Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West

Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West, Museum, 3830 N Marshall Way, Scottsdale, AZ.

Located in Old Town Scottsdale, our mission is to boldly immerse guests in the unique story of the Greater Western region, illuminating the past to better shape our future.

Katsina are Hopi religious figures that reside in the San Francisco Peaks located in Northern Arizona. During specific c...
06/04/2026

Katsina are Hopi religious figures that reside in the San Francisco Peaks located in Northern Arizona. During specific ceremonies, the Katsina spirits visit the Hopi mesas to bless the people. Hopi who participate in ceremonies will dress as a specific Katsina to embody the spirit. ⁠
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The bear or Hon Katsina is distinguished by color variations white, yellow, blue or black. The Hopi ceremonial calendar divides the year into two sections based on visits from specific Katsina. The Hon Katsina is most seen in the springtime Mixed Dances called Soyohim, recognized as a warrior that possesses strength to cure the sick.⁠
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Carved or painted Katsina are traditionally made for babies and young girls, meant to be gifted at Katsina ceremonies. The tradition has evolved over time as representations of Katsina have been created for sale, with the development of styles suggesting movement and dance trending around the 1950s.⁠
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Pictured above is a miniature representation of the White Bear or Köcha Honau Katsina by carver Alfred Lomahquahu (b.1964). The carving stands just over 3 inches tall! Captured in a dancing motion, impressive details such as a turquoise concho belt, ketoh (wrist guard) and necklace adorn the miniature figure. White Bear grips a bow in one hand and a rattle in the other. Lomahquahu also includes black paw prints on either cheek, a distinctive detail on Hon Katsina carvings. ⁠
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Come see this miniature Katsina and other works by Alfred Lomahquahu in the ongoing exhibition, The West in Miniature. On view now at Western Spirit Museum!⁠
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Alfred Lomahquahu (b.1964)⁠
Hopi⁠
White Bear Katsina, n.d.⁠
Wood⁠
Neil and Sarah Berman: Collection of Miniature Hopi Katsina

In 1946, Mary Alice Cox “Mac” Schweitzer (1921-1962) moved to Tucson, Arizona with her young son Kit and first husband J...
06/01/2026

In 1946, Mary Alice Cox “Mac” Schweitzer (1921-1962) moved to Tucson, Arizona with her young son Kit and first husband Jack. Mac jumped right into the artist scene of Tucson, joining the Tucson Fine Arts Association (TFAA) and the Tucson Independent Artists Group (TIAG). By 1947, she exhibited two works in the first TIAG open show titled “New Look at Art.” One of her pieces in the show, a dynamic mountain scene done in oil paints called Catalina Torrent (serigraph edition pictured above), received outstanding praise. At the time of the show, Critic Geroge Rosenburg reported on the painting:⁠
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“By subject the painting is certainly not original. But the ex*****on of violently contrasting light, seemingly unique in this part of the country, is top performance painting” ⁠
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Produced by Robert “Bob” Spray (1910-2000) in 1949, Catalina Torrent was one of Mac’s first silk-screened works based on an original piece. Mac continued to collaborate with Spray on silk-screen projects, also creating high-quality screenings of various large-scale animal subjects. ⁠
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Come visit, Mac Schweitzer: A Southwest Maverick Rediscovered, Guest Curated by Ann Lane Hedlund, Ph.D. On view now until September 2026 at Western Spirit Museum!

The shared landscapes of the American West are not empty backdrops. They are lived-in places—homelands, work sites, trav...
05/30/2026

The shared landscapes of the American West are not empty backdrops. They are lived-in places—homelands, work sites, travel routes, and sacred spaces—shaped over time by the people and animals who moved through them. Over centuries, communities shared these environments in complex ways: through trade and cooperation, adaptation and change, and, at times, conflict and displacement.

As the Cheyenne pass from sunlight into shade, Charlie Dye’s poignant oil hints at what is coming but not yet seen. The bison skull in the foreground sharpens the sense of foreboding. “Cheyenne Sundown” is but one of over 80 pieces on exhibit in Working Pardners.

While Westerns like Little Big Man and Soldier Blue offered viewers romanticized depictions of American Indian life, oth...
05/29/2026

While Westerns like Little Big Man and Soldier Blue offered viewers romanticized depictions of American Indian life, others like Ulzana’s Raid refused to sentimentalize native culture. Indians and whites are shown to be equally capable of horrific actions, and the film portrays the violent conflict between them as the tragic result of diametrically opposed cultures trying to co-exist in the same land.

Ulzana’s Raid screens this Sunday, May 31 at 2PM. Film historian Michael Blake will introduce the movie and lead a post-film discussion with the audience.

This screening is part of our Reel Indians film series, exploring representations of American Indians in Westerns of the 1970s, held in conjunction with our exhibition Still in the Saddle: A New History of the Hollywood Western.

Ulzana’s Raid (1972)
Dir. Robert Aldrich/Universal Pictures
Starring Burt Lancaster, Bruce Davison, and Richard Jaeckel

American one-sheet poster, The Rennard Strickland Collection

Artist Mary Alice Cox “Mac” Schweitzer (1921-1962) explored a variety of mediums, techniques and subjects throughout her...
05/26/2026

Artist Mary Alice Cox “Mac” Schweitzer (1921-1962) explored a variety of mediums, techniques and subjects throughout her lifetime. A constant for Mac was her self-driven individualism and determination to rarely be persuaded by critics. She maintained her philosophy in all her artistic endeavors: “I want people to wake up to the beauties of the desert as it is.”

Mac portrayed the natural courses of life and death in the desert, creating increasingly figurative pieces of the dead, dying, weak and strong. In 1950, reporter Mike Keating noted, “She is always bringing home strange flotsam discovered in the desert…bones and stones, dead wood and living plants. They decorate her home and provide models for her work.” Death and Transfiguration is not Mac’s first exploration of the dying. She also created works depicting dead buzzards, eagles, cacti and moths. Mac’s approach to her work is clear, she focused on the process of artmaking and left the trends to the rest of the art world.

Come visit, Mac Schweitzer: A Southwest Maverick Rediscovered, Guest Curated by Ann Lane Hedlund, Ph.D. On view now until September 2026 at Western Spirit Museum!

Mac Schweitzer (1921-1962)
Death and Transfiguration, 1956
Oil on Masonite, gessoed with sgraffito
Mac Schweitzer Collection

Gift of Ann Lane Hedlund - In Memory of Kit Schweitzer and in honor of the Schweitzer, Cox, Moore and White Families

This Memorial Day, we honor and remember the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. 🇺🇸⁠⁠At Wester...
05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we honor and remember the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. 🇺🇸⁠
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At Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, we reflect on the courage, sacrifice, and stories that helped shape the American West and our nation’s history.⁠
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As we gather with family and friends this weekend, we invite you to take a moment to remember those who served and never came home.⁠
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Raymond C. Yazzie (b.1953) grew up in a town south of Gallup, New Mexico surrounded by a family of silversmiths and jewe...
05/23/2026

Raymond C. Yazzie (b.1953) grew up in a town south of Gallup, New Mexico surrounded by a family of silversmiths and jewelers. His mother and father made jewelry as a source of income, and by the age of 9 or 10, Raymond’s older brother Lee A. Yazzie was making jewelry for notable trader Joe Tanner at Tanner Indian Arts in Gallup, New Mexico. Raymond was sent to assist Lee and would eventually go on to apprentice with his older brother. At the age of fourteen Raymond entered the juried competition at the Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial and won a best of show award. ⁠
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Now, established in his career and recognized as one of the best lapidarists in the world. Raymond’s body of work showcases abstract forms, unique stones and perfect lapidary. Many of his designs are inspired by traditional Diné (Navajo) imagery such as corn, clouds, feathers, sun rays and mountains. This Coral ensemble represents Raymonds precise stone cutting skills and ability to combine distinctive shapes into a cohesive piece of art.⁠
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Come see this Coral ensemble and other works by Raymond C. Yazzie in the groundbreaking exhibition, From Earth to the Stars. On view now at Western Spirit⁠
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Raymond C. Yazzie (b.1953)⁠
Diné (Navajo)⁠
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Coral ensemble, 2008-2011⁠
Coral, 14K gold, Orvil Jack turquoise, opal, lapis lazuli⁠
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Richard A. Gates Collection

More than any other Western of the 1970s, A Man Called Horse tried to offer a historically accurate portrait of American...
05/22/2026

More than any other Western of the 1970s, A Man Called Horse tried to offer a historically accurate portrait of American Indian customs and culture. Sioux historian Clyde Dollar served as technical advisor. Members of the Rosebud Sioux of South Dakota were employed as extras, and Lakota is spoken throughout the movie. Dollar repeatedly clashed during production with director Elliot Silverstein over the film’s anachronisms and errors. Silverstein, in turn, fought with the film’s producers over what he felt was their unwillingness to show Indians as anything but savages. The film was a success and was followed by two sequels. But some critics pointed out historical inaccuracies, while leaders of the American Indian Movement called the film racist. ⁠
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A Man Called Horse screens this Sunday, May 24 at 2PM. Chief Curator will provide a recorded introduction to the movie. ⁠
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This screening is part of our Reel Indians film series, exploring representations of American Indians in Westerns of the 1970s, held in conjunction with our exhibition Still in the Saddle: A New History of the Hollywood Western.⁠
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A Man Called Horse (1970)⁠
Dir. Elliot Silverstein/Cinema Center Films/National General Releasing⁠
Starring Richard Harris, Dame Judith Anderson, Jean Gascon, Manu Tupou, and Corinna Tsopei⁠
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American one-sheet poster, 1970; museum collection

This summer, Western Spirit Museum is proud to participate in Blue Star Museums, a nationwide initiative offering free a...
05/20/2026

This summer, Western Spirit Museum is proud to participate in Blue Star Museums, a nationwide initiative offering free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families, including the National Guard and Reserve.

Blue Star Museums is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, in collaboration with museums across America.

The 2026 program runs from Armed Forces Day on Saturday, May 16, 2026, through Labor Day on Monday, September 7, 2026. We are honored to welcome military families to experience the art, history, and stories of the American West all summer long.

https://www.arts.gov/initiatives/blue-star-museums

This quaint javelina was created on homemade scratchboard by Mary Alice Cox “Mac” Schweitzer (1921-1961). In 1946, livin...
05/18/2026

This quaint javelina was created on homemade scratchboard by Mary Alice Cox “Mac” Schweitzer (1921-1961). In 1946, living in a cabin nestled up against the Tucson mountains, Mac and her son Kit spent much of their time exploring the desert. Her love of wildlife was evident, as was Mac’s ability to keenly observe and depict her subjects using unique compositions and mediums. Mac regularly created works based on the animals and landscapes around her as well as the Hopi and Navajo communities she would visit during summer trips in her pickup truck, Kit along for the adventure.⁠
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Mac, originally from the Midwest, is considered one of Tucson’s great “early moderns.” She exhibited in the local art scene at the Tucson Fine Arts Association, participated in juried competitions at the Arizona State Fair and regularly sold original paintings, prints and sculptures. Her body of work, although only spanning several decades, became practically unknown to many after her death in 1962. A posthumous retrospective in 1964 of 153 works would be one of the last times Mac’s works would be assembled in the public eye until September 2025 at Western Spirit Museum.⁠
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Come visit, Mac Schweitzer: A Southwest Maverick Rediscovered, Guest Curated by Ann Lane Hedlund, Ph.D. On view now until September 2026 at Western Spirit Museum!⁠
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Mac Schweitzer (1921-1962)⁠
Javelina, c.1954⁠
Ink or tempera with stenciling and sgraffito on poster board (home-made scratchboard)⁠
Mac Schweitzer Collection⁠
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Gift of Ann Lane Hedlund - In Memory of Kit Schweitzer and in honor of the Schweitzer, Cox, Moore and White Families

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3830 N Marshall Way
Scottsdale, AZ
85251

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 5pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5pm
Friday 9:30am - 5pm
Saturday 9:30am - 5pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm

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