Musical Instrument Museum

Most instrument museums concentrate on Western classical pieces. MIM set out to do something else. Founder Bob Ulrich, then CEO of Target Corporation, wanted a museum of the instruments people play every day all over the world, and the result opened in Phoenix in April 2010. It now holds more than 7,500 instruments from more than 200 countries and territories.

The visit works because you hear as well as see. A headset and guidePORT receiver, included with admission, connect automatically to video monitors at more than 300 exhibits as you approach them. Galleries are arranged by world region, so it's easy to spend an hour in one continent and rush the rest. Other galleries cover artists and mechanical music. Don't skip the Experience Gallery, where you can play instruments similar to those on display, or the Steinway in the main corridor, which anyone may try.

Plan on about three hours. MIM is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Christmas Day (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Thanksgiving, when it closes. Timed tickets are in force through April 30, 2027, so reserve in advance if you have a fixed time in mind. Adults pay $24, teens 13 to 19 pay $15 and children 4 to 12 pay $10; special exhibitions are extra. A two-day pass is available at Guest Service, and same-day re-entry is allowed if you check in on the way out. The galleries are busiest from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and weekday afternoons are quieter.

From November 6, 2026, a special exhibition presents ancient instruments from the southern kingdoms of China, at $7 extra for adults and $4 for ages 4 to 19. The MIM Music Theater also has its own ticketed concert series.

Practical points: parking is free and the lot entrance is on Mayo Boulevard, just south of Loop 101. Bring your own 3.5 mm wired headphones if you prefer them, since Bluetooth doesn't work with the system. Backpacks must be checked. Personal non-flash photography is allowed in most galleries, but not with tripods or selfie sticks. Food and drink, including water, stay in the café and family center.