Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West Reviews

The front desk clerk was rude and unwelcoming. Clyde exhibit was amazing. Very interesting collection of historical Native Indian pieces.

Many interesting artifacts along with movies, posters and genuine western garb. Street parking. Handicap accessible. Takes you back to a gentler time

Similar to the Autry in L.A. Western art, saddles, guns, Goldwater photo exhibit. Small, but nicely done. Worth a visit. Takes about one hour. Walking distance from Old Scottsdale.

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.

My husband had the best time at this museum. Along with the sculpture and paintings, the western spurs, saddles and cowboy items were so fun! I enjoyed too, but hubby really did and doesn't always love all the places I drag him to.

I went to the Western Spirit Museum to see their outstanding Maynard Dixon; Artist of the American West exhibit. Maynard Dixon's life was amazing and his art breathtaking. My favorite artwork was Cloud World and Shapes of Fear. Did you know Maynard Dixon determined the "eye-catching" red color for the Golden Gate Bridge?

There was also an excellent exhibit of Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater's photographs. Goldwater loved not just the landscape of his native state, but also its native peoples, and photography was his way of sharing that love with the world.

The most spectacular piece of art is a reverse perspective western scene named Essence of the West by Artist Wade Weber. The three-dimensional, optical illusion acrylic-on-board artwork appears to move as you move.

I felt this museum couldn’t make up its mind about what it wants to be. It seemed disjointed to me. A significant exhibit of Hopi pottery is located next to old western movie posters and the movie music playing loudly was annoying while looking at the pottery. A large collection of saddles, tack and chaps is interspersed with western paintings and bronze sculptures. I found the 10 minute film shown hourly bizarre and disjointed in its message. Upstairs you will find a variety of new and old western paintings and bronze sculptures. Other reviewers give this museum excellent ratings but I think the museum needs to better define its vision and purpose and then find a curator who can align the exhibits accordingly.

Great western art museum in the heart of old Scottsdale. Current exhibit of Tom Gilleon’s work was amazing, well worth a trip just for that. Don’t miss his digital work, I watched it for over fifteen minutes, it’s mesmerizing. Absolutely recommend!

As My 16 year old and I made our way through it got better and better.
Lotta cool stuff.
It put some sunshine in our rainy day
Staff was and friendly and knowledgeable

Keep it up
Thank you

we were at the Museum on the wrong f=day for the speaker we wanted to hear so we went on guided tour and were very happy we attended. Learned a ton about the art and artist along with local and western folk history

I am not a big museum person. They tend to overwhelm me and after a couple of hours I just wanna get out of the building. First of all, this museum is beautiful. It is obviously very well funded and all of the exhibits and works of art are beautifully cared for and displayed. It is also, at least in my opinion, a very doable museum. My husband and I were there for a little over two hours, and I felt we saw lots of different exhibits within that time. We certainly could’ve spent much more time and seen the exhibits in greater detail. However, that was the period of time that we wished to spend and I didn’t feel When we left that I had been overwhelmed and hadn’t seen 90% of what was on display. On the other hand, I felt like I could go back and see lots of new things on another trip.

If you love Western art, this is a Don’t Miss world class collection—and building. Charles Russell’s work abounds, there is a stupefying collection of incredible pottery, and the current exhibit, photography by Barry Goldwater, is revelatory and moving. Lots of fun exhibits for children and wannabe cowpokes, too. We spent the afternoon and wish we’d set aside a whole day.

This is the best Museum in the area- not only it is beautiful and brand new but it is culturally relevant and important. It should be rated more highly. I was deeply moved by the exhibits and urge folks to visit.

Not the biggest Hopi pottery exhibit but an exquisite one, carefully curated, with excellent information on the artists, well worth seeing on its own. In the next gallery, loud music blaring, is a collection of Western movie posters, mostly glorifying cinematic misrepresentations of Western history. That's what the whole museum is like...jarring and disparate visions of the West, smack dab next to each other with little context. Skip the movie, the message seemed to be "Some bad stuff happened when white people moved west, but, oh well, it's all part of change & now, look, we have subdivisions and golf courses!" The entire gallery of heroic (actually, they all looked like models from Drakkar Noir ads) mountain men was off-putting, given the reality, but overall, the museum shows a comprehensive representation of contemporary and older art. Plus, there are artifacts I've never seen in other collections. It's worthwhile, but make sure you visit the Heard, the Museum of Northern Arizona and other museums when in Arizona.

Just looking for a cool way to spend a hot afternoon. They are getying ready for a new exhibit so it was half price. If you like Western art you will love this place. Gail was our docent and she was very informative. The Paul Calle exhibit was great.

Spend a couple of hours in this interesting museum of the west. It includes a short movie, artwork, photos, displays of old equipment, guns, clothing, etc. The artifacts are nicely presented with fascinating background information. Did you know that some kinds of chaps are made out of bat wings? Lots to see here!

Must see museum if you love Western Art! Staff was very accommodating and nice. Spent 1.5hrs here but I like to read all the labels! Will definitely be back for other rotating exhibits. If they are half as good as the Maynard Dixon show, it will be worth the weekend getaway!

Amazing place! embodies the west! if you like learning about cowboys come here :) lots of cool stuff you will not get bored. The parking is free you'll love that about this place!! Staff was very helpful with a great attitude.

This is an update of my 1 star review written in 2015 - soon after the museum opened: Everything in Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West has dramatically improved in the years since they opened.

Collector/Donors have gifted fantastic artifacts included a huge collection of pottery by famous Hopi pottery artist Nampeyo. In addition, the museum displays priceless items such as moccasins from the 1500s. Every exhibit is unique and fascinating. My only suggestion would be this: There are many places where visitors can stand at kiosks and watch education films about western history. Because standing isn't helpful for tired feet, I'd suggest the films run continuously in the museum theater instead

This is a very interesting museum. We had a wonderful docent who really explained the art work and the artists. We really enjoyed it. I have to admit that the parts we toured afterwards were not as interesting

The is a gem of a smaller museum. It was surprising to find such a varied and interesting display of Western artworks in this venue. One of the highlights was the Rennard Strickland Collection of Western Film History. It was wonderfully curated and great for all ages with the interactive component of the collection.
There is an amazing selection of bronzes by sculptor/painter John Coleman. One of the museum docents provided some insight into the pieces and the artist, which was interesting and educational.
The display of saddles, spurs and western working cowboy objects provided detailed descriptions and are artfully presented.
While this is not the Heard Museum or Buffalo Bill Center of the West, it is a wonderful museum with pleasant and informative guides and some very unique collections which are not to be missed.

Came in to see Goldwater Arizona photo exhibit but there was more than that to see! Learned lots about western art.

We saw this for the first time right after it opened. We were so impressed that we got a pass for just a couple dollars more to go anytime for a year. Well worth it because they constantly change the exhibits & it gives you 10% off in the store. We were very impressed with the art , paintings & sculptures. The location is great too with good parking.

Fabulous, fascinating and fun and worth checking out. We spent over 2.5 hours there and the art exhibition are thoughtful and informative. This museum probably has the largest collection of western historical paintings and sketching. Lots to see snd read snd docent Steve was very good,

We visited the museum on a Sunday afternoon while we were staying in Phoenix. It was so worth the drive over there. It is a beautiful museum and everyone was very friendly. There were lots of artifacts from the old west as well as new works of art. There is a neat photo op for you to have your picture made with a horse on the prairie! There also is a 3D painting not to be missed. We spent about an hour and a half and enjoyed every minute. I highly recommend it.

This should be 5/5 stars. Small museum, but very much worth a visit. We did one docent tour. I learned so much from our guide. I hope to go back to see the new wing when I am in Scottsdale again very worthwhile visit.

Really enjoyed walking around and enjoying the park-like setting with wide walkways and plenty of trees and grass. Loved the model rail museum - make sure you donate a couple dollars to each model railway.

The building of this museum alone is worth the visit. It is fabulous. Be sure to go out into the sculpture courtyard, awesome! The collection is well interpreted and beautifully displayed. The guided tours were excellent. Not to be missed!

We really enjoyed this museum. We thought there would be more cowboy related items and there was a section devoted to this. But there was a great amount of western art/paintings which my hubby wasn’t that interested in. There was also a nice section on Hopi Indian pottery. We spent about an hour here.

People, who wander through Old Town Scottsdale, sampling gelato or window-shopping for Native American jewelry, may miss one of the most interesting venues in Arizona. Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West has been highlighted nationwide from the LA Times to the NY Times, and has been designated a Smithsonian Affiliate and "the Nation's Best Western Museum" by True West Magazine.

Visitors will be surprised by the scope and breath of the museum. It is large, modern and spacious. There is something--sculpture, paintings, photography, pottery, jewelry, rugs, kids scavenger hunts, short films, numerous information kiosks--for everyone. Even film buffs can get a kick out of the John Wayne corner or Paul Calle's movie posters.

The Leeds Gold certified building, built in 2015, is a testament to the vision and determination of local champions, the City of Scottsdale, and the generosity of families that have shared and donated entire collections of artworks and even saddles and spurs.

One could easily spend all day there. It should be on every Scottsdale visitor's must-see list!

My friend took me as a surprise to the museum. I was very impressed by the layout and ease of moving from exhibit to exhibit. The description and fun facts added to my enjoyment. I have now added this place to my "Must See" options for out of town visitors. I look forward to seeing the new exhibits.

Director/CEO Mike Fox and his staff and volunteers made this a truly memorable experience during our recent visit to the Phoenix area. The museum is not only filled with an extensive collection of Western memorabilia, but the building itself is worth a visit. On exhibit during our visit were photographs taken by the late Senator Barry Goldwater. Seeing Arizona and the southwest through the lens of his camera and from his perspective offered another insight into the man as well as the part of this country that he loved. They also have a lovely display of Native American pottery; one of the best I've seen. There are "ooohs and ahs" in every room, and the knowledgeable staff and volunteers are available to add extra information on the exhibits. So glad we took the time to visit. Highly recommend this museum!

I love the Wild West, so I had to see it. I am happy that I did visit the museum. The facility is beautiful. The collection interesting, but not fascinating. The artwork was nice. The talent shown was exceptional. Unfortunately, it was not diverse enough for my tastes. $20 seems steep for what it was. Being just me, it was affordable. Had I been with someone, I would have been very disappointed with the value of the fee.

My spouse is not into museums but is a western movie buff so he really enjoyed this museum. It took about an hour and a half to go through and was well worth the time.

This museum was a long time coming to Scottsdale, hooray for whoever spearheaded it becoming a reality. have been multiple times, never disappointed

This is a small but beautifully done museum with a wide range of western and Native American art and artifacts. I particularly enjoyed the special exhibit ‘Paul Calle’s Life of Exploration: From the Mountains to the Moon.’ The admission price is reasonable and staff are friendly and knowledgeable.

I stumbled upon Andy Warhol and Billy Schenck and loved them! But don't miss William Matthews upstairs, more traditional western art. The artifacts, from saddles to bowls, add interest.

Not a huge museum, but it is very well planned out and is packed with paintings, relics and interesting exhibits. The tour guides are passionate and informative... so you only have to read what you choose to. And the building itself is a work of art. GORGEOUS... with a lovely indoor/outdoor space to rent for events.

This museum is not only for tourists. The building is unusual and worth seeing, even if you are not that interested in western art. But, if you are interested in western art, you will love this museum. I have taken visitors here several times and I have enjoyed it as much as they did.

We went to the museum at 4:00 pm. We were told by multiple staff that museum was closing at 5:00 pm and that it would take about one hour and half to see the whole museum. We thanked them and decided to go through the museum. At 4:30, we were notified that the museum was closing. We continued to visit the museum and at 4:45 another message played alerting us that museum was closed. The gift shop was closed too. It is unfortunate that a beautiful museum has a very disappointing staff.

We had a great time in this museum and the current art exhibition is a must, just such stunning works, well woth the time and money. Very happy with our time there.

Lots of artwork (paintings and sculpture) along with exhibits of actual memorabilia in addition to a few interactive exhibits. There are many opportunities to learn the history of the American Southwest here.

This is a beautiful, well designed museum that gives a view of Western life. From the Goldwater exhibit to the cowboy gear to the artwork, it was an informative place to visit.

This museum had an amazing collection of western art. The building itself is also very beautiful in its design and artistic flair.

This museum is tucked away in Old Town Scottsdale and should be on everyone's list. The exhibits are well done and so informative. Take a docent with you. Don't miss spending hours here.

During a recent visit to Scottsdale, I ended up here quite by accident as I entered a museum in the GPS, and this was the recommended heading - happy I went off course, as this is an amazing place! The outside of the building itself is beautiful, with a building that's modern yet oozes dessert, and the landscaping includes statues, artwork, and gardens. I did a thorough walk around before heading inside, and I was already hooked. The interior is just as amazing, with a large bronze casting greeting visitors, and wagon wheels overhead showing the way to the galleries. Off the entrance way, large tapestries hang (reproductions of paintings) and a fascinating horse sculpture adorn the wall. There are galleries dedicated to many topics and themes. Some of these galleries are: the Maynard Dixon’s American West (through Oct 2020); Paul Calle’s Life of Exploration: From the Mountains to the Moon; Of Spirit and Flame: John Coleman Bronzes from the Collection of Frankie and Howard Alper; Canvas of Clay: Hopi Pottery Masterworks from The Allan and Judith Cooke Collection; Courage and Crossroads: A Visual Journey through the Early American West; and The Abe Hays Family Spirit of the West Collection. Other galleries include paintings, sculptures, historical and cultural displays and so much more! The quality of the exhibits is amazing, the displays numerous and beautiful. An interior courtyard displays more sculptures, many of them life-sized. When you are down thoroughly exploring both floors of exhibits, there is a good sized and well stocked gift shop which offers some momentos of your visit. On the way out from the gift shop toward the entrance, I found yet another great display - the photographs by Barry M. Goldwater: The Arizona Highways Collection. This collection of photographs showcase an amazing photographer, and glimpses of his personal and public life. An unexpected pleasure, I was delayed leaving so I could soak in this wonderful history. This place is amazing on so many levels. Don't let a happenstance error be the reason you visit - put it on your "must-do" list for your next visit to Scottsdale.

I wasn't expecting the exerience I had at this museum. I browsed the place for almost three hours, exploring every nook and cranny. The top notch exhibits bowled me over. I highly recommend making time to visit.

This Western museum features artwork by notable American Western artists such as Frederick Remington, Charles M. Russell, and many others. It showcases over 1,400 iconic Western objects including saddles, spurs, revolvers, rifles, lawmen badges, ropes, gun holsters and other items. An excellent collection of Hopi pottery and katcina dolls is on display. More than 20 bronze sculptures by John Coleman may be found throughout the exhibits. Plan to spend several hours going through this museum.

Admission to the museum is $13 for adults and a couple of dollars less if you are a senior. The web site will tell you opening hours. This really is an excellent Museum, well thought out and potentially the best and most interesting that we have been in. Staff are help and friendly and very knowledgeable. A visit gives you the ability to immerse yourself in the old West, with stimulating exhibits, wonderful bronzes and fantastic artwork. I could have lingered all day viewing the vivid paintings and sketches of Paul Calle. The collection of saddles, spurs and other iconic items showcasing working cowboys, lawmen & outlaws etc is brilliant.

mostly artwork and pictures with history on many items so it takes time to read everything. Also some cool old guns and horse stuff

Wonderful exhibits - so many things packed into a small space. We planned on staying an hour and spent about 3. Definitely take one of the tours to gain more information. The Goldwater Exhibit was amazing, as is the Paul Calle exhibit.

This was the best value for our money of anything we’ve done in Phoenix.

My wife and I recently spent an informative and enjoyable morning at Western Spirit. The museum is beautifully laid out and we wandered through the buildings moving between art and artifacts. The focus is on the variety of people that lived in what we would call the West over a period of time. We tried to see everything.
A special exhibit about movies and movie posters was nostalgic and recalled days in the 1950's when going to the movies with friends was an important part of social interaction when growing up.

Enjoyed visiting the museum; the 15 minute intro video did not really tell much about the items on display. The movie posters were the highlight for me; I don’t believe they are part of the permanent items. The second floor has a lot of western paintings and sculptures worth seeing.

This is a "don't miss" experience in the Phoenix area. An affiliate of the Smithsonian, this facility is certainly on par with that great museum. Our visit included a collection of Barry Goldwater's amazing photography as he grew up and lived in AZ. The statuary and bronzes are world class art, and I loved the "cowboy" displays of guns, holsters, and literature. Plan to spend at least 2-4 hours, and enjoy reliving the earlyhistory of the West and AZ

Had a very nice afternoon visiting the museum. So many interesting artifacts and the art was fantastic. They had a small Edward Curtis section of original photos which were magnificent. Having read a book about Edward Curtis is was awesome to see a few original photos. Also very much enjoyed the art of Joe Beeler, as I was unfamiliar with his work, but thought it was fantastic. Highly recommend a visit to this wonderful museum!

What to do on a rainy day in Scottsdale? Visit the Western Spirit Museum. This was a good activity on a rainy day in Scottsdale. The exhibits are interesting and provide an excellent historical picture of this area. The John Wayne bronze was probably the favorite part of the visit and also the photo exhibit done in the early 1900’s was stunning. All in all worth the time spent wandering around.

This museum was very near our hotel, so we decided to stop by on the morning of our departure. It was well worth several hours. There is a lot of very nice western art in the museum, along with other interesting "old-west" type displays. They have a special exhibit of western movie posters, which was very intersting and informative.

A fantastic western art experience from classic movie posters to Remington's paintings and statues of the old West. There is plenty of contemporary art as well. Any serious lover of western art and culture has to go to this fantastic museum.

We were impressed by the art collection and the building design. I have to acknowledge and thank Laird for giving us great insight into the collection. He really enhanced the experience. We are visiting from Pittsburgh PA.

Great museum that has exhibits dedicated to cowboy life and Native American culture- beautiful western fine art, bronze collections, Hopi pottery, amazing cowboy collection, Paul Calle exhibit, Will James exhibit. Well worth the visit.

We saw this advertised in a visitor brochure at hotel. We visited. very interesting, senior price admission $13. Great

Western Spirit Museuim is only three years old but both the building and the collections are top notch. It is a must see in Scottsdale

Excellent museum with many interesting historical artifacts and stories. Building is architectural stunning and the historical journey is fascinating. Good view of the western cowboy but the information on indigenous Indians is captured….worth the price and allow at least 1 1/2 - 2 hours

Three of us (retired parents and son in 30s) visited today and found it informative, interesting & fascinating. We managed 2 of the 3 docent-led tours available and recommend them without reservation. Artworks are not just pictures, although those are superb, but the best bronzes I have EVER seen, along with displays of pottery, saddles, etc etc etc. The shop also has both fun and exquisite items - all very good value - plus super fun staff! Do go!

This is an essential part of any visit to Scottsdale or Phoenix. The building is beautiful, full of sculpture, photographs, paintings, textiles, and other historical items. They are well-presented,

We loved it! More museum of the old west than only Native Americans, but lots of both.

The work of photographer Edward Curtis is worth admission many times over. Not to be missed. Were it not for him, we would probably never have learned the real story of Little Bighorn.

Beautiful art and sculpture depicting life in olden times. A nice exhibition of Sen. Goldwater’s photos. Visited after seeing Pony Express riders bring in the mail. Very educational.

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.
If you go in the morning, and want to leave for lunch, you can go and the re-enter for free. Thursdays they're open 9 - 9 pm.
This is NOT a museum for young children; it's definitely an adult experience .

We were very pleased at the amount of information and displays in this museum. It was very well laid out and the docent gave great incite to the lives of the people featured. The plaques also gave intriguing stories about the person and place you were viewing. I found this very interesting and worth the time and money. I came away with a sense of awe!

Western spirit Scottsdale's museum of the West
You have to be realistic about what you're getting here and it's not filled with historical artifacts of famous people of the West. In my opinion it's not really an appropriate place for families with young children and really most children unless they're older High school college age. I would call this museum more of an art museum and an art gallery. So if you have appropriate expectations that you're going to see paintings, photographs and sculptures of the West you should have an enjoyable couple hours. They have several semi permanent collections on display with the Curtis exhibit that I will mention later. I had heard that they were having an exhibit of Edward Curtis and his art. That is the reason that I went. I was not disappointed. I think his exhibit offers a good opportunity to see a lot of his photographs and understand the historical basis for Is his life's mission. He spent 10 years living closely with many different different indigenous people and I think his work really was an attempt to preserve the the beauty and dignity of Is the culture he was allowed to see and participate in. From what I have read he was much more accepted by indigenous people than academics of the time. From about 1890 on Curtis took thousands of photographs of indigenous people of the American West including Alaska. He and kept meticulous notes on what the photographs represented, as well as recordings of the language and songs of many indigenous people. His 20 volumes of Photographs are more of an anthropological study as much as photography. They have a complete display of one of his collections; there were only 300 made and I'm sure they were primarily given to major donors for his work. He was a contemporary and had support from President Theodore Roosevelt, He did some family photography for the president. as well as financial support from one of the robber barons of the day JP Morgan. I'm always glad to have public access to this kind of art exhibit. One of the other exhibits I enjoyed was an exhibit of Hopi pottery that covered over 600 years. It's something to see and enjoy, I also think It's interesting to note that Curtis haf a special relationships with the Hopi people, Navajo people and Apache people. There are some pretty cool oil paintings and sculpture interspersed throughout the museum. There's one concentrated collection of over 20 bronzes that are interesting. There's two other areas that kind of showcase saddle, spurs, Badges from Lawman and some guns of of what people in the West used, and one collection of Western and Indian movie poor poster graphics.
So it's worth a visit as long as you have realistic expectations and remember to be kind to the volunteers and staff, all who are working in difficult times.

This is a Scottsdale treasure! Right now there are several great exhibitions including Goldwater photos, the great western artist Maynard Dixon and Paul Calle. It is very reasonable and there are senior and military discounts, a nice gift shop and tours. don't miss this if you are in town.

A beautiful, new museum with gorgeous paintings, sculptures and intriguing special exhibits. Everyone, from kids to grandparents, will love their visit. Activities to engage young children seal the deal!

Attended during Western Week in Scottsdale. They had an excellent Maynard Dixon Art exhibit. Fascinating artifacts, Native American history and overall the timeline of how the western spirit was born. Will return again. Highly recommended.

This was our first visit and we enjoyed the exhibits. It includes art depicting the old west as well as saddles, guns, some amazing bronze statues and other items. Definitely worth a visit when you are in Scottsdale.

We visited this museum yesterday after Parada del Sol as we were right outside it & it was free, donation only.

There are some nice pieces of sculpture outside & interesting exhibits & artwork inside.

I particularly liked some wanted posters, one with pictures for Bonnie & Clyde, another for John Dillinger.

We had an enjoyable visit & would recommend it.

This museum which is only three years old but already a major hit in Phoenix.numerous original art pieces in oil, pen and ink, water colors, statuary including clay and bronze and dozens of artifacts including clothing, leather goods, wraps, blankets, rifles, etc. well worth the modest price of admission. Wonderful docents who conduct hour long tours. Plan to spend at least 2 hours here.

Amazing museum with lots of interesting items.
The native art is really impressive!
On the upper floor there are some cool paintings, our favourite were by Remington.
Don’t miss this museum if you strolling in old town Scottsdale

Fanastic museum with loads of artifacts from the wild west. Rather too much modern art but the original photograohs were wonderful, as were the original Indian clothes and the cowboy relics

More of an art gallery than a museum - loved the cowboy display; very educational with children's activities. Well worth a visit.

We did both this museum and the Heard Museum. Both are a must-see in Phoenix.This museum is state of the art in a modern building and staffed with knowleagable docents. The displays flow well and there is a nice gift shop. Allow 2-3 hours there.

This current exhibit curated by Mark Sublette of Medicine Man Gallery in Tucson along with the curator at the museum is outstanding; He has lent considerable works of all sorts for this exhibit in addition to items from the Maynard Dixon studio that is resident in that Tucson Gallery. Maynard Dixon wielded his art and talent in many directions - during his lifetime. From magazine illustrator to fine art and murals; he also wrote some poetry and other writings. He is the man who came up with the color that the Golden Gate bridge was painted - and gave his reasoning for painting it that color. His first drawing of his grandmother was done at the age of 16 and received a great comment from Frederic Remington when Maynard sent it to him. This may be a once in a lifetime exhibit so don't be in Scottsdale and not take the time for a visit.

We visited because of the Barry Goldwater photography exhibit then spent two enjoyable and interesting hours experiencing the rest of this fabulous museum. Interactive exhibits, facts and stories add depth and education for visitors. Building architecture is beautiful.

This museum is gorgeous! The grounds have these sculptures all around and greatlandscaping. There are plenty of interesting pieces of art & artifacts to learn all about this area.The Paul Calle exhibit upstairs is fascinating and very well put together. The gift shop is stocked with some great stuff.

Stopped in while in town. I liked how the layout took you on essentially a time progressive tour.

Lots of lovely artifacts and original artworks. There is a neat sculpture garden in the interior courtyard.

Overall, a nice stop over for the area. We were in and out in about 1.5 hours.

The reviews were good for this museum so we figured we'd check it out. The art was great and the exhibits were very well done. The narrated "How the West Was Won" movie we viewed was pretty cheesy and very whitewashed. The cost was reasonable to get in and there were very few people there.

On a hot hot day this was the perfect outing. A small but impressive museum full of an amazing array of all things western including paintings, bronzes, pottery, collections and even old movie posters. (Exhibits change frequently.) A number of the exhibits have activities for kids. There’s a sculpture garden, too. The building opened in 2015.

We started with The Rennard Strickland Collection of Western Film History – exhibition features posted and lobby cards curated from one the world’s largest collections. I really liked this exhibit. (June 20, 2017 – September 16, 2018)

We moved on to the Canvas of Clay: Hopi Pottery Masterworks – more than 65 ceramics from one of the finest private collections of Hopi pottery, on exhibit for the first time – The Allan and Judith Cooke Collection. I am sure that our tour guide told us that this collection has been donated to the Museum…if so…quite a wonderful collection. “Among the historic and contemporary masterworks are 18 ceramics by Nampeyo of Hano, the most famous of the Hopi potters. Twenty-two other master potters are also represented in the exhibition, including Nampeyo’s daughters and other descendants.” (September 16, 2017 – Ongoing)

On to The Art of Joe Beeler: A Western Original – pays tribute to Joe Beeler, a founding member of the Cowboy Artists of American. (January 16, 2018 – October 28, 2018)

We also spent some time at The Abe Hays Family Spirit of the West Collection – one-of-a-kind showcase of 1,400 saddles, spurs and other quintessentially western objects representing working cowboys, lawmen, outlaws, Wild West shows, and more.

This museum is one of my favorites...we visit quite frequently to see all the new exhibits...and they always almost transform the museum for the exhibits...I also love having a closer look at the permanent exhibits...I learn something new every time because the exhibits are so full.

We held a client event here a few weeks ago and everyone enjoyed the private tour. Wonderful collection of paintings and artwork, very helpful and knowledgeable staff.

Fantastic exhibit and most of all the Paintin with the horse created a great illusion of a 3d scene. Lots of other old west material as well

What year while in town visiting Scottsdale right after Christmas for a family vacation. Was worth the money. We went when they were doing the Edward Curtis collection and it was really cool to see all of the photography. What is a good choice, lasted a couple hours and then the kids were ready to go. 19 & 15 year olds

Into western art? They’ve got a wide variety. Into the old west? Lots of info. Into the local Native Americans? This is a great place. And, they even have some wonderful shows free with admission.

This is a very well done museum and larger than it appears from outside. (Soon to be bigger with an addition.) Very friendly docents who are knowledgeable about the art. Large displays of a variety of things. We really enjoyed the description of how the native pottery was made and the many sculptures throughout are impressive. There’s a fun area about movie & tv westerns as well. What a nice way to spend a couple of hours while waiting for our hotel room to be ready. Almost completely indoors so it would be good for a hot day. Some interactive areas, but not a lot for young kids to do. We spent about 2.5 hours there. (2 adults)

When in Phoenix AZ don't bother with down town as it is 99% CBD. Stay in Scottsdale an upmarket suburb of Phoenix full of great Restaurants, Bars and Museums. We stayed at Embassey Suites By Hilton which was wonderful in all areas. They provide a FREE shuttle bus to Scottsdale from Hotel & a 2mile radius. There are accommodation in all 2-5star cat. also. Worth seeing is the Desert Botanical Gardens, Frank Lloyd Wright's home in Tallisin West and we recommend The Apache Trail tour with Boat ride on Canyon Lake etc you can also do a day trip 111hrs round trip, to Grand Canyon worth every minute worth the ride. Included in our tour were Sedona & Cameron Trading Post in Painted Desert.

We loved this museum in Scottsdale. Surprised at the Barry Goldwater photographs - amazing images captured by BG in Arizona back in the 40's, 50's and 60's - some great presentations of indigenous peoples. Well presented selection of artifacts such as saddles, saddle bags, hats, spurs clothing, guns etc.
Nice sculptures and paintings.
Great museum and well worth a detour.

An afternoon well spent at this museum. So much to see and enjoy. Husband loved it as he is a fan of western movies, but it also was very interesting for me. Really well laid out in a lovely building, and helpful, knowledgeable staff to enhance the experience.

Great place to spend the afternoon. If you love the West this is the place everything from native american art and culture to cowboys. Beautiful paintings and pottery well worth the price of admission.

Expensive museum - $25 per person. Lots of western stuff (saddles, guns) but not very well marked. Overheard a staff person say that most of the museum rooms are used for special exhibits. During our visit, these were focused on two artists. Gift store has typical souvenirs - nothing special. Recommend spending your time & money at the Heard Museum instead.

Nice Museum a Great Array of Western Art on Display, from Cowboy Clothing, Beautiful leather Saddles, to stunning pieces of Indian Bronze Sculptures, some of these are completely breathtaking.. and not to mention the lovely paintings.. it really does show the Western Spirit in its full glory, to finish off visit the Gift Shop and pick up a nice souvenir.

We visited Downtown Scottsdale and, by chance, found a parking slot right by the museum. We had to visit! We chances upon a tour of the upstairs galleries which took in the wonderful work of Paul Calle and the record of the exploration by the early pioneers of the west. Our guide was excellent and we would recommend checking out these tours. Downstairs we enjoyed the excellent displays of “Wild West” artefacts and memorabilia.

Fantastic stop in Scottsdale today. Beautiful art in many forms. The collection of western items is outstanding. Definitely worth the cost of admission- which is a wee bit high.

This place had a great deal of Native American art and some artifacts on display. Some beautiful pottery but a lot that was fairly plain. Also had a sizable collection of cowboy-related art and crafts. The building was nice but it was a lot of the same for one museum.

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.

This was a great opportunity to see many of the photographs published in Arizona Highways magazine. Our photo club greatly enjoyed wandering all through the museum.

Mall in Scottsdale, I was only blocks away from the Museum of the West. That why not let me take a trip over there. Went in admission tickets for very reasonably priced it wasn't too busy. The staff tells made summertime is it too busy because of the heat. Coming from Vegas it's all the same.

The museum was very well laid out and very informative. So glad I took the opportunity.

I normally do not go through the gift shops because you're usually pretty much fully to get a junk. However this one the buyer has done an incredible job. They have the cutest little outfit for little girls to be like a cowgirl. Absolutely adorable and I found something so unique it was like a stagecoach made out of wood that you can build it doesn't appear that there's any glue or anything other than needing to build it yourself and it actually the display showed where you could wind it up and it rolls. Such an awesome gift to get a young child who loves building educational and keeps it all hands and Minds busy.

If you love books which I do had a fabulous selection of the western books also few things on John Wayne which I was surprised but it was a nice little touch.

The gentleman in the gift shop explain to me about the building and I believe what he was explaining was that the reason the building is all Ripley on the outside is because they wanted to represent Arizona they thought that Rippling was a great representation of the cactus which of course Arizona is so well known for. So every little inch of this facility was very well planned out and thought about. So if in Scottsdale and even if you're not really a museum type of person I would highly recommend that you go it's well worth it spend a couple hours

This was a great museum with friendly staff, tour guide and great artifacts about the history of the west. This was better that we expected. Don’t hesitate to go!

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.

This is not a museum on a grand scale, but if you enjoy Western art and artifacts, it's a nice way to spend a couple of hours in Scottsdale. Easy to get around, tours if you want, decent little gift shop, free parking. It's a good little spot, worth the $15 to support them. Do not listen to the other reviews that say that there is only art here, that's simply not true. Plenty of artifacts to see and learn about. Yes there is a lot of art, but I enjoyed the rest too.

I am not usually a big fan of western art; however, I really enjoyed this museum. We started with a docent tour and he was wonderful. It was like a history lesson of the westward expansion told through art. i fell in love with John Coleman's bronze sculpture. It is easy to get to if you are visiting Old Town Scottsdale. We probably spent 3 hours here and you can easily pair this activity with a meal and shopping in Old Town.

Awesome place. The docents were very good but only covered a limited area of the museum. Could have spent more time there. We stayed for about 90 minutes and that wasn’t enough. LOTS of really cool stuff and I’m not a big cowboy enthusiast. The art work was amazing. Very historic place. Loved it.

Plan to allocate about an hour or 1.5 hours for this museum. Interesting cowboy and Native American paintings and exhibits. Who knew there were so many kinds of saddles and chaps? Recommend skipping the 10 min movie they have playing hourly.

An outstanding collection of artwork by native Americans and classic Western artists. Includes several original pieces by Frederick Remington, Charles Russell, Paul Galle and —- Johnson, a sculptor. Plan on 1 - 2 hours.

It has many types of art: paintings, sculpture, photography, saddles, guns, and memorabiilia- all fascinating, and all part of the big story of the West. We love this museum and visit as often as we can.

This museum offers an interesting mix of movie posters, saddles, paintings, bronze sculptures and other items. The museum is not too large for children and the blending of items keeps it interesting. Nice gift shop too!

We visited this museum to view the Edward Curtis photographs. What an amazing collection with such an amazing history. It is a must see for historians and Indian enthusiasts. Parking is close by in a garage. Facility is handicapped accessible, with a lovely gift shop on site.

Very interesting exhibits. I would have like an audio tour. I wasn’t sure what I was looking at. I would recommend it and probably go back again to see if anything has changed. $20 for adult. 15 for senior

It was 105 outside and we had time to kill before our flight and checked out the museum. Exceeded expectations for sure! Lots of art with great context to learn about the artists and history. Staff was very friendly! E were there almost 2 hours.

This is a very well laid out exhibition of art and memorabilia about the history of the West, in an outstanding modern building. It is a testament to the ingenuity and resilience of both the native inhabitants and the early pioneers. It is a great place to visit.

This museum is wonderful. Great paintings, sculptures, posters and paraphernalia dealing with the American West. One-of-a-kind collection of paintings by John Clymer was terrific. Two other attractions are the Hopi pottery exhibit and the "Sled Dogs in America" exhibit.
Take a trip to the second floor to view modern art by western artists.

I came to the museum to learn about the history of the West, but sadly the tour was about my docent's political beliefs.

The tour included interesting asides about contemporary politicians outside of the West, interesting asides on what the docent thinks the contemporary schools system is doing right/wrong, and other topics that have absolutely nothing to do with the West.

I went to the museum to learn about the West not to be forced right back into the partisan politics of today. What could have been an interesting trip ended up being completely miserable.

Went with friends and had gotten a groupon. It is quite a large museum. We were there several hours. Lots of Western information. Lots of artwork, cowboy/cowgirl memorabilia, pottery was amazing. Tour guide gives a tour and then leaves you to wander on your own. We enjoyed it.

I visited during a special display of Barry Goldwater photos. Excellent display! I enjoyed everything there from Western garb, spurs, saddles, to artwork... paintings, sculpture,... a stuffed buffalo.... All displays and buildings were clean, spacious, and well documented.

We are in our 60’s and thoroughly enjoyed our tour (docent guide Joe was great) and all his knowledge about Edward Curtis and his photography - this museum has something for everyone. Very interesting artifacts from the Lewis & Clark expedition, to modern paintings with a 3D effect.

Really wished we could have stayed for live presentation about Edward Curtis, but time did not allow.

Entry price was $15 per senior and there is free underground parking below the building.

If you like the American West and art, you will enjoy this museum. We went on a weekend and it was fairly quiet. They have some amazing statues and a lot of western memorabilia.

TIP: If you have AAA, you can get a discount. Better yet, if you have a credit card from BofA or Merrill Lynch, you can get a free admission on the first weekend of the month. Also take one of the free tours. They are informative.

I am partial to single-subject museums, and this one is outstanding. Rather than telling the history of the west, it contains amazing collections about the west: saddles, spurs, guns, statues and fine paintings. We went to a lecture this afternoon that was very high level; lectures are offered often. If you want to learn about how the West has been portrayed in multiple media, this is definitely the place. It's also in a beautiful space.

Absolutely stunning art work, sculptures and artifacts. This is a must see. Every time you turn a corner there is more to see

I stopped in mainly out of curiosity. I'm very happy I did. Extremely educational and we'll laid out place. I felt like a kid stepping into a museum again for the first time. All the exhibits were very well laid out and presented in an orderly fashion. Easy to absorb the multitude of info being presented.

This museum was amazing. But the most amazing thing was our docent. Can not remember her name but she had a passion for the old west and settling of the West. She told fun interesting stories and when someone asked her a question she knew the answer. I really did not know much about the settling of the West but this docent made it come alive for my friend and I.

An extensive collection of western art and also special exhibits in a modern setting in the old town section of Scottsdale.

Museum of "the West" was enjoyed for the impressive display of photographs taken of Native American tribes from the late 1800s to early 1900s. It provides a glimpse into a culture that has been lost. Just the sheer number of different tribe names blew my mind. The photographer recognized what the future was going to hold for these people that were being pushed aside as white europeans made their claim to the land, and had the foresight to study and photograph them for posterity. Nice to see the native people in their native dress and homes, and while they still held some pride. We also enjoyed taking a family picture within their western mural. The volunteer docents were very informative and friendly.

I wanted to be wowed by this museum and was a tad underwhelmed. The number of exhibits was a bit disappointing, unless you want to see artwork, which there was in great abundance. If you go, I would allot about 120 minutes. The staff is very friendly and I found an interesting book in the fairly well-stocked gift store.

If you love the West this is a don’t miss museum. There is much to see and it’s easy to spend several hours taking it all in.

This is our second visit to the Museum. This time they had a special exhibit with Barry Goldwater's personal photography, which was fun. He had access to some amazing places, and was in fact a talented photographer. The Western Art exhibit is very good, as are their sculptures. It is worth the visit.

This is an extraordinary place - with a strong point of view, unlike most other museums I've visited in more than 45 countries. The central message is appreciation of natural and human creativity, courage, and accomplishment. The exhibits illustrate the vast array of ways that spirit touches and sometimes challenges our lives.

Right next to a stunning saddle is a group of magnificent Hopi pots. There's an group of posters from various western movies, along with an opportunity for youngsters to create and then put out their own poster.

There is a wall of fame that portrays a vast array of people from various cultures who have contributed to the west: Delores Huerta, Annie Oakley, Willie Nelson, "the Unsinkable" Molly Brown, a variety of American Indian, African American, Asian American and others.

There's an extraordinary brief movie that I strongly recommend before visiting the exhibits. It is Courtesy of the museum, which is accompanied by spectacular pictures. Below is part of the text

As excerpted from "Spirit Is," the exclusive film shown in the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Theater/Auditorium of Scottsdale’s Museum of the West.

Spirit Is – Film Script
"Many years ago, all things came to be. The stars, rivers, animals, all things.
And the people were born. The elders of the people all taught this important knowledge: The earth is the source of all life. She gives birth. Her children continue the life of the earth. The people must be responsible for her. This is the way that all life continues.
For thousands of years people have been living in these Western lands. They understand astronomy, agriculture, and they have a complex relationship with the cosmos. For these people, spirit matters. The spirit in the land, in people, in all things.
Into this land came the explorers, adventurers, mountain men. What they saw, they described as astonishing. Pristine, beautiful lands; horizons that touched their hearts; lands to live on, to farm; gold; opportunity; the idea of a new life.
The West inspires dreams. A new home. People asked themselves, “Could this be for me?” The West was calling.
Propelled by dreams, in search of a fresh start, fortune, perhaps to escape, people went West. Monumental changes were set into motion. Lives transformed. Land transformed. Ideas, customs, perceptions – perceptions changed and grew. Lessons were learned. Knowledge and truth were gained.
To journey you need courage, self-reliance, resilience, optimism, faith. Spirit survives. It transforms. It changes.
Change comes with a price. Cultures clash. Conflicts arise. There is suffering, death. Spirits are broken.
Land yields. New ways take hold, new beginnings. There’s growth, survival, new transformations. Knowledge is gained. Truths are learned. Spirit survives.
Courage, faith, resilience, optimism – these spirits transform lives."

This museum is, to used an overused word, extraordinary. VERY, VERY STRONG encouragement to visit.

We went to the Museum late on a Saturday morning. It was not very busy when we got there and was busier when we left. There was OUTSTANDING artwork, sculptures, and western and native american displays. We spent more time than we had expected because it was so well done. Paul Calle's art exhibit on the second floor HAD LIFE in it. One of the best exhibits I have seen. The John Coleman Bronze statue collection had tremendous detail for working in bronze. The Hopi Pottery was another excellent collection. The exhibits that were there now will give some better ideas of what life was like for Native Americans and the American Cowboy.

The receptionist at our hotel recommended the museum as a must see and she was spot on. There are very little to no reproductions. All I saw was display after display of pure history with original items starting with the mountain men and trappers through Louis and Clark to present day. This is a must see attraction.

My daughter and I went here on a rainy Monday morning at the end of February. We were surprised to see people standing in line to buy tickets! As we wound thru the displays, we knew why. This museum is full of beautiful exhibits of Native American, Cowboy and historical displays. We spent well over two hours and still had more of the first floor to explore but we had to leave because of other commitments. All of the displays are beautifully arranged and also have informative information posted beside each. The sculptures are gorgeous and range from very small to very large...most impressive! The history of Arizona is well documented and I learned so much about some of its outstanding early settlers. Next time my first go-to will be the Barry Goldwater photographic display. Do not miss this beautiful museum.

An hour wasn’t enough time to enjoy all that is preserved in this small museum. The paintings were spectacular. My husband loved the Bronze statues and wished there were more
There was a corny movie showing when you first entered and considering the sensitive subject matter , I think it is a must see. It is only 10 mins
I am grateful to live now!!
It shows how the west was settled with out shying away from how the Indians were pushed off their land

I am a Scottsdale local, and this museum has been on my list for years! We finally had an opportunity to visit during Scottsdale’s Western Week this year, and it was wonderful!

We spent about an hour here with our girls, and I highly recommend doing the scavenger hunt if you visit with kids. It kept my 7 year old engaged the whole time as we walked through each exhibit to answer all of the scavenger hunt questions. My 5 year old spent most of her time in the family area of the gallery, where they have coloring stations, a Candyland-type game, puzzles, and a giant optical-illusion wall mural where you can literally step into the painting.

Without kids, I could’ve spent several hours here perusing their incredible western art and artifact collection, but I’m looking forward to visiting again with my children during next years’ Western Week!

Lovely musuem with something for everyone! Great place to escape the heat and learn about local history.

To really enjoy this museum and get the most out of your hard earned dollars, you should take the docent tours. The museum offers three each day and we took the latter two. Our docent for both tours was Joe and he jokingly said his name was Joe Friday as he only does tours on that day. He was excellent at pointing out many unique facts about the various displays. The first tour was the main floor and the second upstairs. Both were well worth the time. We then went back through the museum to further examine the great artifacts on display.

Stopped in on a rainy day and spent 3 hours touring this beautiful museum of the west. Very well-done and diverse exhibit that was fun and educational. A bit loud inside so very hard to hear the docents giving tours. They need to consider a better way to conduct the tours I think. Great visit.

Exceptionally well organized museum. The exhibits are very informative. The current exhibit of photographs by former AZ Senator and presidential candidate, Barry Goldwater, is stunning. Highly recommended to anyone interested in the history of the southwest.

I loved this museum so much. I would instantly go back. The kid in me had such a terrific time. The exhibitions were really interesting, the art was fantastic and the building itself was beautiful.

I agree with some other reviewers that this place deserves more praise than it gets. Especially in hot weather, especially with the BOGO free offer (you need to mention it) for adult tickets. Two floors full of history of this land, interesting for both teens and adults. We were lucky to listen to a professional guide for a little while, she was talking about some of the paintings, each of them had many details that are not obvious to the eye.

There is so much to see here u can’t describe all of it. Bronze sculptures, paintings done by early explorers, western artifacts such as vintage Winchester rifles, Colts and Derringers, original Hollywood posters from early Western films and more. Admission is reasonable with discounts for seniors and children. Building is wonderfully divided into different displays. This is worth your time and money!

I went there for the first time today because of reading about a cowboy art display. It was totally fascination. A variety of different media, paint, bronze sculpture and historical paraphernalia. We spent hours there and I enjoyed it immensely. Beautiful art, well laid out and very informative. I intend on buying a yearly pass. It's a good price allowing unlimited free admission for a year and two free passes for companions. A great deal! A must visit.

Normally we dislike going to Scottsdale. The last 25 years has seen the city explode and go up income in some ugly ways (grass? Lakes?) So low expectations on one of the museums we have not been.

Frankly it was an amazing if not somewhat eclectic mix of private and public collections themed to The West. And a real reason to go into town finally. No joke it is well worth anyone to drop in for a pleasant surprise.

Based on he name I really figured this place to be a cowboy museum. It was so much more! In a neighborhood of Scottsdale not too far from Old Town it was easy to get to and there was free parking.

The architecture of the building itself is modern and rustic with walkways, fountains and bronze statues. A $15.00 per adult entrance fee was well worth it. The museum is laid out in a loop, but separated by walls to make each space unique. Many western themed oils, sketches, charcoal meet the eye and lead to a beautiful Native American pottery collection. Much history is included with the exhibits.

Turn the corner and open a large door to get to an interior courtyard with more bronze sculpture and interesting modern art that is a product of necessity.

Back inside there is a collection of cowboy artifacts and memorabilia. A whole wall of chaps, spurs, six shooters, and games and tables of interactive items for the kiddos.

Upstairs is there is a large gallery that is currently featuring Paul. Calle that is a must see.

We are adding this to our list of places to take friends and family when they visit.

.....for the flavor of the history and the culture as well. Worth it! Take your time and don’t rush thru....the reading along the way is excellent!!

We stopped by this museum on a rainy day to kill some time. We were pleasantly surprised. A wonderful collection of old west artifacts and artwork. Be prepared to be amazed.

This was worth the visit. Lots of interesting items in the museum about the old west, from gun holsters, old cowboy stuff, sculptures, and paintings. Took us about 1.5 hours to get through, but we were there at 5pm on a Thursday, I think there were maybe 6 other people in the museum. My only disappointment was that I thought there might be more information about gold and silver mining, its impact on the area, and the old mining towns, but I didn't see anything related to that.

This photographer's exhibit was amazing as he had taken pictures of members from each tribe in the United States. Other photos were equally worthwhile to view. The rest of the museum is well done and take your time exploring the precious items on first and second floor.

I had heard good things about this museum, but my expectations were completely exceeded as I stepped inside this stellar establishment. The collections are rather vast, spanning several centuries and including many aspects of the west from Native Americans to mountain men and settlers. They have beautiful paintings and photographs, bronze sculptures, saddles and spurs, western movie posters, Indian pottery and blankets, and so much more. We joined an excellent guided tour included with the price of admission that covers many of these things and also great history about Louis and Clark. Our docent was so knowledgeable and thorough, and I truly appreciated his balanced perspective about the good and bad aspects of history. The museum is laid out very nicely and feels spacious as you walk around. The building itself is also beautifully designed and very new – only three years old. Even the bathrooms are delightful. The museum gift shop was fabulous! We loved their selection of items from various playing cards, to socks, to a western movie collection. All of the staff were so friendly and helpful. I love the sculpture courtyard in the middle of the museum as well with it’s beautiful weeping wall. They have a very well-done 10 minute movie that gives you a nice overview of the feeling of the museum. Currently, this was only played every hour, but I would strongly encourage the museum to increase the frequency of showtimes and play it every half hour. I also hope to see the museum implement more accessibility and features for blind patrons as the years go on, such as an audio guide or accessible information in braille/large print. Overall, everyone from young to old enjoyed this museum, and I highly recommend anyone visiting Scottsdale to make it a priority. Also, the admission is very reasonable – $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, eight dollars for students and children.

We had a tour with two docents, Ed and Tom, who provided an amazing amount of information. This made our visit so much more interesting. We learned so much.
We are so glad we did the tour. It’s a great stop and worth every penny!

I thoroughly enjoyed the paintings. bronze statues, wagon wheels and other objects representing working cowboys, lawmen, outlaws, and the Wild West. The art preserves the look and feel of that time.

We have learned a lot about Western expansion. Judy our tour guide was phenomenal. I appreciated her, sharing a vast of knowledge about this part in our history. I have learned more about Lewis and Clark, Kit Carson, Remington and Russell, their lives and experiences during this era.
This time they also have the Paul Calle exhibit. The Moonlight to the Moon section of the museum was very interesting. Which tonight actually, CNN is having a special on Apollo 11! What a great timing indeed!
We highly recommend this museum.

Worth the three hours spent looking at the Art, artifacts and history of Western Movies. New building with elevator to help get to all the exhibits.

Wonderful museum with something for everyone. Recommend you do a tour so you don't miss the subtleties of the building!!

More of an art museum than a regular set of exhibits, but well worth the time and admission of $15. Museum well structured and attractive.

So Much More Than I Expected. I’m a lover of “western” culture and the way of the west. There is that, but this collection also pays homage to those who came before. Just go, it’s well worth it and you’re free to interpret on your own. No one will rush you along and tell you what to think. I love this place.

Friends recommended this museum. Delighted. First underground parking at the site. Beautiful building. Barry Goldwater photos are worth the trip. Loved the old spurs, saddles and guns. Did not have time to visit second floor but am planning another visit in October.
25 years ago I lived in NE Phoenix and visited Scottsdale frequently. I was shocked by the quality development in recent years.

Docent was knowledgeable and gave interesting tour. Small gift shop. No cafe. Free parking. Near a big area of high end galleries.

We were visiting family in Scottsdale and my bro suggested this museo. Being we are "museum freaks" we were delighted to wander thru this one!

it did NOT disappoint. the John Coleman bronzes......the hopi pottery.......the Barry Goldwater photos......this and MORE ........"pushed our buttons".

Ok, but not a destination. A good addition to Old Town. I am from Arizona and it didn't add anything to my understanding of the West but it definitely would for those new to the area. I did like the temporary art history exhibit of the Lewis and Clark expedition

Wow! Amazing! Unique! Enlightening! Fantastic! Great exhibits of Wild West, Southwestern and Western Culture art and paraphernalia! This amazing arts center, museum and gallery not only enlightens your knowledge of the West, but it exhibits the West as a whole from Canada to Mexico and everything in between! This young Museum hosts so much art, culture, events and sculpture with Theater and Auditorium showing off and edifying about this vast American western region encased in a beautiful 43,000 square foot facility that you can easily stay and enjoy here for hours! The museum store is a fascinating place to peruse and purchase a wide variety of items. This well-maintained, magnificently designed, with a superb and knowledgeable staff is a wonderful treasure available to us in Scottsdale, the Valley and the whole of the West.

We thought this place is worth an hour or our time. We left 2 and a half hours later and only saw half of what is available. We never got to the Modern Side. Judith was a fantastic guide for 3 separate tours and she knows her Indian and Western History. Two stories provides walls of western art, movie posters of the old westerns, artifacts of highly renowned collections and institutions., spurs, saddles, flags,pictures of our history and its people etc etc

Great way to see the art and artifacts of the West! Well worth the admission price. You see a wide variety of things, not just art!!

We were really impressed by this museum. The quality of the exhibits, especially the part describing the world behind a cowboy, was just awesome. The artists selected were just wow. A big like.

Thursdays are free for residents of Scottsdale so we thought it would make a nice afternoon. Very easy walk from the old town art district. We entered and found a fascinating exhibit on Maynard Dixon which highlights his work and contribution to the history of Western Painting. He was also selected to to some preliminary drawings of the Golden Gate Bridge as well as chronicle the building of Hoover Damm.
There are other exhibits and a video we found to be interesting.

Surprisingly well put together museum with emphasis on paintings however, fair number of bronzes. Saddle collection was stunning including the silver saddle near the entrance to the museum. Interactive areas for kids and the museum is not so large that younger folks would get restless. Docent tour was helpful. Definitely recommend if in Scottsdale.

There is a wide variety of displays including a corral of saddles and a collection of Western and Native American clothing, hardware and memorabilia. Even better is the painting collection.

In the downtown Arts District, this highly acclaimed museum transports you back to different eras from ornate displays of Hopi culture to the days of law and order in the Wild West. Rotating exhibits and plenty to see for all ages, allow an hour at a minimum.

This is a museum packed with all kinds of western history. It is well worth a visit for fans of cowboys and the wild west.

Very upscale museum with carefully chosen works of art of which many are from a private collection. Good mix of sculpture, paintngs, Western gear (saddles, etc.) and they have a good museum shop

Romantised view of the settlement of the west through art. Large collection of work by the "Cowboy Artist" Charles Russell, photography by Arizona's Barry Goldwater, authentic Hopi pottery, leather work, guns and beautiful sculptures. The history of settling the west is not part of the museum as the focus is on the beauty of the west; you'll need to seek that information elsewhere.

A great museum is where I can take away new information or see all sorts of art, photography, and or sculptures. This place fit the bill. I never knew that Barry Goldwater was an artist rather than just a ‘conservative’ US Senator from Arizona. His photography was absolutely incredible beautiful & a glimpse into who he really was! And the old paintings truly beautiful. The exhibition by Calle and his son wonderful, and I haven’t even mentioned the amazing sculptures! I would definitely go back and wonder through again.

First time visitor to this museum- very beautiful building, displays all very nice and interesting! The artwork is awesome! Worth the admission price.

Stopped in to avoid the rain and were pleasantly surprised by the museum. Lots to see and learn about the area. Beautiful exhibit of Hopi baskets. At $15 for adults it is a well priced diversion!

Museum was good but be sure and take the guided tour of the second floor. Guide was amazing with his knowledge and stories. He made art very interesting!

It gets a Very Good because of the architecture and overall layout, but the exhibits are below par. I think it tries to cover too much in that it has small exhibits that leave you wanting. We went specifically for the Goldwater Photographic Exhibition, which turned out to be 2 walls of about 20 photos, when his collection is huge a diverse; so totally disappointing! Also, many of the exhibits were either poorly labeled or not labeled at all. A great shame as it is a beautiful small museum.

We were curious about this museum in downtown Scottsdale, which is only 3 years old. I don't think the publicity materials about Western Spirit adequately convey the variety of the museum's content and the skill with which it is displayed. Currently they have an exhibit of Hopi pottery dating from ancient times to the 21st Century. Fascinating to see the evolution of styles and techniques. Adjacent to the pottery is a large collection of movie posters from about 1880 to 1980. The movies are mostly Westerns, some familiar, some obscure, but all interesting and the descriptions are extremely well written. The Museum also has more traditional artwork from all of the famous western painters and sculptors. The depictions of the cowboys and Indians are often fanciful and idealized, but some have an air of authenticity. The museum also displays a collection of saddles, chaps, stirrups, Indian dress, a few rugs, and many other western paraphernalia and memorabilia. We started our visit with the docent guide, who was quite knowledgable and enthusiastic about the collections and the donors. The architecture inside and outside (including the courtyard) is beautiful and very effective. Overall, we were surprised and impressed and spent a delightful 3 hours there. A nice break from shopping in Old Town Scottsdale.

You will enjoy this place if you love the old southwest. Bring your camera. They also hire out for parties, so consider it!

Very good collection of Western Art. It has many examples of spurs, brands, ropes, saddles, hats and blankets. The outside garden is very nice.

Museum is great' great collection of native American photos and other pieces of art. It is two floors with an elevator. Also, free underground parking.

A full morning of enjoyment followed by refreshments in old town.

Museum is well organized and shares an array of artist and historical western pieces of memorabilia

The special photography exhibits were fascinating. It gives you a glimpse into current and past Western life. The permanent exhibit elements are well done. It was easy to spend a few hours exploring the museum. . Definitely worth a visit,The only disappointment was there was supposed to be a guided tour. We were told where to meet but no guide ever showed up. You would have thought the reception desk would know if tours were actually running that day.

If you're interested in Western history this museum is the place to go! In addition to pictures, there are old guns, saddles, everything needed to ride/live in the Old West. We could have spent hours in this museum.

This large art museum has a large collection of western art, memorabilia, statues, and a western movie section. There was a guided tour that was very informative.

This is an unusual and fascinating museum, Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West, a well thought-out conglomeration of exhibitions from everything from cowboy and Native American attire to spurs to saddles to paintings to sculpture, even a stuffed buffalo. Located at 3830 North Marshall, in Old Town Scottsdale, on the former site of the Loloma Transit Station at North Marshall Way and East 1st Street, it was the vision of former Scottsdale Mayor Herb Drinkwater and opened in 2015. The two-story, 43,000-square-foot museum features the art, culture and history of 19 states in the American West, including Arizona. As museum director Mike Fox has said: "We are not a museum of objects, but a museum of ideas." And so it is. With eight exhibit spaces, a 135-seat multimedia theater, a gift shop and a sculpture garden, it covers everything you want to know about the Wild West. Even photographs and biographies of influential Westerners such as Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Billy the Kid, the notorious gunfighter. Current exhibits of note include photographs by the late Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater, paintings by western artists Maynard Dixon, Gilbert Waldman and Paul Calle, Hopi pottery, western movie posters, bronze sculpture by John Coleman, western artifacts and paintings and sculpture by Frederic Remington, Thomas Moran and Alfred Jacob Miller. It's a collection that you won't find anywhere else.

Offers a ever changing display of Western Art and History. Lots to explore so plan on spending 2 to 3 hours enjoying the displays

We were unaware of this museum until this trip and it did not disappoint. The museum, which is associated with the Smithsonian, gives a good overview picture of the West, both with history and art. When we visited, they were having a special exhibit on the art of Paul Calle, who painted wonderful paintings of the American West but also was a painter of the astronauts, which were similar in that both were people who opened the "frontier". The exhibits on the history of the West and the Native Americans were very well put together. We will go back!

This is a beautiful museum close to Old Town. So many cool artifacts about the history of the West. We were there for almost 3 hours, which was kind of a shock to us b/c it didn't seem like we were in there for very long. Along with the historical artifacts, bronze sculptures and pottery, there are amazing photography exhibits. A must see if you are in Scottsdale.

This was a great museum. Lots of variety. Paintings, photography, pottery, leather, bronze sculptures, etc. Especially liked seeing the processes that the artist used from concept to conclusion. A little pricey at $15 per person.

As a fan of the western art of Joe Beeler and John Coleman, I can't recommend the Museum of the West enough. Their are large displays of each of their works along with a wide assortment of artwork from other artists. The museum side has some nice displays, especially the movie posters from western movies, but it's the art that has me returning each time I'm in Scottsdale.

Set in Old Scottsdale, it is a hidden gem! There is a wonderful Hopi pottery exhibit. They offer different Docent led tours, check in advance for times, and which areas of the museum will be included. We explored on our own for an hour or so and then joined a docent led tour. There was a wonderful exhibit; Charles M Russell: The Women in His Life and Art. We were also able to enjoy some of the ongoing exhibits: The Abe Hayes collection of spurs, saddles, and other interesting items. TheSpirit of the Flame was so interesting. In the courtyard they have a variety of Sculptures. And don’t miss the chance to step into a scene and take your picture with you by a horse...keep looking you’ll see what I mean 😉. Not far from that scene is a side saddle...fun to sit on and take a photo. I love that they have some changing exhibits. Always something new to Explorer!

Viewing Maynard Dixon’s paintings was worth the price of admission alone. Those plus the paintings of other artists and the exhibits give a real sense of the history of the West. Very informative and thought-provoking.

The exhibits are awesome, but there is a lot of reading. This is not a museum for little kids. The site does provide tours to give highlights, but you can walk around it yourself. its a beautiful location and a great stop in Scottsdale.

I would recommend this museum especially those not familiar with the American west, specifically Arizona. Lots of interesting artefacts. We saw the Edward Curtis exhibit - fascinating, and controversial. The biases are there for all to see; this is the case with the museum too. Nonetheless, a worthwhile visit.

First, this is the kind of museum that gives you visitor passes in the form of cute little sheriff badge stickers. It is perhaps more about projecting a highly romanticized view of the European dominance of the American West than it is in dealing with the actual history in its fullness. There are a lot of paintings and sculptures of white explorers or cowboys facing Brutal Nature and/or Brutal Natives, as well as a few of the natives facing similar challenges. When we were there, the museum featured a lot of very similarly romantic pictures of mountain men, explorers and cowboys. It is beginning to make some gestures toward being a more legit museum. It reminded me strongly of the Cowboy Hall of Fame, which was in Oklahoma City while I was growing up. It is now the Western Heritage Museum, and is much more legit as a museum, but those original romantic roots still are strong.

The best exhibit is a room full (as well as another hallway exhibit) of clayware made by Hopi, Zuni and others. One could easily spend several hours exploring them. There are some great pieces among them, and some really interesting pieces that help trace the evolution of styles. Beyond that, there are some exhibits about frontier life that include some interesting examples of late 19th/early 20th century material culture.

This would be a great place to bring kids ages 8-15.

Very well thought out presentation. Incredible detail, highly recommend, spent 2 + hours there. Grateful to the donors for their collections

This is a great place to spend a few hours on a hot afternoon in Scottsdale. Lots of oil on canvas paintings and bronze sculptures by the masters of western art. Regardless of your expertise or interest in the subject matter, the Museum of the West offers an excellent learning experience for all ages.

We are locals and loved our two visits to this beautiful Museum. Great history and art exhibits. Nice staff. Easy parking. Very new. John Wayne...As a life long fan of John Wayne I wish our country had more men like you today.

Interesting exhibits - so many things packed into a small space. We spent about 2-3 hours. The Goldwater Exhibit was amazing, as is the Paul Calle exhibit. The display of saddles and western gear was outstanding.

I recently attended an event at this museum and it is wonderfully full of Arizona and Scottsdale history. You can host an event here with a caterer as well. This is a gem that highlights Arizona in the best light. Old and young will enjoy all that there is to see!

This museum is just perfect for Arizona and anyone wanting to know more about the West. Right now, the photographs that Barry Goldwater took are just amazing. The display of the sculptures, leather works, and saddles are really beautifully done. The museum is truly lovely, the outdoor sculpture gardens small but the artwork is amazing. Also, some really cute things for younger kids to do, this is a family affair for sure and you will not be disappointed.

If you are a lover of Western Movies or really anything western, this is a great museum to visit. We visited first thing in the morning and it was quiet and relaxing.

The bronze scuplture of John Wayne in the front lobby takes your breath away. All of the sculptures are almost life like.

This building is beautiful and the collection is impressive. There is artwork from native Americans, and a good amount of history is captured among the many pieces of art here. There are some great paintings, sculptures, pottery, and gear for cowboys.
The video at the beginning of our visit was really cool about the grand canyon.

There were 3 different tours offered throughout the day. We did one of them and our guide was very excited about what he did (though perhaps more excited than his tour group). I do wish he had used the word Native Americans over "Indians" but I liked how he shared the names of many of the influential people in the west over the last 200 years.

The SMoW curators take great care to offer a variety of shows for all kinds of tastes in art and artifacts. Yes, there's lots of Western art, but abstract and contemporary art from artists living in the West as well. Also check out their lineup of films and lectures.

From the first, temporary exhibit on New Mexico art, the artwork and its display was among the best I've seen throughout. There are numerous places to sit and look closely at a work, or just to think. This is a very inspiring place, and in early August, it's also a cool respite from being outside. The landscape is also thought-provoking.

Been there twice. love it. Truly got to see the relics and history of the west. Handicapped accessible and two floors of beautifully preserved western regalia and paintings.

I loved the collections of saddles and pistols but the displays of Old West paintings and sculptures were truly awesome. I actually liked this museum better than the Heard, but I suggest you visit both while here in Arizona. Free parking adjacent to the building and there are guided tours available at no extra charge. You will get more out of the experience if you tag along on a tour, then go back to the exhibits you were most interested in.

We really enjoyed everything this wonderful museum had to offer. My husband gave me a 2-hour limit, but I could have stayed all day. It is a very clean, welcoming place with friendly employees and an extensive collection of everything Western and more! History lovers, this place is for YOU!!!!

With incredible attention to detail. A beautiful museum dedicated to Western life — Indians, movies, cowboys, the way it was back then. Excellent stop!

Awesome museum for teens and above. Make sure you time your visit with the tours provided- you will get so much for out of it. Gail did an excellent job as a guide and was able to answer questions from the group with no hesitation.

I am not a big fan of western items, but love museums and made this a first stop of the day. There is convenient underground parking. We can in just before a tour started, and we took that tour, and liked it so much that we took 2 others. There is also a brief film. There are literally so many interesting things in this museum that I could have stayed all day. And as I said, I am not a big western fan. The special exhibits were unique. The pottery was exceptionally well done. The sculptures were exceptional. There was a lot of history to the exhibits. It was just absolutely fabulous. Don't miss.

We were looking for a good morning activity and stumbled upon the museum. Great guided tour and the architecture of the building is fabulous. Definitely a must see when in Old Scottsdale

One of the most interesting museums. It may be small, but its displays are well carried out and easy to observe, good lighting and well presented. The price in set well. We suggest everyone take advantage of a visit if in the area!

I loved the Native American art and sculpture featured at this museum - I spent most of my time in this part of the museum. I suggest that visitors to the Heard Museum in Phoenix might want to stop off at this museum too.

It is a wonderful museum with beautiful western art, sculpture, and artistic artifacts. It was a great surprise as we hadn't planned to go and it is right next to Old Town Scottsdale.

Amazing experience. I love such places like full of art. Its worth your time. Highly recommanded, well done

This museum has anything and everything about historical western life. The exhibits and artifacts and the art on display are just fantastic. There is a reason this is rated the best Western museum around. It is not only architecturally astounding but the quality and availability of the displays are second to none!

We wanted to see the western film exhibition but found the whole museum great and the exhibits are all very good. I would recommend it to any visitor if they have 2-3 hours spare.

Had no idea what to expect, but learned of some really good western painters. The detail to their painting was amazing. Loved seeing pottery dating back to the 1700's and learn about the Hopi Indians. I did think it was going to be larger, but it was nice that we could get thru it in 2 hours. There was plenty of room to move around and read the plaques. The wide range of western artists really was most interesting.
The small gift shop at the end had a lot to look at.

Planned to take visitors to the Desert Botanical Garden, which wound up being closed for a private event. Opted to go to the Western Spirit museum instead.. It was nearby, so not a lot of extra travel required. This isn't the typical western museum by any means, and is incredible every time. The outside of the museum is absolutely beautiful with texture and plantings, lovely for photo ops. There is plenty of free parking in the garage behind the museum (note: shade in summertime intense heat) and an elevator, should anyone have mobility issues. The museum is incredible. Admission is extremely reasonable for what lies within. I never realized very few exhibits are permanent, so they are always in rotation. This visit had a great exhibit on Taos artwork, as well as a Charles Russell exhibit. There are 3 tours daily. We took the latest one that toured upstairs - the expansive Paul Calle display, as well as the other galleries. The docent was so knowledgeable, sharing plenty of information and moving right along to cover a nice number of pieces within both galleries. The museum has so much to offer...you should absolutely visit and take it in. Located right in the heart of Old Town, it's easy to pop into the surrounding shops or restaurants when you're finished.

Bummer, only after paying more than $50 in admission fees for two people did the person at the front desk mention that two exhibition areas were currently closed ('Still in the Saddle' and 'Mac Schweitzer'). That's something I felt should have been clearly stated up front. However, I did enjoy the interesting collection of Western Spirit in the first exhibition area. Docent-led tours were available by a very enthusiastic docent. These were a bit lengthy so I chose to explore solo. I love small Western Spirit museums and have been to several in Wyoming and Colorado. If you are in Scottsdale I might wait however, until after the construction of new exhibits is completed to get higher value from this small museum visit.

This is a must do for history buffs or anyone interested in the Wild West or the history of the indigenous people of North America. The exhibits are well presented and include photographs and items from everyday use in the Wild West (saddles, stagecoach, spurs etc). There are lots of amazing bronze sculptures and you can take photos in the stagecoach and a Wild West scene which is great fun for children and adults. The grounds are beautifully maintained with cactus and other local plants. This museum doesn’t seem to be well promoted but it really is worth a visit and the staff are knowledgeable and friendly.

We knew there was plenty of art in the Scottsdale area, but discovered this place on Trip Advisor. We spent several hours there. The variety and history of Western American art, both antique and contemporary was wonderful. The staff was very pleasant too. If you have some time you really need to check it out. The culture and history blended with art made it a unique experience.

We first visited the museum several years ago and were completely enthralled with the quality and quantity of art on display. The scuptures were many, and the array of oil paintings was vast. We were struck during this visit on how much of the art is no longer there. The first floor is overwhelmed with photography of a single person. While interesting, it is not worthy of the space it consumes. The second floor is mostly the work of a small handful of artists, and much of the art is only tangentially related to the West. Lastly, the entrance fee is excessive. We won't be going back again. Save your money, they're living on their laurels.

VERY good museum of western artifacts and "cowboy" paraphenalia. Very pleasant exhibits with a lot of information. Western art collection is among the best that we every seen.

This is an excellent museum of the old American west. Current exhibit of western movie posters was fascinating. Large collection of Hopi pottery. Great paintings. we spent about 90 minutes but could have used more time.

The Title to this "museum" is a bit misleading as it is more of an art gallery than a museum. They do have a few artifacts but there are more art pieces than historical pieces in our opinion. We found the history to be based more on the art and artists than on historical facts. If you are looking for the history of western art, then this place is for you.

$13 for senior, we went early Wednesday afternoon. Beautiful substantial building. Free parking across the street. Wooden entrance doors so big we didn't see them. Initially put off by the winding rooms of paintings and pottery, but then we turned a corner and FUN. Elaborate displays of rodeo garb, guns, toys, badges, handcuffs, etc., etc., Then you hear laughter and come across the optical illusion painting area (floor and wall) where, if you bring a camera (phone), a docent will cheerfully take a picture of you petting a horse in a desert setting surrounded by a wagon and mountains. It's a hoot. Also, Barry Goldwater Photographic Exhibit until June. A must see.

Centrally located in Scottsdale. A great overview of the western US particularity the art and influences. Good Charles Russel exhibit. Have a docent take you though

Started with a short beautiful introductory film. We then took a tour with the docent Mary of some amazing Western artists(sculpture and paintings!). The tour was informative and historically interesting and Mary was an amazing guide. We must also mention Tony, a gentleman who roamed the museum making every guest's visit more worthwhile by pointing out unique features...such as an amazing 3D painting! Western history and art, both indigenous and pioneer newcomer, fill the galleries. Old West memorabilia and saddles, etc etc. and more!!!! We would not hesitate to return!!! Highly recommend!!!

Stunning architecture of the building is matched by the wide variety of exhibits inside. First exhibit I saw was all about old movie lobby western posters and if that’s all I saw I would have been pleased. Incredible collection that will educate you, bring back many memories of old movies and actors, and a few activities for young kids. Another collection that I found fascinating were the collection of western wear for cowboys as well as all the horse gear. Pottery, paintings, sculptures, etc are also equally intriguing. Fun modern day western paintings will make you smile. Outdoor sculpture garden with a couple massive art installations! Very worthwhile museum to see at a reasonable price.

The special exhibit of Paul Calle’s work was incredible. I wasn’t familiar with his name but had seen much of his work over the years. The design of the presentation was so well done. The Barry Goldwater photos were amazing. I also loved the Hopi pottery, the sculpture garden, and the Western memorabilia including the saddles and chaps collections. The building is gorgeous too. Definitely worth a visit while you’re in Scottsdale.

This is a truly great museum. I was told it opened is 2013. It has great works of art, fabulous collections of everything from saddles and spurs to sculptures and pottery. It is bright and airy with a wonderful sculpture garden. This is a must see.

Really enjoyed the museum. Beautiful art (paintings and statues) capture the beauty of the West. Plenty of artifacts and educational opportunities throughout the museum. Cale’s mountains to the moon was excellent. Wonderful place to explore the West and art about it.

This museum embodies the west. Beautiful paintings, gorgeous bronze sculptures, western garb and accessories, saddles and the like, memorabilia from western shows, and more.
We took a docent tour of the 2nd floor which was very informative about the artists and the subjects.

We were hoping for a much more thorough exhibit of the old West. For $25 each, I wasn’t expecting to see a bunch of artwork by 2 contemporary artists. Although the art and photography was excellent, there was too much of it and not enough old artifacts. Probably the neatest thing in the museum is a peace pipe used by Lewis and Clark during their exploration.

If you're looking for artifacts from the old west this isn't the place for you. If you're looking for art that conveys the spirit of the Old West then you'll enjoy this museum. There have some really great paintings and impressive bronze sculptures. There are some western relics and some nice displays of native american pottery. The staff is very friendly and there are plenty of benches and chairs if you want to sit down.

Far better than we expected. Planned for an hour and stayed for 3 hours. First, a beautiful building, even the restrooms. Exhibits were extensive, easy to follow, well displayed to really get a sense of the artist/historian. The in-depth look at the artists was teriffic. We learned so much; now listening to an audio book to learn more. Don't miss the 3D Horse at the Watering Hole painting. Get your photo there!
Probably not for young children, but teens and up. Lots to learn.

We went to tour this museum based on recommendations from the locales. We went in with no expectations and were pleasantly surprised at how interesting we found it. Definitely worth a visit.

Good looking museum inside and out but it's basically an art museum with a few fun activities for the child in all of us.
When you park in their free public parking underground, then you take the elevator up. Then you walk outside around the building to enter! Not well thought out. Handicapped would be challenged.
I saw a comment that they are the best museum in Scottsdale. Ha. Not any competition.
I did enjoy the exhibition of the Hopi pottery that was unique.
I was told this was a museum of the Lewis and Clark exhibition and the western states. WHERE is the history? It's just photos and things to look at. You are entertaining people. not educating. So typical of Scottsdale. All hype with little substance.
It is a pretty place to visit; but if I was a real museum; I will go to the Heard!

Great show, creativity in the arrangement of the pieces. History through the museum comes lightly. The arrangement of the sculptures is very beautiful.

Spent a few hours in the museum. Great art sculptures and paintings, plus some movie posters/info. And a great display of saddles, and old cowboy gear. Very interesting.

Loved it!
Recommendations:
Parking garage (free) behind the building off of Marshall. Give yourself two hours to get through the museum. You can take photos, just no flash photography. Lots of information available throughout the museum so I didn’t feel like I was missing something without joining a guided tour (they offer a few throughout the day). Exhibits included paintings, pottery, bronze castings, artifacts, and a section on Wild West film. The film section had dine hands on activities (like learning to tie certain knots).
Review:
This was one of the main experiences I wanted to have on our trip down here and I loved it. Everyone that works here is incredibly friendly as well.

Having been to the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City from first through sixth grade I was excited to have an adult’s perspective of what western art was. Scottsdale’s museum was much more informative with its exhibits. The volunteers knew the museum and its exhibits from front to back. The saddle, spurs, and barbed wire exhibits were filled with an incredible number of samples.

Scottsdale's Museum of the West offers something for everyone. Kids adored the hands on activities. Multiple genres of art provided a brushstroke view of the west, native americans, space exploration and more!

Dont miss the opportunity to have your picture taken petting the horse!

After reading about the museum, we decided to visit. What a surprise. When you first walk in there is a life-size bronze statue of an Indian man and woman on a horse. While walking around we saw so many different artists and enjoyed the experience.

Explore the history, art and rich cultural heritage of the West at one of TripAdvisor’s most highly rated Scottsdale attractions. From exhibits of Hopi pottery masterworks to rare posters starring silver screen cowboys and Indians, you’ll discover the unique stories of the people, places and events of the 19 states of the American West, and the bordering Canadian provinces and Mexican states.

In addition to its regularly changing exhibitions, the museum offers entertaining events, gallery tours, and educational activities. The award-winning, contemporary museum building is located in Old Town Scottsdale, within easy walking distance of the Main Street art galleries and other popular downtown Scottsdale destinations. It is located on the Downtown Scottsdale trolley route.

Admission prices are adults $15 Senior 65+ and active military $13 students with ID 6 to 17 years eight dollars members and children five and under are free.

Authentic old Western saddles badges spurs and other artifacts just to name a few.

The museum captured the feel of the Old West for me. Our guide was very knowledgeable. I will bring other friends from Chicago here on my next visit!

Given all of the art in Scottsdale and the rich history of Arizona and the West, wild and otherwise, I was a little concerned if our visit was going to live up to our expectations. But, I need have been worried, the museum is excellent and so accessible. We can all thank the collectors out there for collecting and preserving history, because without them it would be near impossible to put together displays like the ones at Western Spirit.
To top it off there is an absolutely beautiful and amazing display of Paul Calle’s, and his son Chris’, work. It was the highlight for me because I have long admired his work, so to be able to see such a great collection was really so much more than I expected.
If you have an hour or two, please check out Western Spirit, you won’t be disappointed!

This was a pleasant surprise. A real learning experience. Wonderful examples of native American blankets and history.

We enjoyed our visit here with our kids. It's great that parking was so easy with the garage adjacent to the museum. Being right there in Old Town Scottsdale means plenty of other places to visit before or after the museum.

The museum itself has wonderful collections of western arts and artifacts. We took a docent-led tour, and that was great. We found the introductory film to be a bit disappointing, but it was short and the museum exhibits made up for the lackluster film.

We visited this fine museum and enjoyed it greatly. Their exhibit of Barry Goldwater’s photographs was outstanding. We also enjoyed all of the art works and bronzes. The saddles and other horse equipment were good. The building itself is a work of art. Thumbs up!

What a hidden treasure this museum is! There was a Charles Russell's Women exhibit with so many fabulous drawings and paintings by Russell, as well as more of his works upstairs in a section with the works of Frederic Remington. Thomas Moran, Bev Doolittle and tons of paintings and drawings upstairs that focused on the Confluence of Cowboys and Indians. The Hopi pottery exhibit downstairs was thoroughly informative, as was the history of Western Art with videos as well as many paintings and exhibits. The museum also provided regular guided tours, and children of all ages could enjoy the downstairs collection of saddles, all kinds of horse paraphernalia, posters, cowboy games, and videos. There is also a small outside sculpture atrium in the center that shouldn't be missed. The people in the gift shop offer restaurant recommendations when asked and are extremely helpful, too!

Paintings, sculpture, Native American pottery, saddles & Spurs...very comprehensive and engaging. Families will enjoy it.

Great place to learn about the arts, culture, and history of the American West
Several interactive exhibits to play with.
Staff are very friendly and helpful to everyone.

Took my daughter here to see the Barry Goldwater Collection and it was awesome. Awesome building and grounds with knowledgeable staff. I loved it here and could have spent the whole day. Worth the trip.

This new (4 years old) museum in Old Scottsdale is breathtaking even before you walk in — the architecture of the building itself is awesome and the materials used to construct it have created a work of art. Inside you will be transported to days of yore in the West, when Native Americans and the new settlers made the history that became the American West. The museum beautifully displays and explains all kinds of artifacts, from the magnificent pottery of the Hopi and other tribes, to the saddles, spurs, guns, rifles and myraid of things people used to navigate the outdoor life of the growing West. The art exhibits are traveling exhibits .....we were lucky to be there during the Charles Russell show and it was fabulous. If you are fascinated by the American West, have enjoyed the Autry Museum in LA and the Cowboy Museum in Oklahoma City, you will love the Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West.....we sure did!

I confess, I wasn’t expecting much when we decided to go to this museum, but we both really enjoyed it. The woman that sold us the tickets said it would probably take 1.5 hours to go through, but it took us 2.5 hours and we didn’t even read everything. I wish we would have had more time. There were kids playing some kind of game —scavenger hunt??—finding different things in the museum. Looked like they were having a good time. The sculptures and paintings were beautiful. I loved the pottery exhibition. It is worth going to see just on its own.

We visited in January 2023 with a group of five ranging in age 30 to 80. Everyone was impressed and liked the many different displays of the west, nit just Arizona. The Native American sculptures and photos are remarkable. We enjoyed the large murals that obe can step into for a really neat photo.

I struggled a little bit on scoring this museum. It's conveniently located in downtown Scottsdale with adjacent free parking in a municipal garage. The entrance fee is somewhat expensive at $25.

The exhibits started with some contemporary art (Warhol, etc.), which frankly weren't very attractive. It continued with a display of photos that were nicely done but were mostly shot in Mexico. In our view, the exhibits got better from there. There are interesting displays of western hear (saddles, spurs, etc.) and a nice variety of other related items. The art on the second level was much better.

We spent about 2 hours in the museum and, overall, enjoyed the visit.

Interesting anecdotes for every art piece. Opens at 11 on Sundays. Takes AAA discount. Very new facility.

One of the best western museums I have ever been to. Amazing exhibits. Paintings. Sculptures. Memorabilia. Amazing

If you like cowboy history it is a great place to spend an afternoon. They had a scavenger hunt for the children and very friendly helpful staff. We throughly enjoyed this museum and the conveninet free parking.

The museum has free tours. There is a permanent collection and some temporary rotating collections. The Rennard Strickland Collection of Western Film History (June 20, 2017 – September 16, 2018) was there and proved to be both fun and interesting! I remembered some of those old movies!

Impressive ecologically built building. Free tours offered. Large display of western movie posters, many beautiful oil paintings and bronze sculptures as well as other western acoutramonts which are very interesting. A small gift shop, admission $15, $13 for seniors.
Not to be missed

The collections currently on exhibit are truly emblematic of 'Western Spirit.' Gorgeous Hopi pottery, with many examples of Nampeyo's artistry; insightful and empathetic photographs from Barry M. Goldwater; a historical view of the iconic illustrations and paintings of Maynard Dixon; works by Paul Calle; and the Hays Family collection of Western wear and other items all bring the West into focus.

This was a wonderful museum. The bronzes, the western memorabilia, and don't forget the second floor.....amazing art. There was a some fun stuff too. There is a 3-dimensional piece of art that hangs on a wall of an old western town. As you walk along beside it, it moves with you. It's an optical illusion and we kept walking going back and forth, moving up and down, and enjoyed the heck out of it, as it mysteriously moved along with us. Also a GREAT photo op at a large painted wall that has a horse drinking from a stream, and the art flows out onto the floor. There is someone from the museum who is always roaming around and they'll explain how to put yourself into the picture......it's fun and very unique. It's hard to explain but something you shouldn't miss and again, take a picture and put yourself into that art. You'll understand when you're there. Edward S. Curtis and his son's art are featured upstairs. I'd never heard of him before, but it was a beautiful and a wonderful exhibit.

All in all, I'm not a huge museum guy, but this was a wonderful place that I highly recommend.

The museum is excellent and presents a mixture of Western art and history. We visited two years ago and went back again. We gained a great appreciation for the work of John Coleman in 2017 and were happy to see his work as part of the permanent exhibits. We were particularly impressed with the excellent photography work of Barry Goldwater, especially his connection to the tribal subjects. The Charles M. Russell exhibit focusing on his portrayals of women was outstanding. Because the museum seems to host such varied temporary exhibits, we will doubtless visit again when we are in Scottsdale.

On our last day of a month long visit to the South West we decided to end on a high and visit this museum.

We have seen a lot of pottery on this trip but since it is so lovely we don't mind more. There are a lot of paintings to look at here and a large collection of items telling the story of the 'Cowboy' - in all our US trips we don't remember seeing such a comprehensive collection.

For me the highlight of the show was the best collection of bronzes I have ever seen. There are some excellent statues outside too.

Volunteers are friendly and helpful here.

A fitting end to another great trip to the US.

There is a wide variety of exhibits from paintings, to photographs, pottery, sculptures, western artifacts and a smaller selection of Native American blankets and clothing.
The items in the museum store appeared to be high quality.
It was not crowded mid to late afternoon on a Saturday.

A wonderful place to spend a couple of hours. Loved the collection of Bronze Indian sculptures! Also enjoyed the Barry Goldwater photography- incredible shots of Arizona Native Americans and landscapes. Plan your visit around docent lead tours 11:15, 12:15, and 1:15. It enhances your tour. Discount admission for Seniors $15. And you can leave and return the same day (go for lunch and return).

We spent about an hour at this museum and enjoyed seeing the photos by- and of- Barry Goldwater. The old western wear featuring saddles, spurs, bags, etc. was very interesting and the collection of Western paintings was small, but nice. I would recommend a visit here.

We took some close friends with a warning that it was really just full of art and wasn't really a Museum of the West because it was lacking real Western STUFF. What a delightful change!! It was surprisingly different and now actually captures the WEST! All of us were happy that we returned. .Hopefully, they'll put in a covered wagon or wagon or two....and add more Western stuff!

The A.P. Hays Collection of authentic cowboy gear drew me for a quick visit to this museum. Many different western saddles, bridles, lariats, chaps, gunbelts, saddlebags, and other cowboy gear are on display. Many of these items are very rare.

Plan to spend a good couple of hours if you really want to explore the many interesting exhibits. The week I was there included a great exhibit of jewellery,
paintings, artifacts, saddles, other cowboy equipment and historic western gear. Weekday afternoon is perfect, with just a few people so lots of time to get close to exhibits. Well curated and explained, easy to do a self guided tour.

Berry Goldwater is known as a Senator from Arizona and a one-time presidential candidate but he had a passion for Arizona and it's history especially of native people. The photographs can also be experienced in the December issue of Arizona Highways, a special collectors issue. This is a small sampling of fourteen thousand photographs now being digitized. It's a beautiful experience of viewing Arizonas history through the eyes of a man's passion for the Southwest landscapes and it's people.

This is a quote from Ansel Adams: We sometimes forget that Art, in any form is communication. Barry Goldwater has communicated his vision of the Southwest and he deserves high accolades for his desire to tell us what he feels and believes about his beloved land. In this age of random thrust and confused directions, it is good to know that there are such dedicated people with ideas and objectives. May their tribe increase.

We took a docent led tour of a special exhibit and really enjoyed our visit. If you are interested in Western Art and historical artifacts this is the place to go!

Edward Curtis spent 30+ years photographing native americans in the late 1800's and early 1900's, in the last twilights of their civilizations. The museum is currently showcasing perhaps the best single collection of his work. It is truly gripping and stunning.

We were drawn to a special exhibit of Maynard Dixon with over 300 selections of his works. The exhibit was well organized and provided a wonderful insight into the life and work of this artist. We enjoyed other exhibits of pottery, paintings of the west by other artists and western saddles and and gear We enjoyed Recommended

The building for Western Spirit, Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, is attractive inside and the presentation of items well done. Much of what you see there is available in other Western Museums, including pottery, clothing, badges, guns and rodeo memorabilia. However, the significant amount of art work from early western artists who painted Native Americans from life rather than legend and the bronze sculptures of John Coleman are anything but standard fare.
The current special exhibits are excellent. The art exhibit from New Mexico mainly featuring Taos artists was impressive both for quality and variety and the accompanying descriptions provided interesting background on the artists and art schools. The exhibit of photos by Barry Goldwater was outstanding. While there was not a large number of prints, they are worth a visit by themselves. There were equally striking works in landscape and portrait, in color and black and white. That exhibition is leaving in June, so see it while you can.

Great museum depicting the American West. There was a little bit too much emphasis on the development of Western cinema, and a little to little of everyday life and the Native American population. But their exhibits and presentations were nicely done and very informative. There is a lot to see here, so be sure to allocate a full morning or afternoon. The staff was amazingly friendly from start to finish also.

Wonderful art, sculpture and western artifacts assembled for your viewing pleasure. Plan at least a couple hours for your visit and be sure to take a 3D Photo of yourself at the horse drinking water exhibit.

At the urging of a friend, I decided to go to this museum, and I was NOT disappointed. I was ushered in, paid a senior discount and was directed to a lecture in progress. The auditorium was 2/3 full, and the speaker was enthusiastically talking about his book on pottery and native potters. It was a fascinating discussion.

Afterwards, I spent a couple hours marveling at all the exhibits. There were saddles, pistols, rifles, leather cuffs, chaps, hats, handcuffs, you name it. If it was in the old West, they have a display about it.

I was taken with the statues and busts. I spent an inordinate amount of time photographing them, inside and outside the museum proper.

If you are at all interested in the Old West...be it relics, native pottery, Western movies, or anything else you can think of, this is THE PLACE!

Howdy partner, It's a great place to visit so don't miss out on a fun time in the old west and you don't even have to wear western attire to enjoy this unique museum.

This experience was GREAT. The folks that work here helped us understand all the ins and outs of the museum. The displays were neat and easy to read. Believe it or not we had fun just roaming thru the exhibits. A special thanks to Jose who took the most incredible photo of my husband and I standing by a horse, Or at least that is what the photo came out looking like. He was so nice.

Have visited several times. Each time it had significantly different and informative and well presented displays.

Thoroughly enjoyed Maynard Dixon’s works as well as Barry Goldwater’s photos. Beautiful bead work. Pottery.

- Went on a Tuesday afternoon, easy, free parking.

- $15.00 entry, seemed more than reasonable.

- Tours given every hour, 15 minutes past the hour. 45 minutes long. Our docent focused mostly on the art and sculpture to the exclusion of other parts of the museum. He did say the next tour would cover other parts.

- Agree with others about the film. Not sure what the point was.

- I would make it a stop in Scottsdale. After the museum check out the galleries within walking distance.

This museum displays several collections of Western Art in a beautiful setting. The artwork was very enjoyable, as well as a small section of Indian pottery and artifacts from the times of the early settlers. We also enjoyed the Goldwater photography exhibit. The artwork labels were difficult to read for both my husband and myself. I would describe this more as an art museum than a Museum of the West, since it does not provide a narrative of the history of The West, of the native populations or of the settlers.

Incredible exhibitions of art & artifacts. Stunning sculpture gardens surround bldg plus interior courtyard. Sen.Barry Goldwater's photos on perm. display showcasing Arizona's history & geography. Jeffrey in the gift shop is best ambassador for museum!

This museum featured painted art and sculptures of the West as well as collections focused on lifestyle of the West. The latter includes displays of clothing, games, saddles, holsters and guns. This museum captures one's attention and holds it throughout the many displays. We took advantage of two free tours that were well presented.

Very nice museum with a lot of memorabilia on the west. There are knowledgeable docents who will give free group tours every hour for each section consecutively. This is good so you can get one section, then the next and next. Fantastic artwork on the top floor. Great movie posters, saddles and more. We spent 2 hours and could have spent more.

This is an amazing collection of western art and historic artifacts. All are displayed in an interesting and informative manner. I could have spent the entire day there, but we were limited to a few hours. I was impressed with the display of items from Lewis and Clark exposition, western firearms, Indian artifacts to mention a few.

This was our first visit to the Museum of the West, but we will defintely return with friends and family. The Museum is easy to visit and view the entire collection in 2 or 3 hours, but you could spend the day if you want to read every detailed description about the vast array of items. Incredible display of Barry Goldwater photographs, wonderful collection of Western Cowboy items including spurs, chaps, and saddle bags. Many oil paintings of the states west of the Great Divide (although Basha's oil paintings are even better). Fabulous Native American artifacts including pottery, clothing from deerskin and porcupine quills, and exquiste woolen blankets. This is a great place to bring your out-of-town guests that love the Old West!

We have been to all 50 states & many museums .
Western Spirit is incredible..... beautifully done
Very educational in a great way
This museum is a GEM and a must see when in Scottsdale
A great experience for all ages 😍

Amazing exhibition of western art, history and a fitting tribute to those early pioneers and native american's. Entry is not free, but it's totally worth it! Well set out, plenty of detailed information. Make sure you allow yourself at least 2 hours as there are many things to see and read about. Some incredible, original native american artifacts on display too.