June marks the beginning of our busiest time of year with a multitude of events throughout the summer. Our beautiful location is special anytime of the year, but summer is especially wonderful here at the Museum of Northern Arizona.

This month sees the return of one of MNA’s most cherished traditions—the Heritage Festival of Arts and Culture, a celebration of living Indigenous culture and creative expression. We’re proud to welcome around 100 Native American artists from across the Colorado Plateau on June 28 and 29. I encourage you to come explore their exquisite works of jewelry, pottery, basketry, fine art, performances, and more. Our galleries provide an insight into the past and present of the Native communities on the Colorado Plateau, while the festival is a wonderful opportunity to talk with many artists from these communities and learn about their creative processes and influences.

June also brings the debut of our latest exhibit, Shifting Life Zones, which builds upon Flagstaff’s unique role in the history of environmental research and explores how plants across the region are responding to changes in the climate. Through vivid visuals, hands-on elements, and insights from our scientists, the exhibit spills out into the Jaime Major Golightly Courtyard to highlight stories of adaptation, vulnerability, and resilience, as well as how people can help native plants thrive.

I hope to see you this summer—at the Heritage Festival and in the Museum—as we continue to celebrate the vibrant cultures and natural wonders of this remarkable place.

Mary Kershaw

Executive Director & CEO

Museum of Northern Arizona

Visit the Museum Become a Member The Museum Shop

Open Daily 10 am to 5 pm

Purchase admission tickets online or at the door.

Mark Your Calendar

Heritage Festival: June 28-29

Immerse yourself in the vibrant artistic traditions of the Colorado Plateau at the 2025 Heritage Festival of Arts and Culture June 28-29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. The festival features 100 Native American artists selling a stunning array of unique handmade treasures, from pottery to fine art, textiles to jewelry. We’re excited to welcome the DinéTah Navajo Dancers and Diné singer/songwriter Hataałii at this year’s festival. See the full lineup and get early access to tickets.MNA members can enjoy a Festival Kickoff celebration Friday evening, June 27.

Help Support MNA’s Mission

Just a few tickets remain for our third annual Party on the Plateau! Purchase yours here if you would like to join us this Saturday, June 7. If you can’t make it to the event, you can still help us meet our fundraising goal and support our mission—sharing the art, science, and culture of the magical Colorado Plateau.

Here are two ways to support MNA:

Bid on items in our online auction (closes June 7)

Make a donation online

Thirsty Thursdays Are Back

A favorite for live music, food, drinks, and fun—Thirsty Thursdays are back in MNA’s Jaime Major Golightly Courtyard. Here’s the music lineup:

June 12: Strings Duo Matt Sarnoski & Brian David

July 10: Jacqui Foreman

August 14: Sean Golightly Trio

Cost is $8 for Museum members, $18 for non-members, free for children under 10. Purchase tickets online or at the door. See our events page for full details and tickets.

Natural Specimens in MNA Collections

Did you know that MNA houses the most complete collection of the biota of the southern Colorado Plateau. This Suckley’s cuckoo bumble bee, possibly soon endangered, is one example. By collecting and preserving such specimens, MNA helps researchers study how species change over time, how ecosystems shift, and what conservation actions might help. You can see some MNA specimens from the natural world on public view now in our Collecting in a Changing World and Shifting Life Zones exhibits.

Easton Collection Center Tours

We’ve expanded access to our behind-the-scenes tour—now offered every month. Join us for an exclusive experience where you’ll explore the impressive Easton Collection Center and get a closer look at MNA’s extraordinary collections of cultural artifacts, natural specimens, and fine art. Led by experienced guides, this tour offers art and cultural enthusiasts an up-close view of pottery, jewelry, paintings, weavings, historic artifacts, and more. Spaces are limited. Register today to secure your spot!

Many local businesses, organizations, and individuals are critical to the success of Museum of Northern Arizona programs and events. We’d like to give a shout out and offer our gratitude to the following sponsors for their support at two of our premier events.

Shifting Life Zones

Shifting Life Zones invites visitors to explore the transformations unfolding across northern Arizona landscapes. This region, where the concept of life zones originated, is a prime example of how zones are shifting with climate changes. The exhibit unveils the shifting boundaries of plant life as they adapt to a warming world and points to changes here on the Museum’s campus and across the broader region.

Collecting in a Changing World

Highlighting newer MNA acquisitions, this exhibit explores the stories behind the additions and reveals how they contribute to advancing knowledge, preserving heritage, and shaping future exhibits. Some objects are visually striking, others are less conspicuous yet hold value for their scientific or cultural significance. The show includes pottery, kachinas, paintings, natural specimens, and more.

Poetry Maps

Showcasing fine art from our collections and poems from our community, the exhibition brings together many viewpoints, expressed in visual art and verse. These paintings and poems serve as a map through place and time, revealing perspectives that form a collective connection to the extraordinary landscapes of the Colorado Plateau.

Sterling Silver Overlay Water Bracelet

This remarkable cuff bracelet is handmade by Hopi silversmith Anderson Koinva, Sun Forehead Clan. Koinva is from Second Mesa and learned the Hopi overlay technique from his father-in-law, Bernard Dawahoya. See this piece and other authentic Native American works for sale in our Museum Gift Shop and online at shopmusnaz.org. All proceeds benefit the artists and the Museum of Northern Arizona.