Current Exhibitions
January 10 to June 29, 2024
Gold Fever: Glory and Greed in the Western Expansion Years
This telling exhibition delves into the relentless pursuit of gold, shining a light on the lawlessness and corruption that ran rampant in the untamed West. Through mining artifacts, photography, illustrations, and compelling tales of people from diverse backgrounds, Gold Fever reveals the magnetic allure of gold and its pivotal role in shaping the challenging dynamics and character of the burgeoning American frontier. Read More
Image: His Silent Partners by Louis Dalrymple, 1897. Courtesy of the Library of Congress
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Now Showing
Circa 1930: Memories of the General Store, Feed Sacks, Quilting and More
"Repair, reuse, make-do and don't throw anything away" was the motto for the Great Depression. The heart of the community in those years was often the general store which brought everyone together for laughter, sustenance and mail. This exhibition displays a model General Store with period antiques from this fascinating era when sustainability was the essence of life. Other highlights include 1930s quilts, feed sack dolls and clothing and other essential products from this era. Be prepared to be amazed at the prices! Read More
Image: Russell Lee, 1938, Wikimedia Commons
Ongoing Exhibitions
Ongoing Exhibition
The Dirty Thirties: New Deal Photography Frames the Migrants' Stories
The Dirty Thirties explores the journeys of rural migrants fleeing the Dust Bowl, drought, and economic difficulties during the 1930s. In desperate search for jobs and new opportunities, thousands of former farm owners and ex-tenant farmers left their homes in the Southern Plains states and set off to the cotton fields of Arizona and the “Promised Land” of California, where supposedly work could be found. This exhibit explores why the migrants left, their journey westward, their experiences living and working in Arizona, and what life could be like for those who traveled onto California. Read More
Image: Toward Los Angeles, California. Dorothea Lange, 1937.
Ongoing Exhibition
All the Single Ladies: Women Pioneers of the American West
All the Single Ladies: Women Pioneers of the American West tells select stories from these trailblazing women’s lives. Meet unmarried 19th century women homesteaders, Harvey girls, boarding house owners, teachers, madams, prostitutes, and entertainers. Learn how these women brought a richness and vivacity to the fabric of life in an emerging American West. Read More
Image: Donaldina Cameron and Tien Fuh Wu with an unidentified woman between them on the steps of the Mission Home. Courtesy of Cameron House
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Ongoing Exhibition
Desert Hollywood: Celebrity Landscapes in Cinema
Desert Hollywood explores the “celebrity careers” of prominent Southwestern landscapes in film and television. More than mere backdrops, these landscapes including Monument Valley, the Imperial Sand Dunes, Lake Powell, the Moab area and the Sonoran Desert surrounding Tucson have become familiar, even iconic, through their supporting roles in film. Featuring video clips, stills, and behind-the-scenes photography.
Image: Monument Valley shown behind actors John Wayne (left) as Ethan Edwards and Harry Carey Jr. as Brad Jorgensen in The Searchers (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)
Permanent Exhibition
The Dawn of American Landscape
Masterpieces by the preeminent Nineteenth century landscape painters. Works by Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Moran, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot and other master artists. This collection captures the transcendental spirit of these artists' search and expression of the sublime.
Image: Waterfall, Herman Herzog (1832-1932)
Past Exhibitions
January 10 to June 29, 2024
Gold Fever: Glory and Greed in the Western Expansion Years
This telling exhibition delves into the relentless pursuit of gold, shining a light on the lawlessness and corruption that ran rampant in the untamed West. Through mining artifacts, photography, illustrations, and compelling tales of people from diverse backgrounds, Gold Fever reveals the magnetic allure of gold and its pivotal role in shaping the challenging dynamics and character of the burgeoning American frontier. Read More
Image: His Silent Partners by Louis Dalrymple, 1897. Courtesy of the Library of Congress
Now Showing
Circa 1930: Memories of the General Store, Feed Sacks, Quilting and More
"Repair, reuse, make-do and don't throw anything away" was the motto for the Great Depression. The heart of the community in those years was often the general store which brought everyone together for laughter, sustenance and mail. This exhibition displays a model General Store with period antiques from this fascinating era when sustainability was the essence of life. Other highlights include 1930s quilts, feed sack dolls and clothing and other essential products from this era. Be prepared to be amazed at the prices! Read More
Image: Russell Lee, 1938, Wikimedia Commons
Permanent Exhibitions
The Weavings of the Diné
A premier collection of pre-1940’s Navajo textiles, including Chief’s blankets, Eye Dazzlers, Saddle blankets, Germantown weavings, Yei weavings and child's blankets. More
Teachings of the Spider Woman
Textiles tell stories, and this exhibit helps us to find them in each amazing, uniquely crafted work.
Cartography of the Americas
Learn about North American history through an impressive collection of vintage maps from the great mapmakers of the new world.
Weavings of The Dance: Early Yei Textiles
This collection of amazing weavings tells the story of Navajo healing ceremonies.
Hopi Artistry
Immerse yourself in the beautiful arts of the Hopi people.
Arizona Women Uncovered
Arizona Women Uncovered offers a unique insight into the lives of early pioneer women through the evolution of their undergarments. Arizona Women Uncovered was curated in collaboration with Claudine Villardito of Black Cat Vintage.