World > U.S. > Arizona > Phoenix/Scottsdale

Heard Museum

Even if it didn't house one of the world's premiere collections of Native American art, you'd want to hang out in this space. The Spanish Colonial-style architecture harkens to 1929, when the Heard family's then-modest collection of Native American crafts opened to the public. Courtyards and archways—plus the recent addition of an Arcadia Farms café—make museum-going an all-day adventure. And the permanent collection warrants your attention: mainly devoted to classic Native American work (from Arizona and beyond), including intricate pottery, baskets, and turquoise jewelry, it also features kachina (a.k.a. katsina) dolls carved by Hopi and Zuni tribes that symbolize spiritual beings and historical figures. Curators have begun to take chances by mounting contemporary shows featuring younger, risk-taking artists such as Hector Ruiz, who exhibits at Bentley Projects.

Tip: Skip the schlocky Scottsdale tourist traps and do your serious jewelry and pottery shopping at the gift shop.