Museum of Northern Arizona
The Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff, AZ, collects and cares for Indigenous objects and natural history collections from across the Colorado Plateau. A zoologist, Harold S. Colton, and an artist, Mary-Russell Ferrell Colton, founded it in 1928. It sits on North Fort Valley Road, about 2.4 miles off the old road, and is listed on the National Register. For travellers heading on toward the Grand Canyon region, it is a good introduction to the land and its people.
What is Museum of Northern Arizona?
The museum was set up as a home for objects made by Indigenous peoples and for plant, animal and rock specimens gathered across the Colorado Plateau, the high country that stretches across northern Arizona and beyond. Its mission is to preserve the past and the cultures of the region, so the galleries speak to both the land and the people who have lived on it.
Beyond the main building, the museum runs a research and cultural center at the Colton House, outside Flagstaff. It also takes part in the North American Reciprocal Museums network.
History of Museum of Northern Arizona
Harold S. Colton, a zoologist, and Mary-Russell Ferrell Colton, an artist, were a couple from Philadelphia. They founded the museum in 1928, and the collection reflects both of their fields, spanning natural history and Native cultures. The museum's historic importance is recognized by its listing on the National Register.
Visiting Museum of Northern Arizona: tips
The museum is at 3101 North Fort Valley Road, about 2.4 miles off Route 66 on the north side of Flagstaff. It is listed as wheelchair accessible. Allow at least an hour or two, more if you like to read every label. A bed and breakfast is under a mile away if you want to stay nearby.
Lowell Observatory is about 2.2 miles off and the Robotic Lunar Observatory about 2.1 miles, so a day of science and culture in Flagstaff is easy to put together. Downtown's historic buildings, such as the Presbyterian Church Parsonage, are about 2.6 miles away.
Practical info
- Address
- 3101 N Fort Valley Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
- Phone
- +1 928-774-5213
- Website
- musnaz.org
- Hours
- Daily 10–5
- On site & nearby
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Questions about Museum of Northern Arizona
Who founded the Museum of Northern Arizona?
Harold S. Colton, a zoologist, and Mary-Russell Ferrell Colton, an artist, founded it in 1928.
What is in the Museum of Northern Arizona?
Objects from Indigenous cultures and natural history collections from the Colorado Plateau, gathered to preserve the history and cultures of the region.
Own or run Museum of Northern Arizona? Send us a photo or a correction.