Heard Museum

American Indian Art & History

2301 North Central Avenue

An entryway to the
Heard museum,

Interior shot of an exhibit

containing Apache Indian
artifacts.

Priscilla Beck
February 7th 2015

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

From the left: Figure 1: A traditional pueblo oven in the signature exhibit. Figure 2:
Sculpture of an Indian family in the main walkway of the museum. Figure 3: Traditional
attire of an Apache woman.

Overview
Are you traveling to Phoenix in the near future? If so, an important place of
discovery should definitely be the Heard Museum. Dedicated to educate visitors
on the American Indian tribes and other cultures of the Southwest, the Heard
museum has grown to be a destination of rich historical significance. The
museum collaborates with Native people, and gives them a voice that can be
heard within the museum. The internationally recognized collection of exhibits
provide an opportunity for visitors to experience and learn about the Native
people and their cultural, artistic and historical traditions. Innovative programs
allow educational opportunities for people of all ages or walks of life. Festivals
held throughout the year encourage participation and give the visitor a real life
experience with the Native people.

Mission
The mission of the Heard Museum is to educate visitors and promote greater
public understanding of the arts, heritage and life ways of the indigenous
peoples of the Americas, with an emphasis on American Indian tribes and other
cultures of the Southwest. The Heard Museum website (2015)

The History and Founders

Dwight and Maie Barlett Heard had a passion

for collecting art of the Native people. For a few
decades, they travelled the world and collected
Native art, filling their Spanish style home. One day
they decided to open up their own museum, that
included their diverse collection, in 1929. Through
their travels around the country, collecting artifacts,
and visiting with different tribes of Indians, they
were able to develop workshops, talks, and lectures

Image of Dwight and Mai

Bartlestt Heard, Founders of
the Heard Museum, courtesy
of the Heard Museum
website, 2015

to educate visitors as well.

After the Heards passed away, the museum underwent some significant
changes and growth. The Heard Museum Auxiliary was established to promote
more educational opportunities. Two fundraising projects were created, a Shop
and a Fair, which proved to be very successful opportunities for growth. Soon
thereafter, the museum expanded to include an auditorium, galleries, and a
collection storage area.
In 1983, the museum more than doubled in size and by 1999, the museum
had added 50,000 more square feet. In 2011, the museum underwent another
renovation, costing 7.6 million and adding 21,000 square feet. Throughout
history and still true today, the museum continues to be a leader in showcasing
American Indian art and culture.

Key Contributors
The Heard Museum Guild members are dedicated
to the growth of museum and actively participate in developing the facilities and
services, in order to sustain the cultural and educational institution. They engage
in activities and plan events such as the art shows, the Indian Fair and Market.
They also continue to travel and learn more about the culture, art, history and

even the current issues facing the native communities. The Heard Museum
Council, are business professionals who meet monthly to expand their
knowledge of American Indian art. They host a yearly appraisal day in which
people can have their Native artwork appraised by experts.

Current Offerings
The collections of the Heard Museum tell the stories of the American Indian
people and their history along with their current accomplishments. The museum
contains twelve exhibition galleries, with ongoing shows and changing exhibits
featuring a wide array of artists and artifacts. One signature exhibit is the Native
People in the Southwest, which celebrates the unique traditions of the tribes of
Native people and examines their definition of home. Around the World: The
Heard Museum Collection features indigenous work that has been collected by
the founders, Dwight and Maie Heard, as well as work that has been donated by
artists and collectors. The Ullman Learning Center contains an interactive exhibit
that recognizes all 22 of Arizonas federally recognized tribal communities.
.

Figure 1

Figure 3
Figure 2

From the Left: Figure 1: Pablita

Valarde, Betrothal, 1953. Image
from the Native people of the
Southwest exhibit. Figure 2: Pottery
artifacts of the Hopi people found in the Native people of the Southwest exhibit. Figure 3: Crown
from South America, artifact from the permanent collection Around the World , courtesy of the
Heard Museum website, 2015.

Notable Events
The Heard museum hosts a wide array of events that
provide opportunities for everyone to meet Native artists,
learn about traditional practices, try new foods and
purchase artistic creations directly
from Native people. In February, the museum hosts the
Image of the World
Championship Hoop Dance
Contest, courtesy of the Heard

World Championship Hoop Dance Contest. March brings the

Museum website, 2015.

and sale. April brings the Katsina Doll Marketplace, which is

Indian Fair and Market, and the American Indian Art show
the nations largest Hopi gathering of Hopi carvers.

Throughout the year, visitors can enjoy activities that promote a broader cultural
understanding of the Native people.

The Future Goals and Challenges

Over the past 75 years, the Heard Museum has

Katsina Dolls from an

exhibit showcasing the
traditions of the Hopi
people.

grown to become an internationally recognized museum that is comprised of

outstanding collections of cultural, artistic and historical artifacts, quality
educational opportunities, and festivals and events that bring people from all
walks of life to learn and experience Native American culture. The museum will
continue to fulfill its mission, while setting a national standard to collaborate
with Native people. The museum will continue to collect art from around the
country that is of historical significance or created by contemporary artists.
The Heard Museums success has lead to a few expansions including two
alternate sites, The Heard Museum, North Scottsdale and The Heard Museum
West, both of which operated for a few years before closing. The original Heard
Museum is in a successful state of existence and will continue to open its doors
to the public.

Resources

Brent S. (2006) Museum Designed with future in mind. Retrieved

from http://archive.azcentral.com/abgnews/articles/0928abgarchheard0928.html (2015)
The Heard Museum website, (2015) http://heard.org
Author Notes
A special thanks to the staff at the Heard museum, including Dr.
Ann Marshall for answering my questions and giving me permission
to take photographs.