Scottsdale's Museum of the West gets a $12M makeover
Old Town's Gem Just Got a Whole Lot Bigger
If you have ever spent a couple of hours wandering through Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West and walked out wishing there was more to see, your prayers have been answered in a very big way. The beloved Old Town cultural anchor is about to unveil a massive new wing, and Valley residents have a car dealer from the past to thank for it.
The Louis Sands IV Center opens to the public on Saturday, March 28, adding 12,000 square feet and four brand-new galleries to the already impressive 43,000-square-foot building. When the dust settles, the museum will stretch to a total of 55,000 square feet, making it a quarter larger than before. The $12 million expansion was funded entirely through a stunning donation from the late Louis "Buzz" Sands IV, a longtime Valley Chevrolet dealer, University of Arizona superfan, and passionate art collector who passed away in 2012.
The new two-story addition launches with four exhibitions worth the drive to Marshall Way alone. Visions in Bronze traces frontier sculpture from Frederic Remington to contemporary Native American artists. From Earth to the Stars explores the breathtaking tradition of American Indian jewelry. Fire of Ages rounds out the main floor, while the upper level is dedicated entirely to the debut of the Eddie Basha Collection, featuring masterworks of Western and Indigenous art assembled by the late Bashas' grocery chain CEO over four decades. It is considered one of the most significant private art collections ever assembled in Arizona.
The weeklong grand opening celebration, themed Unmistakably West, runs March 24 through 29, with museum members getting a sneak peek on March 27. Public Opening Day on March 28 is free and features music, demonstrations, and gallery programs. Advance passes are available at westernspirit.org.
This is Old Town Scottsdale doing what it does best, and it is not something you want to miss.
Sources: KTAR | East Valley Tribune | Scottsdale.org | Western Spirit | AZ Digital Free Press