History · Phoenix · United States
6 historic sites to see in Phoenix
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Heard Museum, South Mountain Park and Preserve and Taliesin West. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 9–13 hours across 5 areas; 2 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 2
- Time to see them all
- 9–13 hours
- Areas
- Midtown Phoenix, South Phoenix and Scottsdale
Historic sites in Phoenix
Museum · Midtown Phoenix
1.Heard Museum
Founded in 1929, the Heard is one of the leading museums of American Indian art, with galleries on the Native peoples of the Southwest, a large Hopi katsina doll collection and a moving exhibit on the boarding school era, set around courtyards with sculpture.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Park · South Phoenix
2.South Mountain Park and Preserve
A scenic road climbs to Dobbins Lookout for views over the city, and Hohokam petroglyphs can be found along trails such as Holbert.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- History
- After dark
Architecture · Scottsdale
3.Taliesin West
It is part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing of Wright's 20th-century architecture, and guided tours show the drafting studio, living spaces and cabaret theatre.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Architecture
- History
- Couples
Historic site · Downtown Phoenix
4.Heritage Square
Other houses hold restaurants, among them Pizzeria Bianco.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Food
Historic site · East Phoenix
5.Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park
A small museum explains Hohokam farming and pottery.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Kids
Museum · Downtown Phoenix
6.Arizona Capitol Museum
Wesley Bolin Plaza outside has memorials including an anchor and mast from the USS Arizona.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Midtown Phoenix | Heard Museum | 2–3 hours |
| South Phoenix | South Mountain Park and Preserve | 2–4 hours |
| Scottsdale | Taliesin West | 1.5–2 hours |
| Downtown Phoenix | Heritage Square and Arizona Capitol Museum | 1 hour + 1 hour |
| East Phoenix | Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park | 1–1.5 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 2 free, 2 low cost, 1 mid-priced, 1 expensive. Book ahead for Taliesin West. The longest visit is South Mountain Park and Preserve; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Taliesin West: Visits are by guided tour only; book online ahead, especially from January to April.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Midtown Phoenix): Heard Museum, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 2 (South Phoenix): South Mountain Park and Preserve, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Scottsdale and Downtown Phoenix): Taliesin West → Heritage Square → Arizona Capitol Museum, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 4 (East Phoenix): Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park, at least 1 hour.
The quietest months for queues
- June: highs of 40°C (104°F), about 1 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Extremely hot and dry; hike only at dawn and spend afternoons indoors or in the pool.
- July: highs of 41°C (106°F), about 4 rainy days, very quiet crowds. The hottest month, with monsoon humidity, dust storms and evening thunderstorms; resort deals are at their deepest.
- August: highs of 41°C (106°F), about 5 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Hot and humid with the most monsoon storms; flash flooding is possible in washes.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Downtown Phoenix — Museums, sports arenas, Heritage Square and the light rail hub
- Roosevelt Row — Murals, galleries and First Friday art walks north of downtown
- Old Town Scottsdale — Western-themed shops, galleries, cocktail bars and resorts
More of Phoenix
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Phoenix?
Heard Museum. Founded in 1929, the Heard is one of the leading museums of American Indian art, with galleries on the Native peoples of the Southwest, a large Hopi katsina doll collection and a moving exhibit on the boarding school era, set around courtyards with sculpture.
+Which of these are free in Phoenix?
South Mountain Park and Preserve and Arizona Capitol Museum.