Upcoming Events
WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE
We Are Open!
The following health and safety protocols during the pandemic are being implemented to ensure a safe environment:
FACE COVERINGS
All visitors over the age of two, and volunteers along with staff, are required to wear face coverings, and those visitors who are unable to wear face masks due to a medical condition may wear a face shield.
REDUCED DAYS AND HOURS OF OPERATION
Museum and Museum Store will have reduced days and hours of operation:
10 am – 3 pm Wednesday through Sunday*
*We suggest arriving early to allow approximately 2 hours to enjoy the museum prior to its prompt closing at 3pm.
NEW! ADVANCED PURCHASE TIMED TICKETING FOR ADMISSION
Advanced Timed Ticket Admission purchase (members are to reserve free tickets through the member portal) with limited number of admissions to ensure physical distancing and controlled occupancy quota per time period. Members are to sign in in the member portal with the email associated with their Western Spirit membership in order to reserve member tickets. GET MEMBER TICKETS HERE
*Note: Online timed tickets are in 30 minute arrival intervals starting at 10am. Please allow approximately 2hrs to enjoy the museum prior to closing promptly at 3pm. Arrive early prior to ticket time for check in.
(tickets will be available at Visitor Services desk for purchase if occupancy quota is not met for that time period).
Pre-purchased or reserved member mobile (or printed) tickets will be scanned upon entry.
Out of gratitude for the sustaining membership support, the museum will extend six months to every museum membership, including those that may have not been renewed during this COVID-19 period of museum closure.
MEMBERS AND AT-RISK HOUR
The 1st Hour of the day 10 am – 11 am is reserved for Members and those who are 65+yrs or with pre-existing medical condition(s). This is to ensure a low risk environment.
SINGLE ENTRANCE
Enter at the southeast corner of the building and use the touch-free automatic door opener.
The museum’s gift shop doors at the northeast corner of the building will be used only as an exit from the building (other than at the time of an emergency).
TEMPERATURE SCREENING
Upon entry, visitors will receive a non-contact infrared temperature assessment to identify and triage people who have elevated temperatures. NO VISITOR WILL BE ADMITTED IF THEY HAVE EITHER A TEMPERATURE OR ARE NOT FEELING WELL
SOCIAL DISTANCING
There is floor signage posted throughout the museum requesting that visitors maintain six feet distancing between one’s party and others.
NEW! SELF-GUIDED AUDIO TOUR To assist social distancing, recorded information from exhibit panels throughout the galleries are now on the audio tour guide for members and those who have purchased admission tickets. Download the audio tour guide to your smartphone or access it by phone call. Please bring your own headphones. (Group Tours are not available at this time.)
ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENTS
Plexiglas partitions in transactional areas and hand sanitizer stations at visible locations; recommended personal hygiene procedures in the restrooms; and restricted elevator capacity guidelines posted at its entries.
EXHIBITIONS AND PROGRAMS
NEW Opened Oct 1, 2020
A.P. Hays Family Maynard Dixon Collection featured in both the Ellie and Michael Ziegler Heritage Gallery and the Derek Earle Emergence Gallery.
Courage and Crossroads: A Visual Journey through the Early American West has Trustee Tim Peterson’s selection of a number of new works to be featured in the Zaplin Lampert Gallery. New Installations
William P. Healey’s Native American Gauntlet Collection of intricately beaded and embroidered gauntlets from tribes of the Plateau, Great Basin, and parts of the Plains regions, as well as the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. Exhibited in Visible Storage near the Museum Store.
Morton and Donna Fleischer’s American Military Saddles Collection of twenty-two important American Military Saddles, exhibited in the Virginia Piper Charitable Trust Theater.
Extended to August 3, 2021
Maynard Dixon’s American West exhibited in the Diane and Bruce Halle Foundation Great Hall.
Extended to August 24, 2021
By Beauty Obsessed: Gil Waldman Collects the West exhibit in the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust Fine Arts Gallery. A tribute in memory of Founding Trustee, Gil Waldman.
Extended to October 2021
Paul Calle’s Life of Exploration: From the Mountains to the Moon, exhibited in the Bruner-Messinger Gallery within the Peterson Family Wing.
Ongoing
Canvas of Clay: Hopi Pottery Masterworks from The Allan and Judith Cooke Collection, exhibited in the Allan and Judith Cooke Gallery.
The Abe Hays Family Spirit of the West Collection, exhibited in the Abe Hays Family Gallery.
Of Spirit and Flame: John Coleman Bronzes from the Collection of Frankie and Howard Alper, exhibited in the Alper Coleman Gallery.
Barry M. Goldwater Photographs, 1909-1998. SRP Collection. (Courtesy of the Barry & Peggy Goldwater Foundation). Exhibited in the Virginia Piper Charitable Trust Theater.
Upcoming Exhibits
Oct 19, 2021
Light and Legacy: The Art of Edward S. Curtis exhibition featured in the Halle Foundation Great Hall and the Pulliam Fine Arts Gallery with sponsorship from Charles F., Jennifer E., and John U. Sands, Scottsdale Art Auction, and the City of Scottsdale and its Tourism Development Commission.
Co-curated by Trustee Tim Peterson and Dr. Tricia Loscher, Assistant Director-Collections, Exhibitions and Research, the collection which is predominantly on loan from Elaine and Tim Peterson will become known around the world for its breadth and depth of diversity of collections along with being the highest valued exhibit of Curtis’ work ever presented anywhere.
Programs – Digital offerings * here * and other online social media platforms Programming in the Virginia Piper Trust Theater will resume when safe to do so.
HONORED as BEST OF THE WEST by TRUE WEST magazine
On August 11, 2020, sixty-seven-year-old TRUE WEST magazine again honored the museum by selecting it as one of the best of hundreds of museums that celebrate the West. “Western Spirit has been a top museum for many years, and so it deserves to be recognized–again,” says True West Executive Editor Bob Boze Bell. “It offers an incredible variety of offerings to visitors from across the globe. And it is an important institution in preserving and presenting the history and culture of the West.” Two-time Spur Award- winning writer, Candy Moulton, and the editors of the magazine, selected the winners and cited the museum for serving its audience during the Coronavirus pandemic by offering videos online and stated, “onsite, ready for visitors, are numerous exhibits including one of Texas spurs, which showcases remarkable artisanship.”
These are challenging times for all nonprofit organizations, particularly those that rely on ticket sales as one of their major revenue streams. Many arts organizations across the world have shuttered their doors temporarily to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. We want our museum’s western culture experience to continue far beyond these trying times of the many casualties of this global pandemic. We encourage people to support our amazing museum now to ensure present and future generations will have the opportunity to see the West from a whole new perspective.
Consider donating to help keep the spirit of the West alive in Scottsdale!
Donate Today
See the West from a Whole New Perspective
Stories have the power to inspire, change history and celebrate cultures. At Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West (SMoW), we bring authentic stories to life through Western and Native American art, artifacts and living cultures. Guests see the West from a whole new perspective at our Smithsonian Affiliate destination, which connects visitors of all ages to the Western lifestyle — past, present and future.
See what others are saying about SMoW:
- The New York Times recently featured SMoW in its 36 Hours in Scottsdale story
- The Los Angeles Times covered our exclusive Goldwater photography exhibition
- AZCentral.com’s Arts & Culture writer, Kerry Lengel, reviewed our Paul Calle Exhibition
- DatingNews.com recently ran a feature story touting SMoW as a great place for a date
- CardRates.com says SMoW “captures the rich history of the American West”
- Ranked #1 Museum in Scottsdale on TripAdvisor with rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars
- True West Magazine has continually rated SMoW “The Nation’s Best Western Museum” (2019 Editors’ Choice).
Please note that our program schedule for 2019/2020 has changed. The American West in Film and Television series has been canceled. See full program schedule here.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Located in the heart of Old Town and surrounded by lodging, eateries, shops and galleries, SMoW is a right-sized museum and takes about 1 to 2 hours to tour. Come-and-go same-day admission allows guests to get a bite to eat and return later to experience more. We feature permanent and rotating exhibitions, which keeps the experience fresh so that when guests return at a later date (and they always do!), they see a new perspective again and again.
You’ll experience iconic Western art – including contemporary artists’ work – pristine Navajo chiefs’ blankets; a collection of 1,400 examples of Old West cowboy gear; a tribute to the Hopi People with pottery spanning six centuries; and lots of fun social media-worthy photo opportunities, like our Western Spirit Trail 3D illusion mural that literally places you in the Old West. We also offer lots of events, gallery tours and educational activities.
Guest experience our LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certified environmentally conscious building. A work of art that tells a modern Western story.
Visit us and gain a new perspective of the American West today!
WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE
We Are Open!
The following health and safety protocols during the pandemic are being implemented to ensure a safe environment:
FACE COVERINGS
All visitors over the age of two, and volunteers along with staff, are required to wear face coverings, and those visitors who are unable to wear face masks due to a medical condition may wear a face shield.
REDUCED DAYS AND HOURS OF OPERATION
Museum and Museum Store will have reduced days and hours of operation:
10 am – 3 pm Wednesday through Sunday*
*We suggest arriving early to allow approximately 2 hours to enjoy the museum prior to its prompt closing at 3pm.
NEW! ADVANCED PURCHASE TIMED TICKETING FOR ADMISSION
Advanced Timed Ticket Admission purchase (members are to reserve free tickets through the member portal) with limited number of admissions to ensure physical distancing and controlled occupancy quota per time period. Members are to sign in in the member portal with the email associated with their Western Spirit membership in order to reserve member tickets. GET MEMBER TICKETS HERE
*Note: Online timed tickets are in 30 minute arrival intervals starting at 10am. Please allow approximately 2hrs to enjoy the museum prior to closing promptly at 3pm. Arrive early prior to ticket time for check in.
(tickets will be available at Visitor Services desk for purchase if occupancy quota is not met for that time period).
Pre-purchased or reserved member mobile (or printed) tickets will be scanned upon entry.
Out of gratitude for the sustaining membership support, the museum will extend six months to every museum membership, including those that may have not been renewed during this COVID-19 period of museum closure.
MEMBERS AND AT-RISK HOUR
The 1st Hour of the day 10 am – 11 am is reserved for Members and those who are 65+yrs or with pre-existing medical condition(s). This is to ensure a low risk environment.
SINGLE ENTRANCE
Enter at the southeast corner of the building and use the touch-free automatic door opener.
The museum’s gift shop doors at the northeast corner of the building will be used only as an exit from the building (other than at the time of an emergency).
TEMPERATURE SCREENING
Upon entry, visitors will receive a non-contact infrared temperature assessment to identify and triage people who have elevated temperatures. NO VISITOR WILL BE ADMITTED IF THEY HAVE EITHER A TEMPERATURE OR ARE NOT FEELING WELL
SOCIAL DISTANCING
There is floor signage posted throughout the museum requesting that visitors maintain six feet distancing between one’s party and others.
NEW! SELF-GUIDED AUDIO TOUR To assist social distancing, recorded information from exhibit panels throughout the galleries are now on the audio tour guide for members and those who have purchased admission tickets. Download the audio tour guide to your smartphone or access it by phone call. Please bring your own headphones. (Group Tours are not available at this time.)
ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENTS
Plexiglas partitions in transactional areas and hand sanitizer stations at visible locations; recommended personal hygiene procedures in the restrooms; and restricted elevator capacity guidelines posted at its entries.
EXHIBITIONS AND PROGRAMS
NEW Opened Oct 1, 2020
A.P. Hays Family Maynard Dixon Collection featured in both the Ellie and Michael Ziegler Heritage Gallery and the Derek Earle Emergence Gallery.
Courage and Crossroads: A Visual Journey through the Early American West has Trustee Tim Peterson’s selection of a number of new works to be featured in the Zaplin Lampert Gallery. New Installations
William P. Healey’s Native American Gauntlet Collection of intricately beaded and embroidered gauntlets from tribes of the Plateau, Great Basin, and parts of the Plains regions, as well as the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. Exhibited in Visible Storage near the Museum Store.
Morton and Donna Fleischer’s American Military Saddles Collection of twenty-two important American Military Saddles, exhibited in the Virginia Piper Charitable Trust Theater.
Extended to August 3, 2021
Maynard Dixon’s American West exhibited in the Diane and Bruce Halle Foundation Great Hall.
Extended to August 24, 2021
By Beauty Obsessed: Gil Waldman Collects the West exhibit in the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust Fine Arts Gallery. A tribute in memory of Founding Trustee, Gil Waldman.
Extended to October 2021
Paul Calle’s Life of Exploration: From the Mountains to the Moon, exhibited in the Bruner-Messinger Gallery within the Peterson Family Wing.
Ongoing
Canvas of Clay: Hopi Pottery Masterworks from The Allan and Judith Cooke Collection, exhibited in the Allan and Judith Cooke Gallery.
The Abe Hays Family Spirit of the West Collection, exhibited in the Abe Hays Family Gallery.
Of Spirit and Flame: John Coleman Bronzes from the Collection of Frankie and Howard Alper, exhibited in the Alper Coleman Gallery.
Barry M. Goldwater Photographs, 1909-1998. SRP Collection. (Courtesy of the Barry & Peggy Goldwater Foundation). Exhibited in the Virginia Piper Charitable Trust Theater.
Upcoming Exhibits
Oct 19, 2021
Light and Legacy: The Art of Edward S. Curtis exhibition featured in the Halle Foundation Great Hall and the Pulliam Fine Arts Gallery with sponsorship from Charles F., Jennifer E., and John U. Sands, Scottsdale Art Auction, and the City of Scottsdale and its Tourism Development Commission.
Co-curated by Trustee Tim Peterson and Dr. Tricia Loscher, Assistant Director-Collections, Exhibitions and Research, the collection which is predominantly on loan from Elaine and Tim Peterson will become known around the world for its breadth and depth of diversity of collections along with being the highest valued exhibit of Curtis’ work ever presented anywhere.
Programs – Digital offerings * here * and other online social media platforms Programming in the Virginia Piper Trust Theater will resume when safe to do so.
HONORED as BEST OF THE WEST by TRUE WEST magazine
On August 11, 2020, sixty-seven-year-old TRUE WEST magazine again honored the museum by selecting it as one of the best of hundreds of museums that celebrate the West. “Western Spirit has been a top museum for many years, and so it deserves to be recognized–again,” says True West Executive Editor Bob Boze Bell. “It offers an incredible variety of offerings to visitors from across the globe. And it is an important institution in preserving and presenting the history and culture of the West.” Two-time Spur Award- winning writer, Candy Moulton, and the editors of the magazine, selected the winners and cited the museum for serving its audience during the Coronavirus pandemic by offering videos online and stated, “onsite, ready for visitors, are numerous exhibits including one of Texas spurs, which showcases remarkable artisanship.”
These are challenging times for all nonprofit organizations, particularly those that rely on ticket sales as one of their major revenue streams. Many arts organizations across the world have shuttered their doors temporarily to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. We want our museum’s western culture experience to continue far beyond these trying times of the many casualties of this global pandemic. We encourage people to support our amazing museum now to ensure present and future generations will have the opportunity to see the West from a whole new perspective.
Consider donating to help keep the spirit of the West alive in Scottsdale!
Donate Today
See the West from a Whole New Perspective
Stories have the power to inspire, change history and celebrate cultures. At Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West (SMoW), we bring authentic stories to life through Western and Native American art, artifacts and living cultures. Guests see the West from a whole new perspective at our Smithsonian Affiliate destination, which connects visitors of all ages to the Western lifestyle — past, present and future.
See what others are saying about SMoW:
- The New York Times recently featured SMoW in its 36 Hours in Scottsdale story
- The Los Angeles Times covered our exclusive Goldwater photography exhibition
- AZCentral.com’s Arts & Culture writer, Kerry Lengel, reviewed our Paul Calle Exhibition
- DatingNews.com recently ran a feature story touting SMoW as a great place for a date
- CardRates.com says SMoW “captures the rich history of the American West”
- Ranked #1 Museum in Scottsdale on TripAdvisor with rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars
- True West Magazine has continually rated SMoW “The Nation’s Best Western Museum” (2019 Editors’ Choice).
Please note that our program schedule for 2019/2020 has changed. The American West in Film and Television series has been canceled. See full program schedule here.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Located in the heart of Old Town and surrounded by lodging, eateries, shops and galleries, SMoW is a right-sized museum and takes about 1 to 2 hours to tour. Come-and-go same-day admission allows guests to get a bite to eat and return later to experience more. We feature permanent and rotating exhibitions, which keeps the experience fresh so that when guests return at a later date (and they always do!), they see a new perspective again and again.
You’ll experience iconic Western art – including contemporary artists’ work – pristine Navajo chiefs’ blankets; a collection of 1,400 examples of Old West cowboy gear; a tribute to the Hopi People with pottery spanning six centuries; and lots of fun social media-worthy photo opportunities, like our Western Spirit Trail 3D illusion mural that literally places you in the Old West. We also offer lots of events, gallery tours and educational activities.
Guest experience our LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certified environmentally conscious building. A work of art that tells a modern Western story.
Visit us and gain a new perspective of the American West today!
Featured Exhibitions
