To understand the culture of the American West, take time to visit Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West in Old Town Scottsdale.

While Scottsdale, Arizona, has grown into a chic bustling city, it retains some of its Western charms. From the rustic storefronts of Old Town to the ubiquitous horse sculptures, the town shows its pride in its beginnings as a cowboy town. Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West celebrates the history and culture of the entire American West. The permanent collection contains interesting artifacts and beautiful art worth viewing repeatedly. Special exhibits add spectacular fresh insights into this folklore.

The Abe Hayes Family Spirit of the West Collection

Spurs, saddlebags, rifles, holsters, and anything else a cowboy could need fill floor-to-ceiling displays. For over 50 years Abe Hays collected authentic artifacts from craftsmen in 19 states. Facades of a sheriff’s office, saloon, and hotel provide a backdrop to hundreds of items that would have been used for gambling, trading, and locking up bad guys. You can even climb into a stagecoach or pose for a photo in front of a 3D campsite painting. I enjoyed flipping through newspapers from the early 1900s reporting on Dillinger and Bonnie and Clyde.

The Abe Hayes Family Spirit of the West Collection. Photo by Judy Karnia

Canvas of Clay: Hopi Pottery Masterworks from The Allan and Judith Cook Collection

Many museums feature pottery as historical items, but Canvas of Clay treats these Hopi masterworks as fine art worthy of any art gallery. A large portion of the more than 60-piece collection showcases the talent of Nampeyo of Hano and her descendants.

Pottery created by Rachel Sahmie Nampeyo in 1956. Photo by Judy Karnia

As the railway reached Arizona in the late 19th century, many collectors became interested in obtaining and trading Hopi and other native pottery. Nampeyo retained her unique and intricate geometric designs and imagery. She created designs using symbols of water and bird wings to invoke the migration of her people. The various shapes, colors, and patterns on the pottery enthralled me. The descriptions explained the various techniques and symbolism of each artist represented.

Collecting Stories at Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West

John Coleman’s bronze sculptures evoke the strength and character of Native Americans. He expertly shows the details of their expressions and dress. In his Explorer Artist series, he created bronze representations of 1830s portraits by Karl Bodmer and George Catlin. The exhibit rotates through the collection built by Coleman’s most devoted patrons, Frankie and Howard Alper.

Bronze sculptures by John Coleman in the Collecting Stories exhibit. Photo by Judy Karnia

Paul Calle’s Life of Exploration

Paul Calle’s illustrations encompass many historical and cultural events and people throughout the United States. However, he had an affinity for the American west and spent time among indigenous tribes. His works range from postage stamps to portraits of famous figures to frontiersmen. He thought of designing stamps as “a truly unique experience…the conception of the design must be thought of in terms of art in miniature form”.

Drawings and paintings by Paul Calle. Photo by Judy Karnia

The exhibit showcases many of his stamps and portraits. Drawings and finished paintings of mountain men hang side by side to demonstrate his process. He also depicts the Native Americans’ relationship with the frontiersmen who learned from them.

Courage & Crossroads: A Visual Journey Through the American West

The Peterson Family collection gives visitors a broad scope of the art and culture of the American West. Artists in the early days of our country traveled through the frontier and spent time among Native American tribes to portray the landscape and artifacts of these lands. Well-known artists, such as Remington and Russell, are represented, as are others who spent extensive time in the west, including Eastman, Bodman, and Catlin.

Beaded artifacts in Courage and Crossroads: A Visual Journey Through the American West. Photo by Judy Karnia

Buffalo skins with painted figures, beautiful striped Navajo chief’s blankets, and detailed beaded fabrics demonstrate the artistry of the native people. The objects and placards of this exhibit leave you with a greater understanding and appreciation of Western land and art.

Museum Vignettes at Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West

Other interesting small exhibits are sprinkled throughout the museum. The architecture of the sculpture garden sets the scene for several dynamic sculptures, including a 5700-pound bench crafted from a fallen pine tree. Rails Building America showcases the Harvey Girls, landmark railroad hotels, and the driving of the golden spike with miniature train sets and a life-sized model of dining on a train. The Women of the West corridor highlights female artists’ renderings of Western landscapes and desert views.

Dining car in Rails Building America. Photo by Judy Karnia.

Light and Legacy: The Art and Techniques of Edward S. Curtis

This special exhibit runs through April 2023 and imparts an incentive for planning a visit to Western Spirit soon. Starting in 1890, Edward Curtis spent three decades traveling throughout the American West, learning about and photographing the people and land. He received the support of President Theodore Roosevelt, and eventually, J.P. Morgan gave him the financial means to continue his project. He lived among the tribes throughout the west and Alaska, gaining their trust so that he could take intimate portraits and photographs of their homes and culture. He collected 30,000 negatives during this time. His work resulted in a 20-volume set titled The North American Indian. When shipped to purchasers, each volume included large prints from the copper plates, called photogravures.

Copper plates and photogravures from the Edward Curtis volumes. Photo by Judy Karnia

Photos Galore

The exhibit includes a group of ten photos for each area that he visited. The four larger central photos depict two women and two men in their traditional dress. Some are smiling, and some are serious, but in each one, the personality and character of the person shine through. On either side of these hang three photos showing their homes, ceremonies, work, or landscape. A map and description of the people and Curtis’ time with them lead to a greater understanding for visitors.

Curtis created photos by various methods, including copper plates, cyanotypes, silver gelatins, and gold tones. Visitors can view the copper plates, which are works of art in their own right. The subsequent photos have a unique tone and quality that emphasizes the character of their subjects. The many goldtones’ luminous quality compensates for the lower detail that Curtis created in this process.

Goldtones by Edward Curtis. Photo by Judy Karnia

From each volume, a gold plate and photogravure of one of the people featured line a long wall while the other side holds three smaller plates and photos from the volume. Other displays present images of mothers and their infants, photos of dwellings, and explanations of Curtis’ methods. You can even see Nampeyo working on her pottery. The exhibit provides an intimate and thorough look into people’s lives in the west around the turn of the 20th century.

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When You Visit Western Spirit Museum in Scottsdale

At Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, you will experience an enjoyable look at many features of the American West. You can learn about many aspects of Western history, culture, and art. When you plan to visit this museum in Scottsdale, check out Wander for more to do in the Phoenix area, across Arizona, and around the Southwest.

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Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West