The next round of the The Republic's museum poll was focused on places that could only be found in Arizona, and it was a tough match.
This round included beloved Arizona staples including the Sigler Western Museum, Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West, Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West and the winner, which went to the Heard Museum located in Phoenix.
This special museum focuses on connecting the community with Indigenous creativity by presenting the voice and vision of American Indian artists along with providing community programming like the annual National Hoop Dancing Competition and the Indian Fair and Market.
Heard Museum history
The Heard Museum was founded in 1929 by prominent Phoenix couple Dwight and Maie Heard who moved to the area from Chicago
in 1895 with ambitions to share their collection of American Indian artifacts and art.
Unfortunately, Dwight passed away the same year the museum opened, however before he passed he funded the seven-story Heard Building located on Central Avenue. And a fun fact: that used to be the home of The Arizona Republic offices.
Maie powered on without Dwight, going on to direct activities at the museum for two decades and was influenced by women's rights and the creation of Phoenix's first library. Over the years, the museum has only grown in status and in size, in fact the 130,000-square-foot building is more than eight times the size of its original building.
The museum has grown in size and stature and is internationally recognized for the quality of its collections, world class exhibitions, educational programming and unmatched festivals. The museum is home to 12 galleries that feature American Indian art and exhibitions, an outdoor sculpture gallery along with a museum shop and outdoor café.
The Heard is also dedicated to the advancement of American Indian art and in doing so presents the stories of American Indian people from a first-person perspective along with exhibitions showcasing the beauty and vitality of traditional and contemporary art.
It's also important to note that the Heard Museum acknowledges that the land in which the museum sits upon is within the O'otham Jeved, which the Akimel O'otham have regarded as their homeland since time immemorial. A statement shared on its website reads: "The Heard Museum, in what is today downtown Phoenix, Arizona, occupies land within sight of numerous Huhugam, or Ancestral O'otham, canala, farmlands and villages, which is evidence of a presence going back countless generations . . . the Heard acknowledges that it has a moral obligation to the Akimel O'otham, on whose land this museum continues to thrive."
David M. Roche, the Heard Museum's Director and CEO said, "The Heard is a dynamic space where the Phoenix community can find meaning and inspiration in Native American creative traditions. The Heard is unique in the cultural landscape of our nation, and we're grateful that Phoenicians have embraced and supported this treasure for nearly 100 years.”
How to visit the Heard Museum
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Sunday from Sept. 1-May 31. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday from June 1-Aug. 31.
Where: 2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix.
Admission: $26, $21 for ages 65 and older, $21 for military with ID, $10 for students with ID, $10 for ages 6-17, free for age 5 and younger.
Details: 602-252-8840, heard.org.
Meredith G. White covers entertainment, art and culture for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. She writes the latest news about video games, television and best things to do in metro Phoenix.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: This is the best uniquely Arizona museum, readers say. Here's why
