Since the Heard Museum was not far from our last stop, the Japanese Gardens, we decided to hop on over. Before this trip, I had never heard of the Heard (see what I did there?) but soon learned that it was one of the leading museums devoted to Native American art, history, and culture. It was founded in 1929 by a Chicago-born businessman, Dwight Heard and his wife, Maie, who moved to Phoenix in the late 1800s because of Dwight’s health – tuberculosis to be exact. He had a deep interest in archaeology and indigenous cultures of the Southwest. Their collecting began when they supported archaeological excavations with money Dwight made in Phoenix real estate.
I didn’t learn that in school.
I didn’t write about the Heard Museum’s permanent exhibit Away From Home which powerfully tells the story of American Indian boarding schools – places where Native children were taken from their families and pressured to abandon their culture. I didn’t think I would do it justice to summarize it. The exhibit uses photographs, artifacts, and personal accounts telling a powerful story of both the hardship of these institutions and the resilience of the students who lived through them.
Julia and I ended our day at the Heard Museum after a wonderful morning at the Japanese Friendship Garden (Part 1). What a beautiful blend of history, culture, and powerful storytelling!
New City New State 