Phoenix is home to a wide array of arts and culture and visitors and natives alike can experience everything from performances at theaters and concert halls to a diverse group of museums and cultural centers. Check out our list of some of the places to explore just a bit of what our community has to offer in terms of arts and culture. And if you want to save some money while exploring, read up on our list of museums that offer free admission.
Arizona Museum of Natural History
53 N. MacDonald, Mesa, AZ 85201
At the Arizona Museum of Natural History, and is designed to inspire wonder and understand for the natural and cultural history of the Southwest. The museum features a variety of exhibits where you can explore dinosaurs and prehistoric mammals or even pan for “gold” and learn about Arizona’s rich history. Tickets are available online and in person and the museum hosts a variety of special programming and events including programming specifically for young families. Visit arizonamuseumofnaturalhistory.org for hours, pricing and more details.
Heard Museum
2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004
The Heard Museum has been recognized internationally for the quality of its collections, world-class exhibitions, educational programming and its unmatched festivals. The museum features art and stories of American Indian people from a first-person perspective and showcases the beauty and vitality of traditional and contemporary art. Guests can enjoy admiring art indoors including some hands-on interactive learning as well as take a walk outdoors to view beautiful galleries and performance spaces. The museum hosts and supports American Indian artists and draw more than 40,000 visitors annually at their community events. Tickets are available online (at a discounted price) and in person. Visit heard.org for hours, pricing and more details.
Japanese Friendship Garden
1125 N. 3rd Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85003
The Japanese Friendship Garden, RoHoEn, is a joint project of the City of Phoenix and Phoenix’s sister city of Himeji, Japan. In 1987, the Himeji Mayor proposed the idea of the garden as a way to cement the bonds of friendship between Japan and the United States. The teahouse and surrounding garden features a beautiful and tranquil setting where visitors can stroll by hand-picked rocks, stone foot bridges, flowing streams, a 12-foot waterfall and a Koi pond with over 300 colorful Koi fish. Tickets are available online and in person. Visit japanesefriendshipgarden.org for hours, pricing and more details.
Musical Instrument Museum (MIM)
4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85050
Opened in 2010, the MIM features a collection of more than 8,000 instruments from more than 200 countries around the world. The state-of-the-art, interactive media allows guests to see the instruments, hear their sounds and observe them being played while learning about the rich diversity of music and instruments. The array of galleries include hands-on experiences along with special exhibitions and an artist gallery featuring historic instruments owned, played and loved by some famous musicians. Tickets are available online and in person and the museum hosts a variety of special concerts and events for visitors to enjoy. Visit mim.org for hours, pricing and more details.
Phoenix Art Museum
1625 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004
For more than 60 years, the Phoenix Art Museum has been showcasing world-class exhibitions and meaningful collections. Considered the largest art museum in the southwestern United States, the museum is home to a collection of more than 20,000 objects and aims to ignite imaginations and serve as a vibrant destination for all people who wish to experience the power of art. Tickets are available online and in person and the museum hosts a variety of special programming and events. Visit phxart.org for hours, pricing and more details.
Pioneer Living History Museum
3901 W. Pioneer Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85086
The Pioneer Living History Museum is a sprawling 90 acre open-air museum in Northern Phoenix. Guests can wander along paved pathways and be guided past the twenty historic 19th century buildings to learn about how people lived back then. Features include reproductions of blacksmith, carpenter and dress shops, and visitors can also enjoy a re-enactment gun fight show and hay maze. Tickets are available online and in person. Visit pioneeraz.org for hours, pricing and more details.
Taliesin West
12621 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ 85259
Taliesin West was the beloved winter home and desert laboratory of legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site and National Historic Landmark, the home is now open to the public and offers a broad range of experiences including guided tours and programs. Wright built this home to reflect the sweeping expansiveness of the desert and was able to preserve as much of the desert environment as possible by embedding his structures within the landscape. As the buildings, that are all connected through a series of walkways, terraces and gardens, began to take on greater permanence, steel and fiberglass replaced the less durable materials. Now visitors can enjoy guided and self-guided tours, cultural programs, fieldtrips and other special events. Tickets are available online and in person. Visit franklloydwright.org/taliesin-west for hours, pricing and more details.
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