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, Nonprofit Organization, 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.

08/20/2026

Your next group outing deserves more than the usual lunch or happy hour.

Gather your friends, colleagues, club, or organization for a private Inside the Expansion experience at Western Spirit Museum.

Explore our newest exhibitions alongside one of our expert curators, who will share the stories, insights, and perspectives behind the art, creating a museum experience you can't get on a typical visit.

Want to make it even more memorable? Add a reception and continue the conversation together.

Perfect for neighborhood groups, leadership organizations, business teams, social clubs, and friends. Reserve your group's experience today.

Towards the end of her life, Mac resided on the Navajo Nation with her husband Art White and second son Tom. The trio (s...
08/18/2026

Towards the end of her life, Mac resided on the Navajo Nation with her husband Art White and second son Tom. The trio (sometimes joined by eldest son Kit) would occasionally leave to explore sites in Utah, Colorado and Wyoming.

On one occasion, Mac observed a curious coyote at the family campsite. A subject that would be produced with ink and paper and then twice as an oil painting.

True to Mac’s preference for abstraction in the last half of her art career, the coyote blends almost seamlessly with the dry brush and its trotting legs disappear into the ground below.

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

Mac Schweitzer (M. White), 1921-1962
Coyote, 1961
Oil on gessoed Masonite
Mac Schweitzer Collection

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

After winning Best Picture and Best Director Oscars for THE DEER HUNTER (1979), writer-director Michael Cimino was given...
08/15/2026

After winning Best Picture and Best Director Oscars for THE DEER HUNTER (1979), writer-director Michael Cimino was given complete artistic control over his next project, HEAVEN’S GATE. The production of what was supposed to be a modest Western about the Johnson County War quickly went over time and budget. Stories from the set had the meticulous and temperamental Cimino shooting a million and a half feet of film, firing crewmembers at will, and tearing down million-dollar sets for no discernable reason. Upon release, Heaven’s Gate was so poorly received that the studio withdrew it. While still controversial, the film is now regarded by many as a serious, ambitious work that was out-of-step with Hollywood’s growing focus on action and spectacle.

The director’s cut of Heaven's Gate screens this Sunday, August 16, at 2PM. Film historian and professor Kevin Sandler will be on hand to introduce the movie.

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.

Heaven’s Gate (1980)
Dir. Michael Cimino/United Artists
Starring Kris Kristofferson, Christopher Walken, John Hurt, Sam Waterston, Brad Dourif, Isabelle Huppert, Jeff Bridges, and Josteph Cotten

The Long Riders US one-sheet poster
The Rennard Strickland Collection

08/13/2026

Diamond in the Dust

Celebrate Scottsdale's 75th anniversary with the premiere screening of Diamond in the Dust, a new documentary exploring the people, places, and pivotal moments that shaped our city.

Join Scottsdale's Official Historian, Joan Fudala, for an evening of history, rare photos, and behind-the-scenes stories that bring Scottsdale's past to life.

📅 Thursday, September 3 | 6:00 p.m.
🎟️ Reserve your seat today!

Learn more: https://westernspirit.org/project/diamond-in-the-dust/

Bring the beauty and spirit of the West home with new prints now available at Western Spirit’s Sue and Robert Karatz Mus...
08/12/2026

Bring the beauty and spirit of the West home with new prints now available at Western Spirit’s Sue and Robert Karatz Museum Store. Discover stunning works by Arizona artist Dyana Hesson, featuring her vibrant interpretations of the Southwest’s natural landscapes, alongside classic Western imagery from renowned artist John Ford Clymer.

Whether you’re looking for a statement piece for your home, a unique gift, or a way to celebrate the art and stories of the American West, these new prints are a perfect addition to any collection.

Stop by the Museum Store and find your next favorite piece! Every purchase supports Western Spirit Museum’s mission of celebrating the art, history, and culture of the West.

Exhibit Opening Weekend | September 5–6 Join us as we celebrate the opening of Woven: Navajo Textiles from the Pelberg C...
08/11/2026

Exhibit Opening Weekend | September 5–6

Join us as we celebrate the opening of Woven: Navajo Textiles from the Pelberg Collection!

Explore an extraordinary collection of Navajo textiles that highlight generations of artistry, tradition, and cultural storytelling through weaving. Don't miss the opportunity to experience this remarkable exhibition during opening weekend.

September 5–6
Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West
Included with museum admission.

Learn more and plan your visit: https://westernspirit.org/project/woven-navajo-textiles-from-the-pelberg-collection/

In this ring, a stunning oval cabochon of Red Mountain turquoise is complimented by the distinct relief design done by m...
08/08/2026

In this ring, a stunning oval cabochon of Red Mountain turquoise is complimented by the distinct relief design done by master jeweler Lee A Yazzie (b.1946).⁠
⁠
Throughout the years, Lee has developed his own techniques to enhance precious stones and showcase thoughtful designs. His dedication to the art form, combined with inspiration rooted in Diné culture, has produced one of the most impressive body of works in the history of American Indian jewelry!⁠
⁠
Come see more works by Lee A Yazzie in the groundbreaking exhibition, From Earth to the Stars, now on view at Western Spirit Museum⁠
⁠
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Lee A Yazzie, b.1946⁠
Diné (Navajo)⁠
Relief ring, c. 2014⁠
Red mountain turquoise and silver⁠
⁠
Loan courtesy of Richard A Gates

In Walter Hill’s The Long Riders, real-life siblings play the various brothers that comprised the infamous James–Younger...
08/07/2026

In Walter Hill’s The Long Riders, real-life siblings play the various brothers that comprised the infamous James–Younger Gang. The film was number one at the boxoffice its opening weekend. Newspaper articles proclaimed, “The Western Is Back!” But then The Empire Strikes Back opened the following weekend and blew The Long Riders (and every other film) away. Far, far away.⁠
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The Long Riders screens this Sunday, August 9, at 2PM. True West magazine Executive Editor Bob Boze Bell will be on hand to introduce the movie.⁠
⁠
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 Long Riders (1980)⁠
Dir. Walter Hill/United Artists⁠
Starring David, Keith, and Robert Carradine, James and Stacey Keach, Dennis and Randy Quaid, and Christopher and Nicholas Guest. ⁠
⁠
The Long Riders US one-sheet poster ⁠
The Rennard Strickland Collection

Prior to becoming known as Mac Schweitzer, Mary Alice Cox (1921-1962) resided in Ohio and attended the Cleveland School ...
08/06/2026

Prior to becoming known as Mac Schweitzer, Mary Alice Cox (1921-1962) resided in Ohio and attended the Cleveland School of Art.

Although Mac’s early formal art studies would temporarily draw her away from horses. A surviving piece from this period titled “Sorrel was no pack horse” remains a testament to Mac’s love of the subject.

Mac’s undeniable sense of humor is not lost on this work. Sorrel’s rowdy behavior becomes more apparent by a practically undone cargo and saddle blanket! If Sorrel was based on a real horse, let us hope he was truly no pack horse!

Now on View at Western Spirit Museum: Mac Schweitzer: A Southwest Maverick Rediscovered, Guest Curated by Ann Lane Hedlund, Ph.D

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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