Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West

The city-owned museum opened in the heart of historic

Old Town Scottsdale a month ago, offering its guests

an immersion in the essence of the American West,

past and present.

Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West is a premier cultural destination in a locale that has been called “The West’s Most Western Town.” The city-owned museum opened to the public January 15, 2015. It immerses its guests in the essence of the American West, past and present, through artworks by renowned artists, historic artifacts of the Old and New West, interactive exhibits, multi-media productions and an ongoing schedule of educational programs and public events.

Owned by the City of Scottsdale and operated by the Scottsdale Museum of the West (a not-for-profit organization), Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West stands on the site of thehistoric Loloma Transit Station (designed by architect Vito Acconci) and preserves elements of the station’s classic design, now repurposed as administrative offices and an education center. To this has been added a new 43,000 square foot, two-story main building designed by the Phoenix and Clifton, New Jersey-based architectural firm of Studio MA.

The building’s entry walkway features a monumental installation piece, Diamond Bloom, by contemporary artist Curtis Pittman, acquired through the Scottsdale Public Art Program. Western Spirit resides on a beautiful campus designed by landscape architects Colwell Shelor of Phoenix and adorned with low-water use desert plantings. Both indoor and outdoor spaces meet the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Standard for sustainability, conserving precious natural resources while also raising public awareness of their vital importance to the western region.

The $11.4 million museum features rotating exhibitions of western art and cultural treasures on loan from some of the world’s foremost collectors and institutions. With exhibitions constantly changing, there will always be something new to see and experience. A partnership with Arizona State University will provide additional resources, enabling the museum to become a communication and learning center for studies of the West.

Inspirational Journey: The Story of Lewis and Clark

Featuring the Artwork of Charles Fritz

Contemporary painter Charles Fritz chronicled the historic early 19th century expedition of Captains Merriwether Lewis and William Clark in a dynamic series of 100 paintings that are here accompanied by sculptural bronzes by artists including Barry Eisenach, Richard Greeves and Harry Jackson, that complement the stories told by Fritz’s paintings. Interactive audio/video kiosks feature commentary by Fritz on his work. (Located in the Diane and Bruce Halle Foundation Great Hall.)

    Charles Fritz,

    oil on canvas, courtesy of the Peterson Collection