Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West is bringing back its popular summer program, “The Cool Frontier,” for a second year. This program offers guests a refreshing escape from the heat and a lineup of exciting events and exhibitions. This season’s theme, “It’s Cool in Here,” celebrates the museum’s climate-controlled comfort and its rich exploration of art, history, and culture.
To mark the occasion, the museum is offering a Buy One, Get One Free admission deal. Guests who purchase a regular adult or senior ticket will receive a second ticket of equal value at no cost. This promotion runs through September 30, 2025, giving visitors the chance to explore the museum’s offerings at a great value.
Visitors can experience a range of compelling exhibitions, beginning with A Decade of Western Spirit, a detailed timeline in the museum’s lobby that reflects on its most impactful exhibits and achievements over the past ten years. Western Spirit has earned national recognition as a Smithsonian Affiliate and was recently named a 2025 inductee into the Scottsdale History Hall of Fame.
One of the most significant exhibits is Women of the Southwest: A Legacy of Painting, on view through August 24. This collection includes nearly 200 works from 25 pioneering women artists, all donated by Fran and Edward Elliott. These women were trailblazers, such as Lillian Wilhelm Smith, the first woman to paint Rainbow Bridge and the sole female illustrator of Zane Grey’s novels, and Jessie Benton Evans, who helped launch Arizona’s first state fair art show in 1915.
In addition, the museum features a range of other ongoing exhibits. Highlights include Collecting Stories: John Coleman Bronzes from the Alper Family Collection, Canvas of Clay: Hopi Pottery Masterworks, featuring over 65 pieces displayed for the first time, and Courage & Crossroads, which showcases over 100 objects that narrate the American West’s history.
Visitors can also explore the A.P. Hays Spirit of the West Collection, housing over 1,400 Old West artifacts, and People, Places, Predicaments: John Clymer’s West, with more than 50 paintings capturing the adventurous spirit of the West.
Every Tuesday from June through August, the museum will host Artist Tuesdays, where guests can watch artists like Lindsay Green, Ira Grin, and Kathy Howard create work in real time between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. CEO Todd Bankofier says the program offers “a special and unique chance to watch the creative process in action.”
Western Spirit will screen a lineup of classic Spaghetti Western films throughout June in its air-conditioned theater. These include favorites such as A Fistful of Dollars, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, and They Call Me Trinity, providing a cinematic escape for fans of the genre.
As the desert heat sets in, Western Spirit invites the community to explore its exhibits, enjoy art demonstrations, and cool off with iconic Western films. As Bankofier puts it, “Round up your family, come join us, and see how at Western Spirit, it’s cool in here.” For more, visit westernspirit.org.
