Western Spirit Museum

Western Spirit Museum Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Western Spirit Museum, 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.

09/02/2026

Every weaving begins long before the first thread is woven.

Every choice of color, pattern, texture, and design reflects generations of knowledge while expressing the creativity of the individual artist. Discover seven contemporary Navajo weavings by Diné artists and the remarkable artistry woven into every thread.

Opening Weekend | September 5–6
Kids 17 and under FREE
Saturday only: Experience Weaving Our Story, an immersive VR journey into Diné weaving in the Four Corners region. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. | Included with admission.

https://westernspirit.org/project/woven-navajo-textiles-from-the-pelberg-collection/

Artist Mac Schweitzer’s seasonal visits to the Hopi and other Indigenous communities of the southwest informed her own s...
08/31/2026

Artist Mac Schweitzer’s seasonal visits to the Hopi and other Indigenous communities of the southwest informed her own spirituality. Paintings such as “Hopi Ceiling” reflect Mac’s honor of the culture she was surrounded by. After learning and observing the values of her close Hopi friends, she embraced core Hopi ways without the need to copy another culture or profess a specific religious faith.

Featured in Mac Schweitzer’s 1955 one-person gallery show, “Hopi Ceiling” depicts the textured underside of a Hopi home. Paahos (prayer feathers), arrows and other small ritual items rest safely in the rafters.

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

Mac Schweitzer, 1921-1962
Hopi Ceiling, 1955
Oil on mat board
Mac Schweitzer Collection

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

At first glance, this cuff bracelet by Don Supplee (b.1965) might appear as a cross. With a closer look, the gold figure...
08/29/2026

At first glance, this cuff bracelet by Don Supplee (b.1965) might appear as a cross. With a closer look, the gold figures that extend left and right resemble that of the abstract bird designs found on ancestral Sikyatki pottery.

A tradition revived by Hopi potter Nampeyo of Hano (1859-1942), Sikyatki remains a prevalent style in contemporary Hopi designs. Artists draw inspiration from the highly symmetrical geometric motifs and abstract bird forms Sikyatki is recognized for.

In this cuff, Supplee’s mastery of the art form and inspiration from ancestral imagery have resulted in this stunning piece. He combines texture, contrast and bold design to create a bracelet striking in composition!

With a resume that included writing The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Raiders of the Lost (1981) and directing Body Hea...
08/28/2026

With a resume that included writing The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Raiders of the Lost (1981) and directing Body Heat (1981) and The Big Chill (1983), Lawrence Kasdan was in a position to make whatever movie he wanted. He made Silverado, an energetic, reverential Western about a group of misfit gunfighters bring justice to a small town.

Silverado screens this Sunday, August 24, at 2PM. Film historian Michael F. Blake will be on hand to introduce the movie and lead a post-film discussion with the audience.

This screening is part of our 1980s film series, showcasing significant Westerns from that decade, held in conjunction with our blockbuster exhibition Still in the Saddle: A New History of the Hollywood Western.

Silverado (1985)
Dir. Lawrence Kasdan/Columbia Pictures
Starring Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Rosanna Arquette, John Cleese, Kevin Costner, Brian Dennehy, Danny Glover, Jeff Goldblum, and Linda Hutn

Silverado US one-sheet poster
The Rennard Strickland Collection

Join us at Western Spirit Museum for “Mac Schweitzer Rides On: The Artist and Her Legacy” with Ann Lane Hedlund, PhD, as...
08/28/2026

Join us at Western Spirit Museum for “Mac Schweitzer Rides On: The Artist and Her Legacy” with Ann Lane Hedlund, PhD, as she explores the life, work, and lasting influence of one of Arizona’s remarkable Southwest artists.

Born Mary Alice Cox, Mac Schweitzer developed an early fascination with horses, cowboy culture, and art. After moving to Tucson in 1946, she traveled throughout Arizona, capturing the landscapes, people, animals, and cultures of the Southwest through paintings, sketches, prints, and more.

This special program offers an opportunity to learn more about Schweitzer’s artistic journey while experiencing works from the museum’s collection of nearly 500 pieces donated by Ann Hedlund in memory of her late husband and Mac’s son, Kit Schweitzer.

Friday, September 18, 2026: 3–4:30 p.m.

Following the program, Ann Hedlund will sign copies of her book, Mac Schweitzer: A Southwest Maverick and Her Art.

Members attend free, and the program is free with museum admission. Program-only admission is $10.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about an extraordinary artist and see Mac Schweitzer’s work before the exhibition closes September 28.
Reserve your seat: westernspirit.org/project/mac-schweitzer-rides-on/

Jennie Thomas(Diné, 1957-2017)As a teenager right out of high school, Jennie Thomas learned how to weave the banded Wide...
08/27/2026

Jennie Thomas
(Diné, 1957-2017)
As a teenager right out of high school, Jennie Thomas learned how to weave the banded Wide Ruins style from her mother Betty B. Roan (b.1935).

Like many contemporary Diné weavers, Thomas’s individual style developed over time and played a large role in her design choices. Drawing inspiration from Two Grey Hills and Ganado weavings, Thomas began working in the bordered diamond style of Burntwater. Often favoring pastel colors and handspun yarns, she sourced materials from relatives who spun and dyed wool.

Her completed pieces were award-winning, distinguishing Thomas as part of a generation of exceptional contemporary Diné weavers.

Jennie Thomas, Diné (Navajo), 1957-2017. Burntwater, c. 1983, Natural wool and vegetal dyed wool, The Arthur and Linda Pelberg Family Collection

(Coming Soon) Opening weekend September 5-6: Woven: Navajo Textiles from the Pelberg Collection

A master of her art, Dextra Quotskuyva (1928-2019) learned to make pottery through her family, descendants of the famed ...
08/26/2026

A master of her art, Dextra Quotskuyva (1928-2019) learned to make pottery through her family, descendants of the famed Hopi potter, Nampeyo of Hano (1859-1942).

Dextra is known for exquisite vessels that demonstrate her eye for perfection, balance and symmetry. By utilizing the traditional methods passed down through the lineage of Nampeyo, she has hand coiled, polished and painted each of her pieces.

Dextra is also recognized for her influence on the next generation of Hopi potters. She had actively shared her knowledge and expertise with many young and enthusiastic artists, leaving a legacy of creative excellence.

Now on view at Western Spirit Museum!

Although Charles Loloma (1921-1991) is known for unique and often bold jewelry designs, his body of work also includes a...
08/22/2026

Although Charles Loloma (1921-1991) is known for unique and often bold jewelry designs, his body of work also includes an array of sculptures. Working with bronze, wood, silver and stones, Loloma constructed abstract forms related to his Hopi heritage and representative of his artistic identity.

This piece was a personal prayer stick, kept in Loloma’s studio. An everlasting symbol of pride for his Hopi culture and the beliefs that guided him through life.

Come see more works by Charles Loloma in the groundbreaking exhibition, From Earth to the Stars. On view now at Western Spirit Museum!

The blockbuster success of Star Wars in 1977 sent movie studios scrambling for similar “juvenile” content they could bri...
08/21/2026

The blockbuster success of Star Wars in 1977 sent movie studios scrambling for similar “juvenile” content they could bring to the big screen, including Superman, Star Trek, and the Lone Ranger. But the audiences who flocked to see superheroes and spaceships weren’t interested in the masked rider of the plains and 1981’s The Legend of the Lone Ranger flopped. Yet time as redeemed the movie as a grandly staged, beautifully photographed, and endearingly sincere introduction to one of American pop culture’s most important charaters.

The Legend of the Lone Ranger screens this Sunday, August 24, at 2PM. Film critic MV Moorehead will be on hand to introduce the movie and lead a post-film discussion with teh audience.

This screening is part of our 1980s film series, showcasing significant Westerns from that decade, held in conjunction with our blockbuster exhibition Still in the Saddle: A New History of the Hollywood Western.

The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981)
Dir. William A. Fraker/Universal Pictures
Starring Klinton Spilsbury, Michael Horse, Christopher Lloyd, and Jason Robards.

The Legend of the Lone Ranger US one-sheet poster
Western Spirit Museum collection

Opening Weekend | September 5–6Discover Woven: Navajo Textiles from the Pelberg Collection Experience seven contemporary...
08/21/2026

Opening Weekend | September 5–6

Discover Woven: Navajo Textiles from the Pelberg Collection

Experience seven contemporary Navajo weavings by Diné artists alongside interactive exhibits that reveal the artistry behind every thread. Explore raw wool, dyed yarn, woven samplers, and finished textiles, then visit the family activity area where young guests can create their own take-home weaving project.

Included with Museum admission on Saturday, September 5 (10 am–3 pm), step into an immersive virtual reality experience that will connect you to the people, places, and traditions behind Navajo weaving.

Opening Weekend Special: Children 17 and under receive FREE admission September 5–6.
Plan your visit at https://westernspirit.org/project/woven-navajo-textiles-from-the-pelberg-collection/

Address

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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