1. Home
  2. Cities & Towns
  3. Phoenix

Museums

There are a wide variety of museums in Phoenix. Cultural, historical, regional history as well as specialty museums will keep you busy learning about the area.
Smithsonian Museum Day in Phoenix
Several museums in the Phoenix area celebrate International Museum Day and Museum Month with free admissions and gifts.
A.S.U. Art Museum
Admission is free to this art museum on the Arizona State University campus. View samples of their collections at this site.
African American Multicultural Museum
The museum features a variety of exhibits and programs featuring art, historical items, speakers, and artists.
Arizona Challenger Space Center
See a photo tour of the Arizona Challenger Space Center. The Arizona Challenger Space Center is located in Peoria, Arizona, northwest of Phoenix.
Arizona Doll and Toy Museum
Located in downtown Phoenix. "There is a wide variety of dolls and toys from yesterday as well as familiar modern playthings."
Arizona Military Museum
"The museum is an official activity of the Arizona National Guard operated by the Arizona National Guard Historical Society, Inc. The purpose of the society is to collect, preserve and display the military history of Arizona."
Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum
Located in downtown Phoenix. The collection contains over 670 specimens representing 128 species. Approximately 45 percent of the collection comes from Arizona.
Arizona Museum for Youth
Introduces children to the fine arts.  Lots of workshops and classes for children to participate in creating different types of artwork.
Arizona Railway Museum
"The Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of Arizona's Railroading history." Located in Chandler.
Arizona Science Center
See photos and learn about what happens at the Arizona Science Center in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. The Arizona Science Center is a great place for kids to enjoy science in a hands-on environment.
Arizona Science Center
Take a look at a photo gallery of the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The Arizona Science Center is located downtown, and incorporates an IMAX theater and a planetarium.
Arizona State Capitol Museum
State symbols, flags, restored art and other exhibits relative to the history of Arizona.
Arizona Wing Commemorative Air Force Museum
The Arizona Wing CAF Museum is located in Mesa, Arizona. The Arizona Wing is the home of Sentimental Journey, the most authentically restored B-17 Flying today. Warbirds from WWII through Vietnam are on display as well as memorabilia.
Bead Museum
Take a photo tour of The Bead Museum in Glendale, Arizona. The Bead Museum is just a few minutes west of Phoenix.
Chandler Museum
Established under the Chandler Historical Society as a non-profit organization to preserve the rich history and heritage of Chandler, AZ. Special events, new exhibits and outreach programs.
Children's Museum of Phoenix
See a photo tour of the Children's Museum of Phoenix. The Children's Museum of Phoenix is located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona.
Coupons and Discounts
Here are some of the best resources for getting online coupons or discounts for Arizona businesses and services: groceries, restaurants, attractions, golf and more.
Deer Valley Rock Art Center
Located north of Phoenix in Deer Valley. The Hedgpeth Hills petroglyph site has over 1500 petroglyphs on nearly 600 boulders. Two-for-one discount coupons are often available for the Deer Valley Rock Art Center through the Entertainment Book. (Buy Direct)
Desert Caballeros Western Museum
Western art, Hall of History, Native American art, minerals and gems. A day trip from Phoenix in Wickenburg, AZ.
El Greco to Picasso at the Phoenix Art Museum
In 2003 the Phoenix Art Museum held the most important exhibition to come to Arizona, entitled Masterworks from El Greco to Picasso in The Phillips Collection.
Fiesta Bowl Museum
Take a photo tour of the Fiesta Bowl Museum. The Fiesta Bowl Museum is located in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West
A few miles northeast of Scottsdale, Arizona there is a living memorial to a great American architect: Taliesin West. Two-for-one discount coupons for guided tours of Taliesin West are often available through the Entertainment Book. (Buy Direct)
Glendale Police Museum
Located in Glendale, AZ at the FOP Lodge #12. Check the web site for days and hours of operation.
Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting
See a photographic tour of the Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting located in Phoenix, Arizona. Two-for-one discount coupons for the Hall of Flame are often available through the Entertainment Book. (Buy Direct)
Heard Museum North Scottsdale
Located in North Scottsdale at El Pedregal, it features changing exhibits, seminars and a museum shop.
Heard Museum
Find out about the Heard Museum in Phoenix. Pictures, details, admission, tours, exhibits at the Heard Museum.
House of Broadcasting
"...a nonprofit museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history, personalities and paraphernalia associated with Arizona's Broadcasting Industry."
International Museum Day in Phoenix
Several museums in the Phoenix area celebrate International Museum Day with free admissions and gifts.
Marty Robbins Exhibit House
In Glendale, AZ. Includes memorabilia depicting the music and racing career of Country Hall of Fame winner Marty Robbins.
Museo Chicano
Museo Chicano is the first museum in Arizona that was founded and is operated by Latinos. It is a non-profit, community-based museum that promotes knowledge and appreciation of the cultures of Latinos.
Museum Exhibit Event Calendar
Many visual arts events are included in the Valley events calendar.
Mystery Castle
In south Phoenix there's a very unusual home built by a man named Boyce Gulley. His daughter still lives there, and you can take a tour. Two-for-one discount coupons for Mystery Castle are often available through the Entertainment Book. (Buy Direct)
Norman Rockwell: The Four Freedoms
In 2001 the Phoenix Art Museum was the fifth stop on the tour of an incredibly popular exhibition of the art of Norman Rockwell. The exhibit was entitled, Norman Rockwell: Pictures for the American People. This article includes photos of Norman Rockwell's famous Four Freedoms.
Penske Racing Museum
The Penske Racing Museum showcases vintage race cars, racing trophies, and various racing memorabilia. North Scottsdale.
Phoenix Art Museum
Learn about the Phoenix Art Museum in downtown Phoenix, AZ. The Phoenix Art Museum is one of the largest art museums in the western U.S.
Phoenix Family Museum
Hands-on exhibits relating to cultural diversity, the arts, the working world, and child development. Also provides parenting classes, cultural presentations, visual art workshops, and dance and theatre performances.
Phoenix Trolley Museum
The Phoenix Trolley project was started in 1975 with a group of individuals that purchased one of the last remaining bodies of an original Phoenix Streetcar. They have a Collection of 5 Streetcars in various stages of restoration.
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
In addition to art exhibits they also sponsor tours, lectures, classes and workshops.
Splendors From China's Imperial Palace
In 2001 the Phoenix Art Museum was one of only five venues in the United States to host a magnificent collection of rare and remarkable objects--Secret World of the Forbidden City: Splendors from China's Imperial Palace.
Zelma Basha Salmeri Gallery of Western American & Native Art
Bashas', the grocery people, have an art museum at their corporate headquarters in Chandler. Includes over 600 pieces of art. Open Monday through Friday only.

Explore Phoenix

About.com Special Features

On the National Mall in Washington, DC

Take a look at the capital's best sight-seeing spot. More >

Oktoberfest in Phoenix

Find the best places to celebrate and join the festivities. More >

  1. Home
  2. Cities & Towns
  3. Phoenix
  4. Attractions and Events
  5. Museums

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.