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The winner of this year’s award for best arts and entertainment by the East Valley Tribune, the downtown gem holds approximately 58,000 objects that focus on the natural and cultural history of Arizona and the Southwest. The Arizona Museum of Natural History was founded as a small museum in Mesa City Hall in 1977 with a small collection of Arizona artifacts. Today, it is housed one block north of Main Street in Downtown Mesa, and is home to more than 40 exhibits that range from murals and reconstructed skeletons to animated dinosaur models. The museum’s mission is to inspire wonder, understanding and respect for the natural and cultural history of the Southwest.
This isn’t your normal museum, however. The huge replica dinosaurs are a hit among children, and events such as the “Night at the Museum” sleepovers are a longtime favorite. For the adult crowd, the museum offers “Beer n’ Bones” a cocktail party with interactive science stations.
As soon as you enter, you’re greeted by a huge mammoth skeleton. From there, you can take in all the dinosaur bones and meteorite specimens that you can handle. The kids can even take pictures with Rexy and Dum-Dum from A Night at the Museum.
Plan to spend at least two hours to take in everything, and there’s plenty of parking in the street and free parking areas surrounding the museum. The recently expanded light rail takes you right to the heart of downtown Mesa now, making the museum far more accessible. If you’re an educator, the museum offers resources for educators including activities and group admission rates. The museum is a perfect way to stay entertained and cool during the hot summer months. For hours, admission prices and directions, go to azmnh.org.
