Leslie Loeza
The Heard Museum was absolutely emotionally packed and heartfelt. From the moment you walk in, the architecture alone feels special. It has a true Southwestern presence, and as someone who grew up in the area but has lived away for a long time, it felt deeply grounding and meaningful to experience that again. We immediately went to the kids’ room, and both of my children, ages 9 and 16, absolutely loved it. They spent hours there playing, exploring, and engaging with the activities. It was thoughtfully designed and genuinely engaging for a wide age range. We did a self-guided walk-through since I had my kids and my parents with us, but I did overhear portions of guided tours happening around us. The information shared by the guides sounded incredibly rich and informative, and I would love to do a guided tour next time. The museum beautifully preserves Indigenous history, culture, and art, not only from the past but also from the present. I really appreciated how they wove historical narratives together with living, current voices. One of the most impactful exhibits for me was the boarding school exhibit. My husband and I had previously visited Fort Totten in Spirit Lake, North Dakota, where we saw an actual boarding school site, and this exhibit moved me to tears almost immediately. This one felt compassionate, aware, and focused on understanding, healing, and how we can do better. I noticed many visitors around me were visibly emotional and shocked by how much of this history they had never been taught. There was so much emotion, so many voices, and so much truth in this space. It was heavy, but necessary, and beautifully handled. I loved the art, the atmosphere, the depth of knowledge, and the care put into every part of this museum. I can’t wait to return and experience it again.
