List of museums in Arizona facts for kids

Have you ever wondered about the cool stuff people collected long ago, or how things worked in the past? That's what museums are for! A museum is a special place where people gather and take care of interesting objects. These objects can be about art, science, history, or different cultures. Museums then show these collections to everyone. This list will help you discover some amazing museums in Arizona! It includes places like art galleries and even visitor centers at parks that have cool exhibits.

Awesome Museums to Explore
Defunct Museums
See also

Awesome Museums to Explore

Art and Culture Museums

Arizona Copper Art Museum in Clarkdale: This unique museum is all about art made from copper! You can see amazing sculptures and designs.
Arizona State University Art Museum in Tempe: Check out modern art, cool ceramics, and prints here. They also have art from Arizona and the Southwest.
DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun Historic District in Tucson: This is an art gallery and a special place built by the artist Ettore DeGrazia. It's a beautiful spot to see his work.
Heard Museum in Phoenix: Dive into the rich history and art of Native American cultures. You'll see beautiful jewelry, baskets, and pottery.
Mesa Arts Center in Mesa: This center has five art galleries, showing off lots of different art.
Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix: Get ready to explore musical instruments from all over the world! You can even hear how some of them sound.
Phoenix Art Museum in Phoenix: This big museum has art from many places and times, including American, Asian, and European art. They even have fashion design!
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art in Scottsdale: If you like modern art, architecture, and design, this is the place for you.
Shemer Art Center in Phoenix: This center focuses on art from Arizona and also offers art classes.
Tucson Museum of Art in Tucson: Discover art from the American West, the Americas, and modern art here.
University of Arizona Museum of Art in Tucson: This museum has European and American fine art, from old Renaissance paintings to modern pieces.

History and Heritage Museums

Arizona Capitol Museum in Phoenix: Learn all about Arizona's state history, heritage, and culture. It's located in the historic State Capitol building.
Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park in Tempe: Explore the history of Central Arizona, especially focusing on the 1900s.
Arizona Historical Society Pioneer Museum in Flagstaff: Find out about the history of Flagstaff and northern Arizona.
Arizona History Museum in Tucson: Learn about Southern Arizona's past, from the Spanish colonial times to when it became a territory.
Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum in Bisbee: Discover the history of Bisbee and its famous copper mining past.
Desert Caballeros Western Museum in Wickenburg: Step into the American West! See Western art, cowboy gear, and Native American artifacts.
Historic Route 66 Museum in Kingman: Explore the history of travel along the famous Route 66. It's in a cool restored power plant!
Mohave Museum of History and Arts in Kingman: Learn about the local history of the Mohave area.
Pioneer Living History Museum in Phoenix: Go back in time to a 19th-century Old West town. It's like stepping into a movie!
Rex Allen Arizona Cowboy Museum and Willcox Cowboy Hall of Fame in Willcox: This museum celebrates the Western actor and singer Rex Allen.
Rim Country Museum in Payson: Learn about the local history of the Rim Country area.
Sanguinetti House Museum in Yuma: Discover the history of the Lower Colorado River region from the 1540s to today.
Sedona Heritage Museum in Sedona: Explore the local history of beautiful Sedona.
Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott: This outdoor museum has several old 19th-century buildings and homes, plus a history museum.
Superstition Mountain Museum near Apache Junction: This museum has reproductions of old businesses, mining displays, and exhibits about the area's natural and Native American history.
Tempe History Museum in Tempe: Learn about the history of Tempe and see local art.
Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park in Tombstone: Visit a restored 1880s courthouse in the famous Old West town.
Tubac Presidio State Historic Park in Tubac: See the ruins of an old Spanish fort, a schoolhouse from 1885, and learn about the area's history.
Wells Fargo Museum in Phoenix: Discover the history of the American West and the Wells Fargo Company, including an old stagecoach!
Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West in Scottsdale: This museum showcases the art, culture, and history of 19 states in the American West.
Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park in Yuma: This was once a U.S. Army supply base. Learn about its military history.
Yuma Territorial Prison in Yuma: Explore a historic prison and learn about its past.

Science and Natural History Museums

Arizona Museum of Natural History in Mesa: Get ready to see dinosaurs, learn about Native Americans, ancient cultures, and even Mars!
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson: This amazing place is a zoo, a natural history museum, and a botanical garden all in one! It features plants, animals, and fossils from the Sonoran Desert.
Center for Meteorite Studies in Tempe: Part of Arizona State University, this museum has a collection of real meteorites on display.
Discovery Park Campus in Safford: This park has an observatory and exhibits about space, the solar system, and astronomy.
Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory in Amado: Learn about astronomy and astrophysics at the visitor center, and even take tours of the observatory.
International Wildlife Museum in Tucson: See dioramas (scenes with models) of insects, mammals, and birds from all over the world.
Kitt Peak National Observatory on the Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation: Learn about astronomy at this famous observatory.
Meteor Crater near Winslow: Visit the site of a huge meteorite impact! The visitor center has exhibits about space, meteorites, and asteroids.
Petrified Forest National Park in Navajo County: This park has dinosaur and fossil exhibits in the Rainbow Forest Museum.
Pinal Geology and Mineral Museum in Coolidge: See a worldwide collection of rocks and minerals, with a special focus on Arizona.
Tohono Chul in Casas Adobes: This is a botanical garden with plants from the Sonoran Desert, plus art exhibits that connect nature and culture.
University of Arizona Mineral Museum in Tucson: Explore minerals, meteorites, and learn about mining.

Kid-Friendly and Unique Museums

Adobe Mountain Desert Railroad Park in Glendale: If you love trains, this is for you! It has railroad equipment, model train layouts, and even miniature railway rides.
Arizona Doll & Toy Museum in Glendale: A fun place to see a collection of dolls and toys.
Arizona Science Center in Phoenix: Get hands-on with science! This museum has interactive exhibits that make learning fun.
Children's Museum of Phoenix in Phoenix: Designed especially for kids, this museum has lots of interactive exhibits to play and learn.
I.d.e.a. Museum in Mesa: This museum focuses on fine art and creativity, with lots of hands-on activities for young people.
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale: A great place for train lovers! It has a miniature railroad, a railroad museum, and model train clubs.
Mini Time Machine in Tucson: This museum has over 300 antique and modern dollhouses and tiny room displays. It's like a world in miniature!
Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson: See over 275 commercial and military aircraft and spacecraft. It's one of the largest aviation museums in the world!
Planes of Fame in Valle: This museum features rare and unique classic aircraft.
Titan Missile Museum in Sahuarita: Go underground and explore a real former ICBM missile site. It's a fascinating look into the Cold War era.

Native American and Archaeology Museums

Ak-Chin Him-Dak Eco-Museum in Maricopa: Learn about the tribal crafts and history of the Ak-Chin Indian Community.
Amerind Museum in Dragoon: Explore Native American archaeology, art, history, and culture.
Arizona State Museum in Tucson: This museum has Southwest Indian pottery, artifacts, and exhibits about Native American religion and culture.
Besh-Ba-Gowah Archaeological Park in Globe: See a partially rebuilt ancient village and a museum with artifacts found there.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument in Navajo Nation: Visit ancient pueblo ruins and a museum with artifacts.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in Coolidge: Explore the ruins of ancient Hohokam structures and see exhibits about their culture.
Casa Malpais in Springerville: Another ancient pueblo ruin with a museum displaying artifacts.
Cocopah Museum and Cultural Center in Somerton: Learn about the history and culture of the Cocopah people.
Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve in Phoenix: See ancient Native American rock art and walk a petroglyph trail in the desert.
Fort Apache Historic Park in Fort Apache: This park includes a cultural center, museum, and walking tours of historic sites.
Homolovi State Park in Winslow: See artifacts from over 300 ancient Puebloan archaeological sites.
Huhugam Heritage Center in Chandler: Learn about the history and culture of the Gila River Indian Community.
Huhugam Ki Museum in Scottsdale: Discover the history and culture of the O'odham (Pima) and Piipaash (Maricopa) people.
Montezuma Castle National Monument in Camp Verde: See well-preserved cliff dwellings built by the ancient Sinagua people and a museum about them.
Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff: This museum focuses on Native American cultures and also has natural history displays.
Smoki Museum in Prescott: Explore artifacts, art, and culture of the native peoples of the Southwest.
St. Michaels Museum in St. Michaels: Learn about Navajo culture from the early 1900s.
Tohono O'odham Nation Cultural Center & Museum on the Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation: Discover the history and culture of the Tohono Oʼodham people.
Tonto National Monument in Gila County: See 13th to 15th-century Salado culture cliff dwellings and a visitor center museum.
Tuzigoot National Monument in Clarkdale: Explore pueblo ruins and a visitor center museum.
Walnut Canyon National Monument in Flagstaff: See cliff dwelling rooms built by the Sinagua people and a museum.
White Mountain Apache Cultural Center & Museum in Whiteriver: Learn about the history and culture of the Apache people.
Wupatki National Monument in Flagstaff: Explore ancient Pueblo People ruins and a visitor center museum.

Defunct Museums

Some museums in Arizona have closed over the years. For example, the Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum in Phoenix closed in 2011, and the Champlin Fighter Museum in Mesa closed in 2003. Their collections often find new homes in other museums.