Best Ethnographic Museum Tempe Near Me

4worldlovers: Join us on October 14 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for a Halloween Family Event in Tucson.


This spooktacular event will feature an evening of ghost tours, trick-or-treating, kids crafts & activities, a haunted mine, pumpkin contest, costumed characters, and more.

4worldlovers:
The Innovation Gallery is currently closed, but please check out our previous exhibits below!

Housed on the ASU Tempe campus in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change building, the Innovation Gallery is a public space to enjoy free, informative exhibits and programming related to our research. Faculty and graduate students frequently use the gallery as a laboratory to interpret, design and develop unique and interactive exhibitions. We also draw from the vast archaeological, ethnographic and scientific collections maintained by the university or provided by community partners.

“Hand Made: Continuances in Traditional and Contemporary Art” – presenting art pieces from the SHESC/CAS Latin American Folk-Art collection, and art pieces made by contemporary Arizona Chican-Latina/o/x artists Zarco Guerrero, Larry Yanez, Carmen DeNovais-Guerrero, Vicente Telles, and Emily Costello.

Curated by Marco Albarrán, Collections and Exhibit Planning Manager at the School of Human Evolution and Social Change. This exhibit project is a collaboration between the SHESC Exhibits program, DEI Community Exhibit Initiatives, the Center of Archaeology and Society Repository and invited Arizona artists.

The exhibition highlights continuances in techniques and designs emanating from pre-colonial to contemporary times for Latin American and Latina/o/x artists. Specifically, art making techniques and designs made throughout the various regions of Latin American and the U.S./Arizona.

What is artesania or craft art? It is a system of communal values and aesthetics, that has been passed down through generations of people who possess local or akin knowledge of materials, techniques and customs. The objects created many times embody the everyday lives or experiences of the people who crafted them – as beliefs, dreams, childhood, relationships, livelihood, among others. Today, artesanos (artisans) living in the many countries of Latin America continue in creating original art pieces, and their artesania (craft work) is now influencing new generations of artists both in ideas and techniques. Artesania is continually changing as much as it is interwoven with perspectives of what it is fine art, which historically has deemed “fine art” only if it is Westernized enough.

About the SHESC/CAS Latin American Folk-Art collection. During the summer of 2007, the School of Human Evolution and Social Change acquired this collection from the Arizona State University’s Center for Latin American Studies through Jerry Ladman Ph.D. Ladman an economist who directed the center and started this collection in 1976, acquired it from his research-related travels throughout Latin America. While the collection began about 46 years ago, its entrance into SHESC’s collections invited new opportunities for research, education and exhibitions.

3,000 Years of Mexican and Central American Culture: The Deep Roots of Domestic Life in Mesoamerica

Indigenous cultures in Mexico and Central America have experienced many transformations over time. However, long-lasting cultural continuities can still be seen in native societies in this region called Mesoamerica. These continuities, including maize foods, pottery making, textile weaving, and rituals for healing and community cohesion, remain because of their connections to domestic life. Some of these traditions are even found today in societies in New Mexico and Arizona. This exhibit introduces Mesoamerican cultural features that have continued in some form over 3,000 years or more –the deep cultural roots of household traditions. The clothing, domestic pottery, household utensils, foods, ritual items, and art in this exhibit speak to these continuities. Through the objects and themes on display, we engage with local communities on interesting and important topics that unite us: households, everyday living, human creativity and cultural identity.

The exhibit will be in the Innovation Gallery in the second-floor lobby of the School of Human Evolution and Social Change (SHESC) building at ASU from February to May of 2022. We will also present the exhibit virtually. Later, the banners and posters will travel to ASU West Fletcher Library during the Fall 2022 semester and to the ASU Downtown Library in the Spring 2023 semester. We anticipate that the exhibit will subsequently travel to community spaces by developing collaborations with local partners.

Revealing Artifacts: New Research with the Roosevelt Archaeological Collections at ASU

Artifacts and records from massive excavation projects around Theodore Roosevelt Lake in central Arizona’s Tonto Basin make up some of the largest archaeological collections at Arizona State University. This material is an invaluable resource for new research. This exhibition features artifacts and images from the Roosevelt collections, specifically highlighting new research with Roosevelt Red Ware pottery as an example of the research potential of the collection.

4worldlovers: This 1892 home is the oldest Queen Anne Victorian brick residence in the Salt River Valley.

Petersen House Museum is one of Tempe's most beautiful historic properties. It stands as a reminder of our city’s past and the residents who helped pave the way for future generations.

Petersen House was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and received the Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation in 1990. Tempe History Museum manages this iconic property. Click on the video link above to view images of the house and learn more about its history.

Petersen House Museum is open several times a year for public programs, tours, and events!

Visit our Historic Houses page, follow us on Facebook, or check out our Events Calendar to find out when you can enjoy this charming home!

Experience a Christmas tradition like no other at Tempe’s historic Petersen House Museum! The valley’s Victorian jewel will be decorated in high style, with an emphasis on its Danish heritage.

Enjoy free self-guided historic house tours, light refreshments, entertainment, and fun activities. There’s even a pop-up Museum Store so you can cross shopping off your holiday list. Afterward, visit recently renovated Petersen Park right next door.

The historic nature of Petersen House may affect accessibility for some people with mobility considerations. There is ramp access to the first floor of the house, but the second floor is accessible only by the original stairs. Petersen House does not have a lift, and people using mobility devices may not be able to visit the second floor.

4worldlovers: After more than 60 years of research, author and Western historian Mark Warren reveals the true nature of Wyatt Earp and explains why he has deservedly entered the pantheon of American heroes. Come join us for a slide presentation of “all things Earp!” Learn More about this program.


Author Mark Warren probes into the mind of Billy-The-Kid to give the audience a new understanding of the dichotomous nature of history. Learn More about this program.

Paramount Western Pop Art: The Art and Life of Billy Schenck

Join us for an exciting presentation by Billy about his life and work. Q&A with the artist to follow. Learn More about this program.

Save the date for Saddle Up IV, happening October 15, 2023! Saddle Up III was previously awarded AZ Foothills magazine’s “Best Annual Charity Event” in their “Best of the Valley” competition.

We have again lined up some stellar entertainment, including Emmy Award-Winning singer/ songwriter Jim Salestrom and popular Phoenix country rock-sensation, DaisyTrain.


In addition, auctioneer Subyn Novelle will again be on hand to guide guests through a tempting array of offerings donated to support Western Spirit’s mission.


We suggest arriving early to allow approximately 2 hours to fully enjoy the museum prior to its closing at 5pm.

Members have the ability to reserve free tickets through the member portal! Click here to reserve your tickets today.

To assist social distancing and guest accessibility, recorded information from gallery exhibit panels are now available in a self-guided audio tour format.

4worldlovers:
Grand Procession: Contemporary Plains Indian Dolls from the Charles and Valerie Diker Collection


It’s Your Turn Activity Gallery – Under Construction: Exciting Changes Coming Soon!


NEH On the Road | Away from Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories