photo with one of their displays. We went later in the afternoon just after the school groups had left and it was a very quiet experience.

Edmund Cheong

Love this place.. quite nice walking through the photos and artefacts of the wild wild west..

Melinda Sue

We didn't even know this place existed but we'll be back. We loved the Maynard Dixon exhibition--plenty to see up close and other displays of Western art and artifacts were also really interesting. Had fun posing with the interactive horse mural. Nice shop with beautiful silver and turquoise jewelry, gifts books and so forth. Could have used a snack bar or a water dispenser at least.

Marie Jutkiewicz

Great museum, Curtis exhibit was outstanding!!!

Vince Leedy

Great Museum. Expect to spend 2-3 hours if you read the history of natives and Western history.. Very interesting and eye opening. Highly recommend.

Kevin Albert

What a gorgeous museum!!! We went to see the Barry Goldwater exhibit and walked around for a couple hours enjoying other exhibits as well. Worth going to the museum. Parking is a little tough because of the construction next door but once inside, you're in the old West in a modern museum! You'll enjoy!!!

Warren Kieft

This was a wonderful museum. Took two guided tours and a special presentation about legends of the old west. Very interesting. The building in itself is a marvel....outside walls resemble square ribs and they have unique way to collect and use rain water. We spent nearly all day and still there was more to see

Pat Smith

Two floors of beautiful art & artifacts. You can see the collection on your own or join one of the tours led by knowledgeable volunteers.

Gayla Martell

A very large and fantastic collection of Indian and western art. Very much worth your time to visit!

Jennifer “Jenn” Player

Very interesting artwork, gave me a new appreciation for the old west. I posted some pictures of my personal favorites bronze work. Worth a couple hours of your time. Beware as some of the paintings are mesmerizing.

Daniel Chance

Its a little pricey to get in for regular adult customers, but they do have discounts for several groups of people. The museum is incredible! You'll find yourself around a lot of native American artwork and pottery, as well as artifacts from the Old West (saloons, native American clothing, old books and newspapers). I'm usually not one to peruse art exhibits, but my friend and I were completely immersed and fascinated in short time. It was very entertaining and very educational. Many of their exhibits are the real McCoy as well. Some extremely talented sculptors also donated a series of very life-like statues. It is definitely worth your time!

Michael Talis

Great museum with links to the Smithsonian Institution. It has a good collection of western art, including native American art, photographs, tools, weapons, saddles, antiques and many more. The building wraps around the courtyard filled with sculptures. The director of the museum was walking the exhibits. He offered to take our pictures at the immersion scene and showed us how to set it up so we blend in naturally. It left us feeling welcomed! Thank you!

Brian Freese

We saw the Edward Curtis exhibit. Very well presented. It is powerful expression of his passion, his life's work, and his respect for Native Americans.

Lisa Cicchesi

Very interesting place. They did a great job with history, photos, artwork etc. Unbelievable amount of artifacts. A great place to visit when in Scottsdale.

Deanna Rector

Not really into western art and I still loved going here. The docents are exceptionally helpful and took pictures of me as I was alone. The paintings are varied and the entire place filled with great things to see.

Kevin Delvalle

Fascinating collections of art from paintings to drawings to sculptures. Also historical items such as saddles, chaps, guns, etc. We took a tour with the docent who provided additional insights that we would not have gained if we'd just walked around on our own. We were lucky enough to be there on the last day of the excellent Will James exhibition, a "cowboy" illustrator who also wrote some children's books of his own. The museum is light and airy inside, and has a really nice ambiance. There's a small sculpture garden in an internal courtyard that is well worth a visit, it's like a little biosphere all of its own and the Dave McGary statue there is amazing. (There's another one outside.) Highly recommended if you are at all interested in knowing a little about the art and history of the West.

Mel Drake

Delighted with the size and scope of the museum, a wonderful afternoon.

Undying Vision

This museum is a exceptional picture into the old west. The bottom floor has paintings of the old west and landscapes. Their is also pottery from Native American tribes. The museum provides plenty of information on the art pieces and pottery. On the first floor they have relics of the old west. Those relics are stuff like handcuffs, weapons and horse saddles. The second floor has an extensive art collection about native American culture and history. They display beautiful Navajo blankets and rugs which are exquisite. The staff are friendly and helpful. The tour guide I had provided extreme amounts of context and history which definitely enriched my expierence there. This place is fantastic for those who are interested the history of the old west. I highly recommend it.

Autumn Higbee

My colleagues and I took our second graders on a field trip to the Western Spirit Museum. It was such a pleasant experience. The guides are great and there is so much for the students to do and learn. It's great for anyone interested in the old west and Native American history and artifacts.

Laguna Artz

The museum is beautiful and it has an impressive collection of art and artifacts from the past. The staff were not friendly and they openly ask people if they are vaccinated, first place to do it in all our travels.

Bonnie Smeal

It is more a collection of western themed art than a museum. If you are into photography, pottery, and beadwork, you should enjoy it.

Gyles Allen

A splendid museum of art, pottery and cowboy and native american artifacts. We loved it. Well displayed, guided tours available. Some of the western bronze sculptures were the best we have seen. There were whole schools of art out in the west. Old west heroes and villains are represented in paintings as well as spectacular landscapes, buffalo hunts and the like.

Gregory Bartlett

Lots of Native American and Western culture examples of art, tools, and content from mostly 1800's to before WWII. Great place to take the kids.

Dawn Kruchoski

A lot of very cool exhibits and artwork. The pottery and jewelry made by the Indians are beautiful!

Steve Dawson

Brilliant, do the guided tour. Ron made the artifacts and historic pieces come to life. His knowledge of the history of, and the importance of the displays was impressive. I wish my history teachers were as engaging. A must see for every kid and visitor to the US West.

George Krumholz

Loved all the guns, saddles and pictures. Had wonderful day 💕😊. …

Heather Eggert

Truly beautiful art and displays. I normally would not be drawn to an art museum. I'm more a nature & science or history, but this combination of gorgeous art and historical artifacts is a must see.

Jean Stratton

This museum is a spectacular tribute to the Southwest. Wade, the Education Director, was a wealth of information. It was fascinating listening to him.

Yossi W

Amazing artwork depicting the history of the Wild West. You'll find beautiful sculptures, including some with tiny hand painted "beads". The photography of Barry Goldwater also makes an appearance in the Museum. His black and white photos capture sharp and vivid detail of Native American life, Arizona landscapes and more. You'll also find artwork from Paul Calle. His paintings are masterpieces. His process is fascinating. He draws a values drawing first, then a detail drawing and then does the actual painting with the most vivid detail and rich colors. The certainly feel like photographs. Also displayed are some of the many stamps he has created, as well as space paintings! Definitely recommend a visit to this Smithsonian associated museum!

Amity K

Nice little art museum nestled in old town Scottsdale. Looked at many different works and history pieces on both floors of the building. I liked the copper sculptures most. Not very busy. Only 1 other couple there looking around. Possibly because of Covid. Everything was clean and the staff were really friendly.

CStraight

As others have mentioned, it is really more of a western art musuem than a museum of Western history. With that said, the art displayed was interesting and beautiful. The bronzes are phenomenal. We enjoyed the special exhibits, and if you love art, it is worth the trip.

chichi gates

A lot of display photos artifacts and Western related items. Personally, the things / art displays outside the museum were my favorites. However, because of the extreme heat, we could hardly stay outside the building and see/enjoy the other art installations. The Museum Gift Shop was limited. The staff at the Entrance was very welcoming and friendly. Forgot to get his name to give him the credit he deserves. I do remember him having a British accent.

klaudia with a K

We weren't planning to go there, then stumbled across it and thought it would be nice to go inside. And it really was nice. The staff was nice&helpful. Though the setup of the exhibition was a little but confusing to get through, it was nice. The building itself was really pretty, and the movie they showed in the museum was really inspiring and well produced.

Judith Lee

This building and museum is new - it's only been open three years. It was our first time to go to this museum (and by the way the tree Old Town trolley stops right in front. There is an admission charge, but it is well worth it. This two-story museum of western heritage and Indian culture is well worth it.

Patrick Faerber

Fun museum that is very well put together, informative, and clean. The curator has done a fantastic job, especially with picking the art. They have a new exhibit "The Rennard Strickland Collection of Western Film History" which has a lot of cool artifacts. Also, the staff is very nice and helpful. If you are trying to get a good picture, ask the staff members and they can give you some helpful tips.

Richard Rosenfeld

Perfectly sized western museum ran by people who care about their culture. We enjoyed our visit and were impressed by the layout of the facility. Children who love history will enjoy this place. Which was reasonably priced.

Dawn Holladay Kelley

So much fun and educational @dhke

Monica Perry

Interesting exhibits. Auditorium pitch is a bit steep & the temp controls when full made it kinda on the warm side...as in "made me wanna take a nap". Seats are a little too close together for my liking & the rows are a bit too close as well..difficult tho not impossible to squeeze by others for an empty seat.

Mark

I'm not a big museum person, but I loved this museum. Me and my mom went through it in about 2 hours and saw everything. If you love western art, then you'll love this museum. They have a Paul Calle exhibit which is amazing!

Ann

We visited on March 28th, and what a lovely & inspiring conclusion to my Arizona visit this year. The variety of comments here in the reviews speaks to the multi-faceted nature of the exhibits -- artifacts, objects, weapons, & clothing for daily use, posters for old Western movies, and the most beautiful exhibits of bronzes, paintings, and pottery -- and more. The brief movie shown recurrently throughout the day captures the spirit of past and present, and the need for respect for our heritage and traditions -- both Native American and settlers. The staff are courteous and very helpful. We could easily have spent more than the two and a half hours we did stay.

Jon Rochetti

The museum is highly focused towards American Indian and cowboy paintings, mostly oil paint media. Very little if any photography, and considering Ansel Adams photograph much of the West, was disappointed I didn't see any of his photographs. There were a few photographs of Native Americans. The one section I really did enjoy, and I wish was larger, was the cowboy memorabilia, including a huge collection of Spurs, Saddles, bridles, clothing, Sheriff's Badges and the like.

britt galbraith

A well curated musuem with interesting exhibits, beautiful art, and helpful docents. They offer free tours as well as a 10 minute video. There are a few fun hands on parts of the exhibits, though the musuem is better suited for adults and older children. The building itself is also unique and beautiful.

Cherrie

Wonderful museum! Good variety from pottery to sculpture to paintings to western items like saddles, bridles, embroidered gloves, etc. Impressive!

Marc Tassin

Just to help folks avoid confusion, this is really an art museum more than anything else. Although there are a few "old west" artifacts, it's mostly paintings and sculptures from a relatively small group of artists. Definitely not a great place to take kids. BUT if you like Western paintings and sculptures, it's a really we'll put together museum. The art ranges from modern sculpture to Western movie posters to saddle art.

D D

Disclaimer: I am not now nor have I ever been a cowboy. With that said I would recommend this museum to open-minded non-cowboys. The building has great architecture and a solid art collection upstairs. Downside: the premise and promise of this museum is "the development of the West" but that is not the case. At all. Which is too bad because I would pay for something like that. Instead, it's a gallery of excellent paintings.

Denise Peterson

WOW! What a great place. Well worth the price of admission. 2 stories of artwork portraying the story of how the west began. There is also an exhibit of movie posters and western movies. Another area has Indian pottery. There also had an area showing items made by inmates. Saddles, weapons and clothing were exhibited. The coolest display was a life sized buffalo. Check it out for yourself.

Melvyn Klaus

Very nice. Excellent art and collectables. Recommend.

WhatareShoes ?

Very nice place with beautiful photos. Worth the visit if your in the area. Takes about 2 hours to see everything.

William Daniel

This is a really excellent small Museum that does not draw big crowds as far as I can tell. It is on one of my favorite streets in Scottsdale, Marshall, and is open late for the Thursday evening Art Walk. Check out the excellent Hopi Pottery collection, the Charles Russell paintings, and the amazing collection of saddles. Also right now there's a wonderful exhibit of Barry Goldwater photographs.

Kaihley Reiner

Was there to see "Growing up Goldwater" . A private event for a networking group. The museum is beautifully designed inside and out in Old Town Scottsdale. My husband and I had a delightful time discovering all they had to offer. We will go back and would recommend it to others. Enjoy!

Brenda

Beautiful facility with well displayed Western collections! I highly recommend touring with the docent to learn the tidbits of the extensive displays. There's currently a wonderful display of colorful Western movie posters, even though the movies may have been in black and white.

Luke Bader

So much to see! The Paul Calle exhibit is incredible!!

Dorcas Harris

Probably the best museum about the American Southwest I have ever experienced. Stunning sculptures and paintings as well as genuine artifacts of both “Cowboys and Indians”. A beautiful facility and a real joy to visit. Not to be missed!

Pavel Sidakov

If you would like to learn more about the West, this is the place to go. Quite a variety of exhibits including sculpture, fine arts, personal belongings of a variety of artists as well as some more whimsical modern art. Personally, I've enjoyed sharing this adventure alongside friends.

Lucio Pihanna

To most people the idea of the Old West has been formed by television (both bad and good), artists like Russel, Remington and others. This museum really expands on that by showing other painters as well as exhibits that really define the West in all its grandeur and glory.You get to see exhibits up close and personal so you can judge the size and massiveness of the buffalo. You get to see clothing, bead work and faces in tremendous detail. The faces do remind you of the harshness and toughness that is the Old West. It is a rare experience to see various artists interpret the Old West. Rather incredibly there is something for children and tourists as well. There is an opportunity to create pictures that takes them back to the Old West. You can pose with a horse that looks like you are in the Old West. Please do take the time to take a picture with children and adults alike. It is a memory that will stay with you for a very long time.The other thing that I took away with me was the fact that there was no attempt made at political correctness or analysis. It was simply a rendition of the Old West and I really appreciated that aspect. This is a trip that is well worth of your time and effort.

Peggy Woodward

Ibloved this museum! I stopped in on a chilky rainy January day. I could have stayed longer than the 3 hours I was there. The exhibits are a fascinating display of the history of the area and many of the people. I recommend this as a place to visit.

Michelle Treece

A very interesting and well laid out museum. Definitely worth the stop.

Dag Grudem

Wonderful experience. The landscape design, the building design are impressive and awsrf winning. Exhibits are so good. The permanent pottery exhibit is exceptional. I can't do it in one day.

Caroline Woodruff

We had a guide for our museum tour, he was fabulous. So knowledgeable and informative, it was so wonderful. He also told us of new exhibits coming.

NOVA 1

This museum is such a great Southwest informative experience for all ages. Truly the Native American and Cowboy of learning is what one of my friends commented.

Jay Weaver

Excellent Western museum! Fantastic art, especially sculptures. Lots of Western artifacts like saddles, clothing, guns, etc. A big surprise was all the works of Barry Goldwater...great photography!

T Case

Beautiful paintings. Original artifacts. Awesome building. The only thing I'd improve are the docēres - a bit more training could really improve the experience. Overall, it's a solid museum and one of my favorite things to do in the Phoenix area.

Mark B

Fantastic displays of western saddles and wear.

Cassandra Corkhill

Wade and Jeffree were such a helpful wealth of knowledge! The collection of art containing a variety of modalities was impressive and the architecture of the building itself was stunning. Jeffree was very kind to give me the background of the building and the symbolism behind the materials.

Roger Bicknell

Enjoyed learning about the heritage in the region. Saddles, guns, holsters, boots, and more to see in person. Very cool stuff!

Greg Wenaas

VERY interesting. Great presentation. A must visit.

Len Schulke

Tons of great exhibits, including photographs, saddles, spurs, chaps and much more. Spent over two hours and could have stayed longer.

Andrew Allemann

An enjoyable museum. Great memorabilia, art, and stories. Plan on spending 45-90 minutes there; perhaps more if you want to review each piece of art. Friendly staff, too.

Joan Robinson

Fantastic paintings tracing the Lewis & Clark Expeditionbest I've ever seen. Cowboy Artists of America exhibit is great, too. If you love western art and history, you can't help but enjoy this beautiful museum!

Ravishankar T

Excellent. Exhibition on Curtis is a must see

David Fortner

It is a great museum. The artist they feature tell a great story of the west. It is worth your time to go here.

Mary Kennedy

Great history. Interesting artifacts and art.

Rocky Nelson

Stunning! Must see.

Simone Cannon

Amazing museum, very well done. I thought it was just going to be cowboys, but it was so much more: native american art, history, sculpture garden, knowledgeable and helpful staff, etc. Absolutely worth visiting.

Blank Blank

Lots to see, and read. I don't just go to museums to look, I read the information about the exhibit, and spend time learning about the exhibit. This is time consuming, but 8f you love to learn, like I do, then you will arrive early to really appreciate this gem of a museum in old Town Scottsdale.

Mary Goss

What a great museum. Many items to review. Great people with lots of info. Highly reccomend.

Horace Williams

Very contemporary, historical look at western art, sculpture, saddles, tack, pistols and rifles. Museum admission includes a 15-minute introductory video. Excellent museum.

Mark Fraser

Such a great experience. I learned a lot of things I didn't know. The photography and art is amazing.

Eugene DiCesaris

Excellent! My wife and I were very impressed with the interactive displays, artwork, and statues. The tour was informative. Large emphasis on Native American and Western cowboy culture.

Franz Sanvictores

Brand new museum in a fantastic location. Very fascinating Western collection.

Terry Jenkins

Really amazing museum of the American west! Art and artifacts of the period. Clothing, six shooters, ropes and spurs. Both cowboy and native American cultures are explored. I've never seen anything like it or as extensive. Fascinating!!

omar casill

A MUST SEE MUSEUM!!! you will be amazed at the paintings, sculptures and historical items that tell the story of how the old west came to be, first you'll find out how Louis and Clark began there journey and the obstacles they had to endure to reach the pacific ocean. then as you journey deeper into the museum it tells you about how the cowboy era came to be , don't forget to go up stairs to the second level you WILL BE AMAZED at everything you see. i loved the old maps of the United States and the trackers that made the west there home. i will definitely return with to this museum with my friends so they can be awestruck at the well told tale of the old west.

Bill Burke

A very nice museum. Western art, native American artifacts, antique horse tack, guns of the west, pretty much anything that had something to do with the west. We took a couple of hours to see it all. Highly recommended

Dan Ferguson

Outstanding tours by knowledgeable and friendly staff! Loved the spurs, native american items, Colonel Carson's pistol, artwork. This will be a regular stop from now on. This is a must see.

Vanessa Smith

Really enjoyed it. Thought the layout vs the audio portion were not curated well. Had a hard time finding the paintings they were talking about.

Ms Sumxs

Spent a lovely afternoon, the Western paintings were really great, along with the bead work iteams and more. Price was $20.00.

Richard Cramp

One of the most interesting museum experiences we've had. Staff was very nice and knowledgeable.

Matt Flower

A beautiful place. Interesting artifacts and a wide array of western art. We enjoyed our visit and actually stayed longer then we intended. Was worth the expense of both time and money.

Mark Akiens

Photographs and images from towards the end of the native Indian tribes, a number of mis information corrected by a visit here.

Nadine Burns

Nice moderately sized museums with some gems. Amazing bronze work and cowboy items Video could have been so much better with real historical facts and video clips as opposed to eagle shots.

Scott Zawalski

If you are in the area and want to soak in a bit of local culture this is a good place to go. Relatively kid friendly and accessible via the free trolly. If you know who Maynard Dixon is and haven't heard of this place you should absolutely stop by.

M H

Really nice museum. Beautiful art. Hoped there would be more from old western movies. But still loved the museum.

Carson Booher

Janet is the best worker there and the whole staff is friendly. Well worth the price you pay and so many interesting stories to look into. I highly recommend this to anyone coming to Arizona, or natives to the state.

S. Slater

This is an amazing museum. World class exhibits. Intimate experience. Can see everything you want in a couple of hours.

Kevin Buselmeier

Nice museum detailing sculptures, paintings, pottery, photographs, saddles, stirrups, etc... of the west. Have a fine collection of old west paintings, and the John Coleman and Paul Calle collections are excellent.

Tabitha Thornhill

You have to see this! Western movie posters that inspire you to see them. HIstory of the Western US in some amazing intricate beautiful saddles, and a garden with metal sculptures perfect for any corporate event, birthday party or fun party to celebrate life.

Bernadette Smith

Such a great unique little museum! I loved their exhibit on old western movies. There was so much! They have a lot of cool original old movie posters.

Linda Upmeyer

Too often overlooked! Don't miss this museum in Old Town Scottsdale. The staff and docents are knowledgeable and eager to help!!

Matt Hull

There are a number of really interesting paintings and sculptures. The backgrounds of the artists and the timeline of the works added to the experience.

Rod Werner

Gerard was and is a fabulous guide definitely take the tour if you are any type od western history enthusiast plan on 2 to2-1/2 hours if not plan on an hour plus a little spendy but its Scottsdale. Worth the trip from Buckeye.

Glenn Richardson

Not enough variety in overall exhibits.

G. R. Isidro

We loved this museum. A "must" visit if you are in Scottsdale. We spent a couple of hours looking at all the exhibits. Especially loved all the statues and artwork. Would highly recommend it to everyone!

Angela Bouchard

Really cool to see saddles and items that had been used back then. I liked the paintings and sculptures as well. Couldn't tell you anything about the price because I was paid for by someone else.

Penny Mann

Not a whole lot to see for the price. The museum was very pretty and well kept. Staff was very nice.

Tom C. Krejcie

Very nice building with a good layout. Goldwater (special) photo exhibit was very interesting. Too much art work relative to what I would expect in a museum.

Kelly Krause

So I'm not a big western fan, and I think people overdo the whole veneration of the Western mythos thing, but this place is so wonderful and an exception to my lack of fandom. The venue is beautiful, and the Taos group artwork is so good. I went there for an event but plan on making this a regular stop with out-of-town guests as part of the "Best-Things-to-See-in-Phoenix" tour that I do pretty often for out-of-town visitors. It's right up there with the botanical garden, hiking, and Vovomeena.

Caroline Karsten

The exhibits were interesting and the employees were very helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable. Highly recommend a tour!

John Childress

Good experience overall. I had to bite my tongue a few times as to how employees were treating children bieng "close" to the art. I would call it rude. Great site, staff needs attention.

Dean Koenig

Really enjoyed the Western Movie poster exhibit and some great art, as well. The video presentation in their theater was a little strange...and it would be nice if they had a cafe.

James Mueller

The tour guides know their stuff. I’ve lived in AZ most of my life and left this place with an entirely new appreciation for my home state and its history. I highly recommend stopping by whether you’re a tourist or a local.

Pam Conn

Spectacular enjoyed our friend Joe Beeler exhibition. Prolific artist and member of the Will James Society. Very happy when this western museum opened. It was long over due.

Rebekah Mac Lean

What an awesome place. So much to see. Some very interesting activities for children. Lots of history and I learned things that I had no idea of. Old movie posters and actual things from old west times. I will definitely return.

Patricia McCauley

Four years(ish) new to Old Town Scottsdale. Great exhibits. Stunning photography from former Senator Goldwater capturing Native American life currently on loan..

A Google User

We fell in love with this museum and became members. It's a new museum, very well done, bring your out of town friends and family, enjoy the new cowboy artist of America display and you won't be disappointed.

Paul Hejja MD

Excellent collections of Barry Goldwater's images as well as the works of Paul Calle illustrator for US Postage, NASA etc. A must see pair of shows.

Trey Granger

It's a cool museum with plenty of things to see, and it's a great location. However, it wouldn't crack my list of the five best museums in the Phoenix area and I probably would suggest other attractions for visitors.

P B

Nice place and very nice helpful staff to insure a pleasurable experience. The staff clearly goes out of their way and are very creative in setting up these nice exhibits in a variety of ways.

T M

The top museum by far in the Phoenix area. Unmatched in every respect. No visit to this area should fail to include a visit to this nationally recognized institution. More fascinating things in one place than you could ever imagine.

Velma Delgado-Armstead

Beautifuly presented photographs and paintings, collections and other treasures. Very worth the two hours you'll find yourself spending here.

Rustell

This is a wonderful museum with exhibits about the southwest United States. Don’t miss the Lewis and Clark exhibit complete with actual artifacts and the 3D art near the gift shop!

Rickey Kelman

We are lucky to have this museum. Don't miss it.

Douglas Andersen

Not many museums like this. Lots of fine art involving the American West and native Americans. Many works by well known artists as well as talented lesser known ones. A real treat.

stevi emerson

Great museum with several incredible exhibits. Our tour guide, Steve, was very knowledgeable of the pieces and also funny. We'll definitely rerurn!

Kitty Carlisle

I loved everything about this museum: the building itself, the friendly & informative staff, & the exhibits. Some of the bronze sculptures are so realistic looking!

James Murch Eschert

A very cool museum. Great guided tour with a lot of anecdotes and stories. Western items and great western movie posters. Very nice staff and overall a great experience.

Jo-Anne HERBECK

We visited here after the Parada del Sol when it was free. It was quite interesting especially the wanted posters for Bonnie & Clyde & John Dillinger. The statues outside were neat too.

Phillip Elli

Great museum. Lots of artifacts of the old west..great saddle collection..the paintings are really cool to look at! Go and enjoy!

Chas Woodley

What a great museum, the paintings were amazing, and a beautiful modern building for a change, very enjoyable afternoon spent here, wish I could have smuggled one of those paintings or bronzes out LOL

Tui Scottsdale

If you like Western paintings and sculptures plus historical clothing and horse equipment, you will enjoy this museum. Nicely presented and curated.

AJ Arizona

Wonderful collections of art and collectibles with an entertaining flair. Well trained docents provide excellent tours. OK Chorale was a real treat with song and stories.

Alexander Vallar

The Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West wasn't exactly what I suspected. Based on the read of the website I excepted it to be a history museum but in actuality it's a great art museum. Taboot the tour guide was low energy, disorganized, and unengaging.

Kathie Taylor

Excellent paintings, old movie ad boards, many sculptures!

Jon K

Honestly Western Art is not my favorite, but the docents here are very knowledgeable and often overlap with the Heard Museum. Worth checking out!

Kayon Johns

They day I went the admission was free, donations only.

Bob Baer

Great museum, especially for Edward Curtis history

Judith Taylor

We really enjoyed it a lot.wish we could have stayed there longer. I learn a lot about all the Native American Indians within the SouthWest. I hope more people go there and look around.

Ivan Lukovnikov

Great small museum. Piece full atmosphere and helpful staff. Get ready to take great pictures with horses ;)

Some Guy

Great exhibits and artwork. Old west artifacts are really neat. Wish it was more diverse, though. Tons of Goldwater artifacts and exhibits.

Intercoastal Safaris

It was OK. Most of the art was very similar to all the rest in the place. Not a lot of variety. The Booth Musum in Cartersville, HE is much nicer in my opinion.

Sean Simon

Beautiful exhibits. Really enjoyed some of the historical artifacts from the region. Docent was very knowledgeable.

Forrest Clark

Mostly southwestern style artwork. Some artifacts. Fair- to- middling museum. Been there done that and won't need to go back.

Roger Evans

Several great collections of saddles, stirups, guns, western history. A major part is art works and drawings if you are into western art.

Mary Helen Whitney

Great collection of western art and western memorabilia

Den Mitchell

This is museum that you can visit often. The staff is constantly bringing in new exhibits that are interesting and often educational. We visit regularly.

Lynda Wade

My granddaughters, my husband, my Service Dog Maple and I enjoyed the tour of the Museum led by Judith. I am pleased that Judith talked to my Service Dog Maple during the tour she lead.

Brian Hansen

Lots of Native American History and art. Useful explanations accompany all the variety of displays.

Jim Rafferty

Lots of artifacts and art. Very interesting and educational place

Ronald Hill

Great exhibitión.Enjoyed Callé collection.

Jimh H

Cool museum with lots of history. Unique items. Very helpful and informative staff

Warrant

Amazing history of the west and it was romanticized. Beautiful art collections, amazing bronze sculptures. Definitely must see.

Rayna Snelling

Not really true information about how the west was won so do your own research before and after you leave this museum I suggest reading an old book like the encyclopedia instead of googling the information because the internet information isnt always accurate either

Elizabeth Jensen

An excellent museum depicting the southwest and Native Americans!

Steven Wohl

Incredible collection of history, art and imagery of the American Western Experience.

Susan Scheurer

Comprehensive collection of the Western experience. Our docent, Laird Vernon, was extremely knowledgeable and entertaining. Loved it!

Larry Besnoff

Accurate representation of the wild west.

AZboyinWI

Second visit in a few years, we went on a "free" day and enjoyed it.

Joe Matthews

What a lovely museum! The Barry Goldwater collection reveals so much of Arizona and Native Americans that was once unknown.

Ralph B

Fabulous celebration of Arizona's history with emphasis on cowboys and artists including Native, Hispanic, and Caucasian. Currently hosting a Barry Goldwater photography exhibition.

Cecilia Kollasch

The Maynard Dixon exhibition is so amazing. Spent two hours in it and will come back again for a second look.

Jean Tipps

Loved the museum. Took my friend that was visiting from out of state and she loved it too. Will go again in the future.

george d roberts

Went there for a business event, hard to find,once there,went to event,the plus was I had time to visit and partake of our past history and artwork,some things for sale. Quite,clean,friendly, knowledgeable attendants.

Dawn Kelley

A must see

Karen Foley

Great place to learn about the west. One of their current galleries is showing art works from the Taos collection dating back to the early 1900's.

Theresa Goodwin

Lots to see and didn't take very long to explore entire exhibit.

Jacqueline Doyle

Wonderful collections. Beautiful setting. We'll be back. Loved the Goldwater photos!

Brent Desjarlais

Great displays, check the schedule for when they have special events. I saw a great documentary film there during my visit

JohnMark Ingaran

Beautiful way they set up the museum. The staff was friendly & helpful.

Chuck Denny

Absolutely a beautiful place to visit. Very enlightening

Spongie Keller

We are members and visit the museum quite often in addition to attending great lectures and movies they offer members for free.

mike eishen

Beautiful bronzes but other than that nothing was labeled I need more information to make a the Journey tour last night

Leah Chaldares

Awesome museum, a must do while in Phoenix. Words don't the exhibits justice!

Ellen Rothschild

Very nice exhibits. Remingtons and Russells. Great collection of western artifacts. In Old Town Scottsdale. Tons of galleries

Jennifer Laman

Beautiful western art and sculptures but I was really impressed with the architecture and decor of the facility. I'll go back!

Michael S

Small but very cool museum, lots of artifacts but also great artwork.

Robert K

Eh. I would skip, unless you want to know what your temperature is and want a free mask.

The Shogunstein

Amazing museum. Had super tour with Stan. Great western art.

Pam C

Highly recommended and a new spot to AZ. Bring out of town guests and have lunch nearby at the many venues for a real taste of AZ. I'm going back again.

Shawn Young

Wonderful museum with a fantastic collection of Western American paintings ranging from the mid-1800s to today

Jane Paul

Wonderful experience. Stayed over 2 hours and could have stayed longer.

Robert Snyder

A beautiful structure with impressive collections. It added immensely to our understanding of the history of the Southwest.

Paula Furlong

Awesome if you enjoy the west! Art, sculptures, guided tour, very informative.

Rita Freiria

Beautiful museum.

Mary DeWitt

What a great place! Such collections. I especially like the Kit Carson displays, and Chiefs blankets.

Billy Hollenback

Very enthusiastic staff who are happy to share their knowledge. Very eye opening experience.

Barbara Jean McAtlin

We had so much fun here! Great experience!

Fred Pineau

We loved the stories and memorabilia from the old West. Pottery, paintings, and silver works...they have it all.

Todd Charles

Nice museum of Native American and cowboy history.

Matt H

Awesome and beautiful museum. Wonderful staff. Highly recommended!!

ajax comics

Excellent museum very clean well-thought-out and exciting exhibits

Danette McKearn

This Museum was so incredible interesting. We really enjoyed every aspect of the Museum

Laura Dobbins

Beautiful facility with interesting exhibits to appeal to many - artwork, artifacts, Western movie memorabilia, etc.

Mike Petersen

Fantastic One of a kind exhibits! Very knowledgeable tour guides

Robert Simpson

This is a world class museum! The changing exhibitions keep you wanting more. If you love the West, this is your place.

laura a Kelly

The building is beautiful and sets off the art. The greeters were pleasant and very helpful

Bob Middleton

Was ok

Kerry Brock

Easy and interesting museum to visit. The various galleries are different but each of high quality.

Jayne MacDougall

Wonderful visit , could of stayed longer. Closing time was 5:00 and we already spent 2 hours. Needed at least another hour.

TerryL Wages

Fabulous diverse display of western history. Tastefully done. The staff were extremely helpful and it was hard to leave!

Ruth Hill

We were looking for a place to cool off and have fun. Very unique little spot. Worth the price.

Warren Shapiro

What a little gem. Well done exhibitions both new and permanent. Exhibit on western art was first class.

Richard Lewin

Interesting combination of western art and memomielia. Visit was enjoyable. Free parking is readily available.

Charley Lanzillotta

A top rate museum. Very well thought out, beautiful and interesting exhibits.

Wayne Mingin

Very informative and well taken care of

Pat Stricker

They are closed on Monday, which is the only day that we could visit! However outside there are sculptures and cactus gardens to see.

Vasiliki Boulas (Vicki)

Came upon this museum by walking the streets of Scottsdale. Great place to visit. Great artwork displayed. Loved it!

Carolynn Carpenter

Large museum. Lots of artwork, pottery, Western history and facts. Interesting. Can spend hours there.

Candance Jackson

I felt that one museum showed one side of the western history very limited exhibited

Kristi Polanco

Docents made experience so fun for us; even the bathroom doors were a piece of art!

Zivile Crawford

Small, not too much interesting things. 10 min movie is absolutely waste of time.

Maggie Berres

Fabulous gem in Old Town Scottsdale! Highly recommend!

Spencer Francis

Very nice history of the west in painting, pottery, pictures, artifacts & sculptures.

Holger Drallmeyer

Great place to visit. Compact and easy to see all in 2 hours. Close to downtown restaurants.

John Hdez

Great service friendly staff. Good art work painting and sculptures all.

Michael Schultz

Fantastic place with a lot of western artwork.

Margaret Coonan

Beautiful artwork and extensive western displays

Dave Miller

I learned so much about the west and the Tour guide was really knowledgeable !

Charles Albert Ohler

I highly recommend this place!!!

Jay Otto

A pleasant surprise in downtown Scottsdale. History and art by and about the native Americans and European settlers in the Western US.

Robert Smith

We'll laid out with lots of interesting tidbits about life in the West. Definitely worth a visit!

Allan Hummell

Expensive to visit. Free passes on national.museum day made it possible.plan enough tim. Several hours, at least.

Valerie Ritchie

We went on a field trip here. Both museum and staff were wonderful.

Polli Johnston

Interesting place to learn of Western History..., loved the scavenger hunt for kid's..., I got involved with the hunt!!😊 …

Filip Hubert Suwik

It's worth to see if you like wild wild west, cowboys, gunfighters and native Americans culture.

Sasha Lantzy

We visited on a field trip and they made the experience educational and enjoyable for the kids and the adults.

Jennifer Simpson

Learned a lot! Great photos and history!

Tracy Webb-Kaden

Great place to spend the afternoon. I took my father there and we both loved it.

Chuck Point

Wonderful exhibits. Southeastern Natve ceramics. Photos. Paintings. Western memorabilia.

P. G.

Not to be missed, if you like western art, and a western experience. Free tours available.

Joe McDaniel

A lot of history is packed into this museum. So many movies have been set in and around the 'old west'.

Philip Bramucci

Tons of beautiful historic items. All of the artwork upstairs is just beautiful.

G “Dodeski” Gow

Good exhibition of Indian and cowboy history, well laid out, helpful informative staff

Jackie White

Full of western history. A MUST VISIT when ib Scottsdsle.

Gerald Nelson

Very well informed and attentive guides make an excellent tour of museum

Mike Brinkley

Very interesting, terrific staff. Paintings following Lewis and Clark are fantastic.

Kirk Pangus

Very cool architecture, great displays of western life and history.

Don Fry

One of the best western museum

Sheila Engstrom

I liked it and there was a lot to see, just wish it had a better flow to it.

David Jubb

Wonderful museum,art gallery to view historic Western past

Janipp Mitchell

Nice museum.

Kathy Baldwin

Great and well done. Went to see Rockefeller 's photos - fantastic!

Troy Bowerman

Pretty cool Museum if you're into Western stuff.

Angie Latimer

You want western history, visit this museum! Totally worth your time.

John Ollech

Great museum at a reasonable price/value. Recommend!

Spongie Keller

We have been supporting members since they opened. A real gem for the city of scottsdale and a must to visit.

Tricia Zizzo

Awesome museum. My daughter and I really enjoyed it.

Lawrence Thornburg

More about art than history. Lots of 20th century items. Good times.

Alex A

Very well layed out, extremely clean, thoughtful pieces a bit pricey to enter

Marivel Ramirez

We absolutely loved it. Tony was amazing!

Carol Stevens

I wish they had a little bit more art displayed. But what they had was pretty cool.

Gale Rhoades

Lovely party and small conference site with some fun exhibits.

Pat V

Small but pleasent. The dixon exhibit is interesting

Avery Guadamuz

It was very cool seeing the art and the history of Arizona.

Jacquie Hall

I enjoyed the movie poster exhibit. So nice to have something like this in Scottsdale!

jmgargoyle

Nicely put together displays of artifacts and western art. Spent about an hour and a half looking at everything....

D & T Electric

Very interesting much can be learned about old west. The art is fantastic.

Robert Dubeau

Excellent museum art on and for western historic values.

Rosemary Russell

Great western museum.

Dylan Soo

Was not able to go in as it was closed hut a stunning and visually appealing museum.

Rhonda Sanders

Great field trip with engaging activities at each exhibit!

daniel bauer

Not bad but a bit repetitive

Karen Atkinson

Extensive displays of Maynard dixon and Paul calle. Well worth your time

Deborah Kiddie

Education

Sanghun Samuel Lee

Nicely laid-out. If you are interested in The Old West, this is a place to visit in PHX.

Ken Swearingen

Went throughout a senior citizen Retreat awesome Place good presentators learn about the wild west here

Ruth Foelber

Good collection (artifacts and art) nicely organized. Something for all ages.

Felicia Michele

Took a tour and learned a lot! Great time. I spent 2.5 hours there and learned a lot!

James Gentile

Great place for a visit to "The Old West"& friendly astmosphere as well

Joe Mahoney

Fabulous museum. We had two different tours.

Ann Connolly

Well designed museum with Western art and items used in West with artistic flair.

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