Arizona State Museum

Really enjoyed our visit to the Arizona State museum on the campus of ASU. This is an anthropology museum focusing on Southwest indigenous cultures. Considering the nature of the displays (delicate and a lot of reading), the exhibits may not be that interesting for young children.All exhibits were on the first floor. The museum houses an extensive collection of southwestern indigenous pottery, with over 24,000 pieces spanning 2,000 years. Although most of the pottery collection is kept in a controlled vault to protect from humidity and temperature, there are still many pieces on display and lots of opportunity to learn. There's also a virtual tour option for the pieces in the vault. There's also a wonderful collection on the art of Native American basket making, and according to their website they house the "world's largest and most comprehensive collection".Two temporary exhibits were on Native American jewelry making and a photography exhibit on the Sámi indigenous people in Northern Europe. In the hallway, there was information on the 19th amendment, which although I appreciated, I felt that it was out of place.Overall, I learned a lot during the visit and appreciated that the museum respected the history of past and present indigenous cultures.

I loved it!!! I had not been in years and they had really updated it. The exhibits are well curated and all the descriptions are informative and interesting. I could not believe the amount of artifacts were on display. The flow of the museum was easy to follow and it took about 2 hours to see the whole place. You could take longer or just hit a few of the exhibits. I believe everyone who lives here should go, and it's a great thing to take visitors to. It's always good to know where you live.

Nice museum, $5 to enter, beautiful displays. They say they hold over 30k pieces in a vault and the museum is quite small so I'm assuming the rest of the building must be the vault. Worth the $5

They don't tell you when you buy your ticket that nearly 3/4 of the museum is closed for "renovations". Also the bookstore is closed apparently due to COVID.

I was kind of "meh" about this museum until I went into the pottery room and (like every other person) said "WOW." Yes.... wow.... the pottery room is amazing. The rest of the museum is quite interesting in a kind of totally 80's museum sort of way (the exhibit in the front room is more 2000's-ish and actually very fun).Also, the gift shop, while small, was impressive. It has really lovely pottery.Finally, I went on a day when the upper floors were open. The faculty are AMAZING. Super smart and funny and just lovely.

This is a very good museum in some ways, the pottery collection and the history of pot and basket making is very fine.But the cultural history side is really lacking and the day that I was visiting I was deeply shocked to hear the docent talking about the 'lazy Indians," or how 'those people' do nothing but just collect casino money. She went on for the entire tour talking in these kinds of comments, and even encouraged the tourists to join in with their own slights and slurs on Native Americans in general. People laughed and joked at these comments.The docent was an older white woman and the crowd was entirely white tourists. I was not part of the group with her, but as a fellow museum goer I could not help but hear these awful, hurtful comments. It made me very angry.I am also white but I guess my skin color did not reveal my true feelings, which is that racist and demeaning comments about Native peoples should be unwelcome anywhere - but most of all in a museum that celebrates their work. Maybe she felt comfortable saying what she did because she assumed that I also, would agree with her and there were no non-whites around? I guess that it is ok to like their beautiful and valuable pottery, but the people themselves are "dirty and lazy."Honestly, a docent who leads tour groups talking like that? Please make sure that doesn't happen, please educate your docents to be respectful of all people, particularly Native people. When we put down one group of people, we are all brought down by the insult.

Summary based on one visit:--didn't have high expectations, but found the exhibits quite interesting--reasonable entry fee--parking in fee lot nearby--some very nice items in the store, especially better quality Hopi silver. Prices seemed lower and variety of higher quality pieces greater than some other places. If you're making a significant purchase, inquire whether it makes financial sense to join the museum for the discounts.I'd make a return visit.

Wow! Lots of Native American pottery! This place is OK, I have been here on two occasions, and the previous time a few years ago it seemed better. Not sure, but maybe they rotate some of the exhibits. All right if you happen to be in Tucson looking for things to do, or you are really into archeological stuff & pottery.

Excellent museum. There is an amazing detailed display and dierama regarding Native American Life in Arizona. The pottery collection is incredible. The collection is very expensive and a rich advocation all resource. Currently there is a display of Curtis photographs that capture some of the turn of the century Native Americans in the southwest and Arizona.

Awesome place to learn about native AmericaPottery and basket weaving. The people working thereare very chill and helpful