Blog
Welcome to the archive of our Western Spirit Newsletter Blog! We’re thrilled to bring you updates, stories, and insights into the vibrant world of the Museum. As a cultural haven nestled in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale, we take pride in preserving and celebrating the rich heritage, art, and history of the Old and New West. Join us on this virtual journey as we explore fascinating exhibitions, upcoming events, educational programs, and the incredible stories that make our Western Spirit Museum a true treasure trove of discovery and inspiration.
Have you thanked a “Docent” today?
Gracious volunteers are the face of the museum and the voice of the art within… Volunteers are giving people by nature, and many of them are so gracious and selfless that they are fine doing their work without any real recognition. Their true satisfaction comes from...
And the winner is…
There are numerous contests and award shows. Phoenix has its share - this one created by Phoenix Magazine, a very well-respected publication, with a distribution of in excess of 75,000, across the city and an audited readership of over 350,000 – MONTHLY. We were...
A Taste for Art
Mystique and scandal where the ways of Lon Megargee—a name he stole, to make a new life for himself out West, as we learned from the laudable Dr. Betsy Fahlman. Speaking to a sold-out crowd of A Taste for Art a summer supper club series created in a partnership with...
Conversation with David Sherf, newly appointed, Vice-Chair, Board of Trustees
“Once, in 1955,” David Sherf says, “I was riding with my grandfather on his tractor, discing old wheat, when we heard a ‘clunk.’ We got out and dug and pulled out a rusty pistol. My grandfather turned it over in his hand and said, ‘I lost that pistol in 1921.’” When...
Upcoming Exhibit – Rails Building America
Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West is proud to announce The Railroad Opening Up the West, a new exhibition sponsored by Frankie and Howie Alper that tells how the transcontinental railroad transformed the American West. Western Spirit contracted with...
NASA LANDS AT WESTERN SPIRIT IN MAY!
“Thanks to the collaboration between NASA and Scottsdale’s Western Spirit museum, kids and their families will be able to take part in hands-on experiences that will hopefully inspire the next generation of space explorers and continue Arizona’s legacy in our...
Edward Curtis and Red Cloud: Connecting the Past to the Present
On Thursday, March 31st, 2022, Western Spirit hosted a lively and timely evening event, Edward Curtis and Red Cloud: Connecting the Past to the Present. Edward Curtis’ great-grandson, John Edward Graybill, read an original speech given by Curtis in Santa Fe, New...
JENNIFER SANDS – BOARD TRUSTEE HONORED
48 Arizona Women and the Arizona Historical Society have selected the 48 Most Intriguing Women of Arizona for 2022. Now 11 years old, 48 Arizona Women, the sponsoring organization based in Scottsdale, started as an official Arizona Centennial Project in 2010 to...
5 QUESTIONS WITH BOARD MEMBER – PHIL HAGENAH
Q: You and your family are no newcomers to Scottsdale and the Phoenix area. Would you talk a bit about your family’s background here? A: I’m from the 4th generation in my family to winter in Arizona. My great-grandparents first stayed at Castle Hot Springs...
Honorary Emeritus Western Spirit Trustee Honored
On March 3, 2022, the Past Presidents’ Council of the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated the 27th Annual Scottsdale History Hall of Fame. The 2022 event was presented by The Scottsdale Charros. The Past Presidents Council of the Scottsdale Area Chamber of...