Girl Scout troop goes every year

Review for The Heard Museum

Phoenix, AZ

The Heard Museum in Phoenix, AZ

by WillyCaraFridays July 25, 2012

Babies

Toddlers & Pre-K

School-Age Kids

Pre-Teens & Teens

What we loved:
There are so many things to appreciate about Native American Heritage

What we didn't love:
Gift Shop is expensive of course, we need more "cheap" souvenirs.

My Girl Scouts vote to go the the Heard Museum every year and the "old" girls love to show off their favorite activities and the new ones are delighted with the various hands-on projects, there are so many facets of Native American culture to learn about from everyday things like food and clothes and pots to unique items like toys and weaving and jewelry. With all the paintings, statues and Kachina dolls, every girl finds a favorite. We talk about their folk tales while sitting the Navajo hogan and then how scary it must have been for the children to be taken to the white mans schools and not allowed to speak their own language. The girls talk about how special and patriotic the Codetalkers were and how amazing to have their gift to use to serve their country. Its very eye-opening to realize the differences in the worlds of all the many tribes. Its just not an "Indian" museum-the tribes are unique and wonderful in their own way and it makes you think about how some peoples had time for songs and crafts but others worked from sunup to sundown just to survive in the brutal Southwest. The tour guides are always enthusiastic and point out something new every time I go. They are so patient when the girls ask the same questions! But they do ask and they do wonder. There are so many colors even babies are fascinated! Its not expensive for tickets but I do have the girls bring a lunch and drinks to keep in a cooler in the free parking lot right there by the door, and then we eat on the patio with the little stream. The cafe is delicious but too pricey for a large group. We do the activity room first so the girls can color a bag and decorate it with yarn before we do the little yarn dolls and baskets to keep-that way they have something to carry all their treasures in. Ive started bringing a roll of tape in my pocket just in case-the supplies are often used up quickly. Often, after our visit, they want to do clay pots or learn weaving at our next meeting! If any girl is absent we always bring her a hummingbird to cut out or wristlets to color and lace up, then we tell her the stories of these amazing ancestors and how their modern day children live today. Sometimes there are performances or classes or demos to enhance your visit, but usually a few hours is enough. Be sure to bring a camera to capture their button blanket designs and get your whole group sitting in the canoe or the forest or your "maiden" grinding maize with a stone or your brave standing by the weapons that are taller than he is. You will come home with a greater understanding of the First Americans life before the Europeans arrived and how the Tribal American spirit is still inspiring today.