Phoenix's Heard Museum
A superb collection of Native-American art is in Phoenix, Arizona
Mar 13, 2007
The Native-American culture of the Southwest USA is a fascinating and colorful part of the region. From the roadside sellers of turquoise and silver jewelry to the artists of Sante Fe, New Mexico, and the best-selling Navajo novels of Tony Hillerman, Native-American art and culture is everywhere. And one of the finest collections anywhere in the whole USA is to be found at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona.
So big is the collection of Native-American art at the Heard Museum (over 39,000 items at the last count) that there are now three separate branches. A Heard Museum West recently opened to add to the Heard Museum North, although the main collection and biggest attraction for most visitors is the Heard Museum Downtown.
HISTORY
The Heard Museum of Native Cultures and Art, to give it its full title, was founded in 1929 by pioneer settlers Dwight and Maie Heard. In 1926 the Heards had acquired a substantial collection of archaeological material from the La Ciudad Indian ruin, and so along with their existing collection of arts and crafts items, they established the Heard Museum to put the fine collection on public display. Since then it has grown into one of the best collections not only in North America but in the world. It is hard to imagine visiting Phoenix and not visiting the Heard Museum. It would be like going to Paris and not visiting the Louvre.
HOPI KACHINA DOLLS
One of the star attractions is the collection of several hundred historic Hopi kachina (or katsina) dolls, from the private collection of Senator Barry Goldwater. Kachinas are Hopi spirits which act as intermediaries between humans and the Gods, and every doll is colorful and different. The Goldwater Collection is reason enough to visit the Heard Museum.
Other collections cover art, jewelry, pottery, sculpture and the distinctive woven baskets made by many of the southwestern and Mexican Native American tribes. These range from huge storage baskets to the tiniest works of art, made from horsehair. They really have to be seen to be believed.
GIFT SHOP
The arts and crafts at the Heard Museum are not only for seeing, though, as a fabulous range of top quality items is for sale in the Heard Museum gift shop. It is not the kind of gift shop you can race through in a few minutes at the end of a visit, in order to buy a souvenir for the folks back home. It demands almost as much attention as the museum itself, so allow plenty of time for browsing and buying.
Learn more about the Heard Museum and get current Visitor Information on the official website.
Read my blog about the Art Museum at Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport by clicking here.
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