Tucked against the beautiful Papago Park preserve, the Arizona Heritage Center is an oasis in the desert. In the heart of the Valley of the Sun, take the family to this museum to discover how the sprawling Phoenix metropolis began.
Routes: A Moving Experience
This exhibit was such a fun one for kids. You could build with Legos, see an old Touring Car, get inside of an old car and build your own city in addition to reading all about travel in Arizona from the first drivers license to the modern light rail.
We stopped by in honor of Arizona History Week and learned so much! The kids were enjoying all of the exhibits and seeing things like old computers and cell phones. There is a display about the semiconductor world our family worked in. They even found Uncle Curtis’ jersey from the 1970s! There were some interesting things I didn’t remember about Arizona as well.
Investigate unique rocks, gems, and minerals.
Sports Memorabilia
What It Was Like Living In Arizona
World War II AT-6 training airplane up close and personal.
Day Of Infamy
A large portion of the museums dedicated to how WWII affected Arizona residents. I really enjoyed how everything was visual for kids to see. From the city preparedness siren, to an AM radio where they played the announcement. There was a sample POW from Camp Papago Park, a World War II POW Camp, a piece from the USS Arizona
Education
The majority of the center is for older kids and students, however there are some hands on activities to keep the littler kids busy.
While exploring the museum they offer a Junior Curator Challenge that requires reading and answering questions. It was a little too much for me to read to my 6 year olds while walking around the museum. I used it as a talking point for after our visit in our learning about Arizona for its upcoming birthday. Look here for ways to engage your kids
Educators can use a Museum in a Box, a fully online curriculum, for $30.
1300 N College Ave Tempe AZ 85288
FREE Admission Days: Feb 13 – 17 2024 for Arizona History Week (check here for more info)
General Admission: $15.00
Youth (7-13): $7.00
Children 6 and younger: Free
