Arcosanti 

Experience firsthand this experiment in innovative design, community living and environmental accountability.  Located in the high desert of central Arizona near Cordes Junction (65 miles north of Phoenix), Arcosanti is the brainchild of Paolo Soleri.  The project has been ongoing for more than 40 years and has been built by more than 7,000 volunteers.

Once at Arcosanti, you may enjoy a walking tour of the project, a meal in the cafe (meat, vegan and vegetarian dishes are offered) and a visit to the gallery, where you can purchase a Soleri Windbell.  The site also hosts a variety of special events, including concerts and performances.  Hours are 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., 7 days per week.  Arcosanti is closed New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park

Concentrating on the 20th and 21st centuries, the museum focuses on events that have shaped Arizona.  Hands-on and multi-media exhibits explore World War II’s impact on Arizona, the rise of desert cities, Arizona pop culture and sports, and the state’s geology as well as other topics.

Hours are 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and noon – 4 p.m. on Sunday.  The museum is closed Mondays and state holidays.

Cave Creek Museum

Located at the intersection of Basin and Skyline Drive off of Cave Creek Road, the museum offers a unique experience of the Old West and local history.  Through several permanent exhibits, you can explore the historic First Church of Cave Creek, the last known Tubercular Cabin in Arizona, and authentic remnants of the Golden Reef Mine.  You can also experience history through reproductions of an Assayer's Office, a general store and a banker's office.

The museum is open October through May.  Hours are 1 - 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday; and 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on Friday.  During the season, the museum is closed Monday, Tuesday and holidays.

To learn more before you go, read this helpful guide. 

Deer Valley Rock Art Center

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places the Deer Valley Rock Art Center is a 47-acre archeology museum and desert preserve. It protects and interprets the Hedgpeth Hills petroglyph site, made up by more than 1,500 symbols pecked into the black basalt boulders of Deer Valley.  It is the largest concentration of Native American petroglyphs in the Phoenix area.

Guided tours for groups (minimum of six, maximum of 60 people) are offered daily October through April with a reservation at least two weeks in advance. An a​rt activity and goodie bags are available for children's tours.​​  Guided tours cost the same as general admission.​​

The Center is open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (October - April), and 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (May - September).  Holiday closures are:  November 27, 28 and 29; December 24, 25 and 26; and December 31 and January 1.

​Desert Caballeros Western Museum

​Located in Wickenburg, Arizona, the museum features a permanent collection of Western art as well as changing exhibits including an annual exhibition of "Cowgirl Up! Art from the Other Half of the West."  Other exhibits include cowboy gear and period clothing in the Hays’ Spirit of the Cowboy Collection; and a street in old Wickenburg that re-creates life in Arizona circa 1915, complete with a general store and saloon, and a turn-of-the-century Victorian home including a parlor, dining room, kitchen, bedroom and laundry.

The museum is open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon - 4 p.m. Sunday.  It is closed Mondays from Memorial Day to Labor Day; and closed for the following holidays:  July 4, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Day.

​​Pueblo Grande Museum

Just minutes from downtown Phoenix, you can explore a 1,500-year-old archeological site.  Pueblo Grande Museum is the site of an ancient Hohokam village, including a partially excavated platform mound, ballcourt, and prehistoric house replicas.  Three galleries offer displays of Hohokam artifacts, hands-on activities to help kids learn about the science of archaeology, and changing exhibits on topics including archaeology, southwest cultures, and Arizona history.  

A National Historic Landmark, the museum is easily accessible by Light Rail.  It is open 7 days a week October through April, and closed Sundays and Mondays, May through September.  

​Superstition Mountain Museum