Get out of the classroom and into the Heard Museum!

Guided Tours

HOME: Native People in the Southwest (Grades K-12) highlights the ancestral and present-day Native people of the Greater Southwest. This exhibition shows a wide array of Indigenous creativity including pottery, baskets, jewelry, and Hopi katsina dolls.

Self-Directed Visits

1. HOME: Native People in the Southwest (Grades K-12) highlights the ancestral and present-day Native people of the Greater Southwest. This exhibition shows a wide array of Indigenous creativity including pottery, baskets, jewelry, and Hopi katsina dolls

2. Away from Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories (Grades 7-12) traces the history of the U.S. government’s efforts to “kill the Indian and save the man.” The exhibition highlights the arrival of students, their classroom work, dorms and extracurricular activities. Many multimedia stations enhance the experience.

3. “Highlights of the Heard” gives groups the opportunity to spend a bit of time in each of the galleries in the museum.

Guided Tours are available Monday – Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Self-Directed visits are available daily between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Guided Tours

Our expert Docents from the Heard Museum Guild’s Las Guias group will skillfully lead your tour.

Self-Directed Visits

Teachers and chaperones will lead their students in groups.

You can book at tour up to a year in advance, and no later than 3 weeks in advance.

Guided tours last for 45 minutes. Self-Directed visits are booked for an hour.

*Please note: If your group is larger than 60 students, please plan to spend at least two hours at the museum.

Guided Tours accommodate a maximum of 120 students. Self-Directed visits cater to groups of up to 80 students.

*Please note: if your group exceeds 60 students, you will be divided into two rotations and should plan to stay for two hours.

We require a 1:7 chaperone to student ratio for grades K-8 and a 1:10 ratio for grades 9-12.

Valley Metro offers Free Field Trip Passes for preschool, elementary, and junior high students traveling with their teachers, or special needs high school groups.

Maximum Group Size: 35

Available Mon – Fri, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

A one-week notice is necessary to receive the Field Trip Pass as the pass is sent by mail.

To request a Free Field Trip Pass from Valley Metro, fill out this form online or call 602-253-5000.

Thanks to generous support, we do not charge individual student or chaperone fees. Instead, each group pays a one-time $20 booking fee to secure the tour.

Currently, we feature the Plains Cuff art activity, led by Heard Museum Staff, and the Self-Directed Outdoor Art Walk activity, which focuses on six works of art located on the Heard campus. Self-Directed groups can request copies of our in-gallery animal search activity. Interested in adding an activity to your tour? Let us know during booking or email [email protected]. More activities on the horizon!

Groups can pay using check or credit card. Further details will be shared upon booking.

Absolutely! Lunches and water bottles can be stored in our Dorrance Education Building. The Hearst Foundations Children’s Courtyard and the Libby Amphitheater are both great outdoor lunch spots.

Currently, we do not offer lunch for purchase at the museum.

Of course! Please fill out the booking form. If you have any additional questions, reach out to [email protected].

Yes! Buses may load/unload and park in the Bus Bay outside of the Dorrance Education Building.

Buses should enter on Encanto off of Central Avenue and leave out of the Monte Vista exit. Buses may remain in the Bus Bay during the visit, but please shut off the engine. Restrooms are conveniently located in the Dorrance Education Building.

Download map showing bus bay

ASL, Spanish, and French Language translation can be arranged with prior notice.

Assistive listening devices are available at the Admissions desk.

Printed text about the exhibitions is available at the Admissions desk.

While it is the museum policy that any guest may use the restroom that aligns with their gender identity, single-stall, all-gender restrooms are located in the Grand Gallery for your convenience.

If you have any questions or specific needs for the tour, please let us know in advance.

Yes! School Tour Campus Map

Use this one-pager to prep students in advance of the trip.

School Tour Museum Policies

Guided Tours
Most tours of HOME: Native People in the Southwest at the Heard Museum support classroom instruction surrounding State History and Social Science Standards. However, each tour varies slightly based on guide and group interests.

Tours of HOME serve as a broad introduction to the different Indigenous peoples of the Southwest and may not cover each standard that refers to Arizona’s Tribal Nations.

Most tours of HOME: Native People in the Southwest at the Heard Museum support classroom instruction of the AZ Visual Arts Standards. The artistic process of Creating is utilized in school visits art activities. The artistic processes of Presenting, Responding and Connecting are supported through participation in the Heard’s school visits within the galleries.

If there are specific areas you hope to cover in your tour, please let us know in advance.

More information can be found here.

School Tour AZ State Standards

Self-Directed Tours

As Self-Directed visits are led by the teachers/chaperones, the AZ State Standards covered during the visit will be up to the teacher to choose.

Most visits in HOME: Native People in the Southwest at the Heard Museum support classroom instruction surrounding State History and Social Science Standards.

For changes, email [email protected].

To cancel, call Visitor Services at least 3 business days in advance at 602.252.8840.

Please note that no-shows incur a $25 cancellation fee.