Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West

MISSION

Western Spirit tells the story of the North American West through its visual culture. We collect, preserve, and share art, artifacts, and media that reflect the West's diverse cultures, complex histories, and enduring spirit—exploring how it has been experienced, imagined, and remembered. Through exhibitions, programs, and scholarship, we spark imagination, foster dialogue, and deepen understanding of how the West has been shaped and reshaped across time.

VISION

Western Spirit aspires to be a trusted and dynamic institution where the art and culture of the North American West is studied, shared, and reimagined, expanding public understanding and shaping the future of Western storytelling.

VALUES

Exploration - We believe art is a record of cultural memory as much as historical fact. Our role is to explore and reveal how the North American West has been imagined, represented, and remembered.

Inclusion - We are committed to telling stories from across the cultural spectrum of the West, past and present, through the voices of diverse artists, communities, and institutions.

Multimedia Perspective - We value the full range of visual and material culture—from fine art and photography to film, popular culture, and everyday objects—as essential to understanding the West.

Dialogue - We strive to foster conversation, not consensus. We welcome multiple perspectives on the West’s past and future, and see curiosity, inquiry, and respectful exchange as central to the museum experience.

Stewardship - We are responsible for preserving and caring for the artifacts and artworks entrusted to us. Our work ensures that the visual and material history of the West endures for future generations.

Imagination - We believe that the story of the West is still being written. We embrace the West not only as history but as possibility —a subject of ongoing creativity, reinvention, and cultural meaning.

Western Spirit is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit. Since opening in Jan. 2015, Western Spirit has become a Smithsonian Affiliate and has been recognized as the nation's "Best Western Museum".

Testimonials

"The docents are very knowledgeable and interested in engaging the students. It is refreshing to find an interest in children." -- Teacher

"The museum was great and thank you again for making up these exhibits and having us explore. Thank you for having us at your amazing museum." -- Student

"Where better to find a museum dedicated to Western life than in the West's most Western town? Exhibits explore cowboy and Native American culture, offering an understanding of frontier life decades before the land was tamed by cars and air conditioning. Visitors will find Western memorabilia in addition to art." - The Arizona Republic (Sept. 2018)

"Excellent museum. Exceptionally well-organized museum. The exhibits are very informative. The current exhibit of photographs by former AZ Senator and presidential candidate, Barry Goldwater, is stunning. Highly recommended to anyone interested in the history of the southwest." - TripAdvisor reviewer

"One of the best museums I have ever been to. I loved this museum so much. I would instantly go back. The kid in me had such a terrific time. The exhibitions were really interesting, the art was fantastic and the building itself was beautiful." - TripAdvisor reviewer