Heard Museum - Phoenix, Arizona

Liam D.

My first time at the Heard Museum was memorable. It's not the biggest museum, but it has a lot of galleries and rooms. What strikes me about this museum is that it's has the best Native American antiquities and my favorite was the American history of taking away Native American children from their family to be reeducated in a white American school and way of life. The part that moved me was all the children being ripped away from their parents and once they reached their destination, each child was given a mandatory hair cut, the first step of stripping them of their heritage, culture and identity. It was horrific what these children went through, and having a Native American heritage myself, it was really moving

Another part of this museum worth going to is their cafe. The people there are so friendly like our server, Christopher. The atmosphere and the food was worth the money spent. I bought the hummus sandwich since I'm a vegetarian and for dessert my partner and I shared a fried bread sundae which was delicious 😋🤤. I definitely recommend this place and the museum itself

Scott E. -. D. D.

We had an incredible visit to the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona! As an artist, I was absolutely blown away by the stunning collections of art and rich history packed into this space. From vibrant paintings to thought-provoking exhibitions, it was the perfect way to spend a day. One of my favorite moments was seeing the work of a photographer who captured so many portraits of Native artists crafting their pieces. It was inspiring and powerful. Plus!! The way they tie it together with the cultural history of the region is simply breathtaking. If you’re ever in Phoenix, don’t miss this gem! 🖤 #HeardMuseum #ArtLovers #PhoenixArt #NativeAmericanArtists #HistoryInArt #MuseumExperience #Inspiration #getinspired

Jessica C.

Visited on a Monday morning. Arrived just in time for a small tour with the other early birds. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of art they had. I learned more about the boarding school era. Be prepared to experience some emotions about it. I stopped by the gift shop and bought a book then wandered off to the gallery they have there. It was nice to see some Tlingit art in the mix. I spent 2.5 hrs there. Great day spent.

Pegah K.

The architecture of the museum was quite unique and even a bit whimsical—I really liked that. Each gallery had its own distinct vibe, which made exploring the space enjoyable. Everything was beautifully curated and visually striking. However, the overall concept left me feeling emotionally overwhelmed. I usually enjoy viewing art, but the tragic history of Native Americans and the way they were treated made me feel incredibly sad—so much so that it gave me a stomachache. You can truly feel the pain, sorrow, and suffering expressed through their artwork, which is deeply moving but also incredibly heavy and heartbreaking.

Bob W.

The display of the Arizona Native American tribes was amazing and extremely well done. The collection of pottery, kachina dolls, basket weaving and other artifacts is the best I have ever seen.

The exhibits of contemporary artists was also exceptional.

Rybo J.

Great museum. One floor was mostly educational about the "boarding schools" (kidnapping) of Native American children from their parents and communities to "civilize" them. Smh. The rest was artwork. Start on the top floor...work your way down. Budget 3 hours. Good food in the cafe on premise.

Audrey K.

This place is great. To see the baskets, jewelry, clothing, vases, and pottery is awesome. What artistry! We did a 45-minute tour to get an overview of the different exhibits and then walked around in our own. Then there is the exhibit about the children being taken away from their families to be "civilized." So sad and maddening. It really makes one think.
The gift shop is great. One volunteer really took time and care to make sure I found the best jewelry to buy. She figured out quickly my "style." I was happy to support the museum!

Bonnie M.

Overall the museum was nice. I'm not a huge fan of look at a picture and read 3 paragraphs about it so I found a bit of the museum quite boring. I liked the section about boarding schools because you got to hear recordings of first hand accounts and it was more interactive. Staff were friendly and great. The main shop was seriously expensive. I would have loved to support them but I think the cheapest thing was a $60 book. The items were beautiful, but way out of my price range. The little book store was better and I got some notecards to support the youth. I spent about 3 hours there. I wish they had prints of some of the artwork displayed. I would recommend!