If you’re looking for a short respite from intense Arizona weather, duck into the air-conditioned Hall of Flame Fire Museum and the National Firefighting Hall of Heroes for a glimpse of heat of a different kind.

The museum covers about an acre, and has an impressive display of fire history exhibits. A catalog accompanies the exhibits, allowing you more detailed information.

There are impressive displays of over 100 fire trucks and their apparatus, covering a period from 1725 – 1969, all of which have been beautifully and painstakingly restored.  The collection also boasts over 10,000 smaller objects related to the history of fire fighting.  In addition, the library has over 6,000 publications (books, journals, magazines, catalogs, etc.) and over 50,000 graphics (mostly photographs but also some paintings and other artwork).

While young children may be bored with many of the exhibits, they’ll love the fire trucks.  One engine is available for visitors to board, and it’s a prime location for photographs of both kids and adults alike.   There is also a good-sized fire safety exhibit that has hands on activities for children.

The Hall of Flame sponsors the National Firefighting Hall of Heroes, which is sponsored by the National Historical Fire Foundation.  It honors fire fighters who have died in the line of duty or who have been decorated for heroism.  There is also a reflective exhibit for those fire fighters who perished on 9/11.

Location:  6101 East Van Buren Street (in Papago Park), across from the Phoenix Zoo and adjacent to Phoenix Municipal Stadium (map).

Hours:  Open Monday through Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm, and Sunday, noon – 4 pm. The facility is also available as a rental for special events.

Admission:  $6 for adults, $5 for seniors (62+), $4 for student (ages 6-17), $1.50 for children (ages 3-5), and free for children under 3.  Group rates are available.   Parking is free and plentiful.

Photo credit:  SXC

This post mentions: Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting.

Frank Lloyd Wright is probably the best known American architect, with a body of work that has influenced and shaped the course of building in this country.  His former home, Taliesin West (pronounced Tally-ehssen) in Scottsdale, Arizona, has become the international headquarters for the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, and is also open for public tours.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West

Taliesin West was built in the mid-1930′s, and is an example of Wright’s concept of organic architecture — building that evolves naturally out of it’s location.  He design and built ecological sound, sustainable architecture long before it’s current popularity.  It’s no surprise then, that Wright, along with some architectural apprentices, gathered desert rocks and sand to build this showcase home that is both in the desert and of the desert.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that this is just another museum.  Part home, part museum, and part art, Taliesin West is home to a working community of architects and students who live, work and study at the site, with a purpose of continuing the Wright architectural legacy.  The site covers over 600 acres, in addition to the complex.

Some of the notable features of Taliesin West include:

• Cabaret Theater (film)
• Pavilion Theater (performing arts)
• Drafting studio
• Wright’s architectural office and living quarters
• Outdoor pools, terraces, and gardens
• Workshop and residences for students and staff
• Experimental desert residences (built by apprentices)

Aluminium Bathroom at Taliesen West

A variety of tours are offered, including Panorama (1 hour), Insights (1 1/2 hours), Behind the Scenes (3 hours) Desert Walk, Shelter Tour, Night Lights on the Desert, and a Photography tour (all 2 hours).  For the holidays, an additional Holiday Light Tour (2 hours) is added.  The Taliesin West tour schedule provides a full listing of tour availability (based on season), duration, and cost.

Taliesin West, now a National Historic Landmark. is located at the intersection of Cactus Road and Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard, approximately 114th Street, (map) in northeast Scottsdale.  In addition to public tours, it is also available for rental for receptions, dinners, and meetings.

Photo credit:  Artotem (exterior), Moody75 (bathroom) @flickr

This post mentions: Taliesin West.