List of major museums in the Metropolitan Phoenix area including Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Carefree, Glendale, Chandler and others.
Adobe Mountain Railroad Museum
23280 North 43rd Ave, Ste. 75 – Glendale, Arizona
Displays include small, narrow gauge 1884 locomotive, model railroad layouts and prototype historical displays. Open Dec.-April; 9:00 a.m.-noon.
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Arizona Capitol Museum
1700 W. Washington Street – Phoenix, Arizona
Presents events and programs on government in the Arizona Territory and early Statehood days. Museum Store, Visitor Lounge and patio grounds. Admission is Free Monday-Friday, 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
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Arizona Doll and Toy Museum
602 E. Adams Street – Phoenix, Arizona
Displays dolls, dollhouses, miniatures and toys from yesteryear. An authentic schoolroom of 1912 features antique dolls as “students”. Located in historical Heritage Square. Open Tues – Sat; 10 am-4 pm.
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Arizona Historical Society
1300 N. College Avenue – Tempe, Arizona
With over 28,000 items in the collection this is a wonderful place to visit. Located at Papago Park this museum puts a special emphasis on the 20th Century. Tues – Sat; 10 am-4 pm, Sun noon -4 pm.
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Arizona Military Museum
5656 E. McDowell Road – Phoenix, Arizona
“Lest We Forget” to remember those in uniformed military service. The Museum has displays of uniforms, vehicles, artillery and mementos. Sat and Sun 1 – 4 pm. At Papago Park Military Reservation.
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Arizona Mining & Mineral Museum
1502 W. Washington Street – Phoenix, Arizona
The Museum exhibits over 3,000 minerals educating visitors about Arizona’s mining and mineral heritage. Weekdays 8 am-5 pm; Sat 11 am-4 pm. Located on the NW corner of 15th Ave and Washington.
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Arizona Museum For Youth
35 North Robson Street – Mesa, Arizona
An innovative, nationally recognized fine arts museum for children. The museum’s art gallery is for children ages 4-12. Come and bring the kids often for a great day. Open Tues – Sun 9 am-5 pm.
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Arizona Science Center
600 E. Washington Street – Phoenix, Arizona
A hands-on, eye-opening fun center with more than 300 interactive exhibits, state-of-the-art planetarium, a five-story giant screen theater, live demonstrations and traveling exhibitions. Open daily 10 am-5 pm.
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ASU 1907 Archives Gallery
ASU Hayden Library – Tempe, Arizona
Showcases historical photographs, manuscripts and ephemera relating to the history of Arizona. Periodically changing traveling exhibits are also featured. Open Monday-Friday; 10 am-5 pm.
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ASU Art Museum
ASU Nelson Fine Arts Center – Tempe, Arizona
This acclaimed Museum offers American, Contemporary and Latin American art and craft. Located on the ASU campus and open Tuesdays & Wednesdays 10 am-5 pm.
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Cave Creek Museum
6140 E. Skyline Drive – Cave Creek, Arizona
The museum is living history of pioneer living, ranching and mining. Indian artifacts from Hohokam, Yavapai and Apache. See a restored 1920s tuberculosis cabin and a 1940s church.
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Chandler Museum
178 E. Commonwealth Avenue – Chandler, Arizona
The museum preserves the rich history and heritage of Chandler Arizona. Special events and new exhibits continually. Located in historic downtown Chandler. Hours: Wednesday – Saturday; 11 am – 4 pm.
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George Washington Carver Museum & Cultural Center
415 E. Grant Street – Phoenix, Arizona
The museum showcases the talents of emerging youth artists, local, regional and renowned visual and performing artists. Open Mon – Fri; 10 am – 3 pm.
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Hall Of Flame Museum of Firefighting
6101 E. Van Buren Street – Phoenix, Arizona
Almost and acre of fire history exhibits with over 90 fully restored pieces of fire apparatus dating back to 1725. There is also a gallery dedicated to wildfire firefighting. Located in the Phoenix Papago Park.
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Heard Museum
2301 N. Central Avenue – Phoenix, Arizona
This is one of the best places in Arizona to experience the cultures and art of Southwestern Native Americans. Enjoy the talent of Native American dancers. Open Mon – Sat; 9:30 am – 5 pm.
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Heritage & Science Park
115 N. 6th Street – Phoenix, Arizona
The only remaining group of homes from the original town site of Phoenix. Museums, gift shops and restaurants housed in buildings from the 1800s. Open Tuesday – Sat 10 am – 4 pm. Sun noon – 4 pm.
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Historic Sahuaro Ranch
9802 N. 59th Avenue – Glendale, Arizona
The oldest and best preserved 1885 homestead. Sahuaro Ranch’s historic area transports you to another time. Open Sept. – May; Wednesday – Friday 10 am – 2 pm. Sunday 9 am – 4-pm.
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Hoo-hoogam Ki Museum
10005 E. Osborn Road – Scottsdale, Arizona
Enjoy the cultural heritage of Salt River Pima-Maricopa Communities from the times of the ancient Hohokam. The museum is open Monday – Friday; 9:30 am – 4:30 pm.
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Phoenix Art Museum
1625 N. Central Avenue – Phoenix, Arizona
The Museum’s collection includes almost 16,000 artworks that span the centuries. Bring the children to experience the interactive-child friendly gallery. See international exhibits and have lunch at the Café.
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Phoenix Museum of History
105 N. 5th Street – Phoenix, Arizona
Visitors of all ages enjoy interactive and educational exhibits showing Phoenix’s metamorphous from barren desert town to a modern metropolis. Open Tuesday – Saturday 10 am – 5 pm.
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Phoenix Police Museum
101 S. Central Avenue #100 – Phoenix, Arizona
The museum features a mach-up of an early 1900s police station as well as a 1919 Ford Model T Police Car. Monday – Friday; 9:30 am – 4 pm.
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River of Time Museum
12901 N. LaMontana Blvd – Fountain Hills, AZ
Features history of lower Verde Valley, including geology, ancient Indians, trappers, miners, cowboys and modern day development along the Verde and Salt Rivers. Open Wed – Sat; 1 pm – 4 pm.
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Scottsdale Historical Museum
7333 E. Scottsdale Mall – Scottsdale, Arizona
Permanent exhibits of Winfield Scott and local history of Scottsdale Arizona, housed in a restored little red schoolhouse in Old Town Scottsdale. Hours: Wed – Sat 10 am-5 pm. Sun noon – 4 pm.
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Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
7374 E. Second Street – Scottsdale, Arizona
Paintings, photographs and sculpture are just some of the talent you’ll see at this art museum. The museum presents a wide variety of educational programs and special events for the entire family.
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Superstition Mountain Museum
4087 N. Apache Trail – Apache Junction, Arizona
Located in Goldfield Ghost Town the museum preserves and displays the artifacts, history and folklore of the Superstition Mountains. Learn the legend of the Lost Dutchman’s mine.
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West Valley Art Museum
17420 N. Avenue of Art – Surprise, Arizona
Key focus of the Museum is Ethnic dress, textiles and Ethnographic Arts. The Museum’s Classic Café is exceptional. Located at 114th Avenue and Bell Road. Hours: Tuesday – Saturday; 10 am – 4 pm.
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Phoenix Gardens & Arboretums
Get a close-up look at the plants, cactus, flowers and trees that thrive in the Sonoran Desert around Phoenix. Contact these curators for information regarding hours and tour options.
Desert Botanical Garden
1201 North Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, Arizona
One of the best maintained gardens in the world and there is always something in bloom at the Desert Botanical Garden. Open Oct – Apr 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.; May – Sept 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
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Boyce Thompson Arboretum
Highway 60 Milepost #223 near Superior, AZ.
No matter what the season, you will enjoy a moving and memorable experience of the beauty, majesty, and mystery of the desert. May – Aug daily 6:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.; Sept – April daily 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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Japenese Friendship Garden
1125 N. 3rd Ave – Phoenix, Arizona
This garden lies on 3.5 acres with a 0.8 acre pond. It is vegetated with more than 50 varieties of plants that can withstand the desert environment. Sat 10 a.m. – 4 pm; Sun 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
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