Phoenix is home to a growing list of museums and cultural arts venues, offering visitors plenty to see and do during their stay in the Valley of the Sun. Whether you are visiting alone or with your family, rest assured that even the young ones will find something to keep them busy and excited. Below are some of the top-rated museums in Phoenix. Learn information about Phoenix, AZ.

Arizona State University Art Museum

Located in a stunning contemporary building, this museum showcases a variety of galleries with ever-changing exhibits. The predominant emphases include modern, Latin, and folk art and an array of arts and crafts. The permanent collection is substantial on pieces exemplifying new media, ceramics and other skills, prints, art from Arizona and the Southwest, and art of the Americas. Visitors are encouraged to stop by the gift shop, which contains various items similar to the original pieces displayed in the gallery. The museum has been named one of the best venues for contemporary art in the country by top art publications. Discover facts about Phoenix, AZ is a Nightlife Paradise.

Arizona Capitol Museum

Housed in an impressive stone building that once served as the state capitol, this museum documents Arizona’s time as a territory and its early statehood. The structure is crowned with a copper dome and a 16-foot zinc Winged Victory statue. The building contains flags documenting the state’s history, including those representing Spain, Mexico, and the Confederacy. Offices and congressional chambers have been restored to period splendor, and Megargee paintings (with Arizona as their theme) grace the interior. World War II buffs can browse the USS Arizona display, which offers artifacts, recollections from survivors, and a specially commissioned silver service.

Phoenix Art Museum

Another institution growing by leaps and bounds, this museum’s scope is indisputably international, with works representing American, Asian, European, and Latin American art. The museum also features exhibits on fashion and the Thorne miniature rooms (rooms from different historical periods, scaled down to hatbox size). With more than 18,000 works of American, Asian, European, Latin American, Western American, modern, and contemporary art, expect to spend some time exploring the halls of this vibrant museum. Major exhibitions, film screenings, and various cultural events fill the calendar at this popular attraction. Make sure to stop by the gift shop on your way out for unique, art-inspired items.

Musical Instrument Museum

The Musical Instrument Museum, also known as the MIM, celebrates art, music, and culture by documenting the history of musical instruments worldwide. Everyone from Carlos Santana to Tony Bennett has sung the praises of this bright, open museum, which also hosts a full calendar of live music events. The museum collection includes instruments from 200 countries worldwide, emphasizing ethnic, folk, and tribal music. Guests are given wireless headsets to hear instruments being played at each display. Flat-panel monitors throughout the museum allow guests to see instruments being performed live. Whether you love Chinese opera or Big Band jazz, the MIM celebrates the joy of musical expression in all its forms. And it is one of the fun-filled museums you shouldn’t miss visiting.