Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West is celebrating summer with its second annual “The Cool Frontier,” a summer schedule of events designed for cool fun. The museum, which recently honored actor Kevin Costner with a 2025 Western Spirit Award, showcases the art, culture, and rich history spanning 19 states in the American West, Western Canada, and Mexico.
BOGO Tickets
The museum’s “It’s Cool in Here”-themed event includes a range of offerings and specials. Among them is a summer BOGO—guests who purchase one adult or senior admission ticket at the regular price recieve a second one of equal value free. The free tickets are valid until Sept. 30, 2025.
Artists Tuesdays
On Tuesdays, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. in June, July, and August, artists, including Lindsay Green, Ira Grin, Paul Steele, Milly Guthrie, Kathy Howard and many others, will be at the museum painting their artwork in person.
“Artist Tuesdays will allow our visitors to watch some of our local western artists at work—or maybe discover a new favorite,” says Todd Bankofier, CEO and executive director of Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. “This series offers a special and unique chance to literally watch the creative process in action as some of our most talented and local artists create art in front of your eyes!”
Western Movies
There will also be weekly movies offered in the locale’s air-conditioned theater. The Spaghetti Western-themed movies feature actors such as Clint Eastwood, Jack Palance, and Lee Van Cleef. The schedule includes:
- A Fistful of Dollars – Tuesday, June 3
- Django – Sunday, June 8
- The Big Gundown – Tuesday, June 10
- The Good, the Bad, and The Ugly – Sunday, June 15
- The Great Silence – Tuesday, June 17
- The Mercenary – Sunday, June 22
- They Call Me Trinity – Tuesday, June 24
- Man of the East – Sunday, June 29
A Variety of Exhibits
Additionally, guests can explore the Women of the Southwest: A Legacy of Painting exhibit. On view through Aug. 24, 2025, it features almost 200 works by 25 pioneering women artists. There’s also A Decade of Western Spirit, a large-scale timeline on display in the lobby highlights the groundbreaking exhibitions and achievements that have helped make Western Spirit a Smithsonian Affiliate museum that is regularly named the #1 Western Museum in the United States.
Other ongoing exhibits showcased this summer include:
- Collecting Stories: John Coleman Bronzes from the Collection of Frankie and Howard Alper. The exhibit features a selection of bronzes from the Alper Family’s collection, including the 10-piece Explorer Artist Series, inspired by the 19th century paintings of George Catlin and Karl Bodmer.
- Canvas of Clay: Hopi Pottery Masterworks from The Allan and Judith Cooke Collection. This exhibit is on display for the first time and includes more than 65 of the finest examples of Hopi pottery.
- Courage & Crossroads: A Visual Journey through the American West. Meriwether Lewis’ presentation style pipe tomahawk and other rare Native American objects serve as the centerpiece of this story of America’s West in the 19th and early 20th centuries; in all, the exhibit includes more than 100 paintings and sculptures.
- The A.P. Hays Spirit of the West Collection. The exhibit offers a collection of 1,400 Old West items from Scottsdale gallerist Abe Hay; these include revolvers, rifles, saddles, knives, holsters, spurs, chaps, badges and more.
- People, Places, Predicaments: John Clymer’s West. Clymer was an extraordinary artist whose work vividly captured the spirit of exploration and adventure of the American West. The exhibit features over 50 paintings by John Ford Clymer from the Eddie Basha Collection.
“We know that the relentless summer heat can be challenging for many people. We are excited to give everyone the opportunity to come in, cool off, and enjoy our summer schedule—all while saving some money on tickets, and hopefully becoming fans of all the West has to offer,” says Bankofier. “We welcome everyone to round up their family, come join us, and see how at Western Spirit, it’s cool in here!”
3830 N. Marshall Way, Scottsdale, AZ, 85251
