Culture of Phoenix. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

One of the main historical symbols of Phoenix is the Arizona State Capitol . This strict building with tall columns and a reduced replica of the Statue of Liberty on the roof had belonged to government organizations for a long time. Now it is converted into a museum. The neoclassical-style Capitol is considered one of the most striking monuments of architecture in the country. During its construction, local tufa served as the main building material. The building owes its spectacular appearance to the material's decorative properties in some degree.

The city's most visited cultural institution is the Heard Museum, whose exposition is devoted to the culture and traditions of the Indians who had inhabited these places since ancient times. The museum's collection is priceless: it includes many cult objects and household items, and one of the most significant is the collection of Hopi Kachina figures. Travelers interested in ancient history should definitely visit the Pueblo Grande Museum Archaeological Park. Hundreds of years ago there was a large settlement of the Hohokam people who had to leave their home because of consecutive drought. Today everyone can walk along the streets of the ancient Indian settlement and see some original building of Native Americans.

When it comes to prominent cultural establishments of the city, we cannot ignore the famous Phoenix Art Museum . Within its walls is a vast collection of paintings, including the works by outstanding American, Latin American and Asian artists. The today's number of museum exhibits exceeds 16,000. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

A very interesting institution for visiting as a family is the Arizona Science Center . It has become a permanent venue for holding interesting exhibitions and cultural events. In the center is a magnificent botanical garden. Typical species of the desert area of the state form the basis of its collection. There was a time when some plants were worth its weight in gold for the Aborigines and literally helped nomads survive in the desert. Travelers fascinated by oriental culture cannot miss their chance to visit the Japanese Friendship Garden, Ro Ho En. Every day beautiful tea ceremonies are held here. The garden is distinguished by a luxurious design in the national style of the Land of the Rising Sun.

There are also quite unusual sights in the city, including the local Fire Museum . This cultural center is dedicated to firefighters who died in the line of duty. The museum tells about firefighters' outstanding feats and shows visitors a very diverse collection. In the immediate vicinity of Phoenix is an amazing village of Scottsdale , which enjoys incredible popularity with tourists as well. Since ancient times, the village known as a "colony of artists" is famous for its variety of art workshops and galleries. It will be interesting to visit this place for art lovers and those who have long dreamed of ordering their own portraits.

Fans of unusual tours would be happy to explore the McCormick Ranch located in the vicinity of Phoenix. It occupies a vast territory and even has its own railway. In addition, there is a pretty interesting theme park on the ranch, as well as lots of beautiful places to walk and landscaped recreation areas. This is only a small part of all the amazing attractions of Phoenix - its area is surrounded by many natural and archaeological sites from all sides.