Step back in time to learn about the history of Mesa — the first pioneers settled the Mesa area in 1877 — and Arizona from museums such as one that shows prehistoric creatures, cultures of the Southwest and the history of the Sonoran Desert; to one that focuses on America’s favorite pastime — baseball; and another that shows military planes from World War I to the present.
Interested in the arts? There are sculptures at the Valley Metro light rail stations and at key locations in downtown Mesa. And the Mesa Ats Center hosts performances throughout the year.
Falcon Field Airport viewing areas
Falcon Field Airport's control tower at 4800 E. Falcon Drive in Mesa.
Richard H. Dyer
Falcon Field Airport has viewing areas at 4800 E. Falcon Drive in Mesa.
Richard H. Dyer
Location: 4800 E. Falcon Drive in Mesa
Cost: Free
Falcon Field opened in September 1941 as a military airport to train British Royal Air Force and U.S. Army Air Corps pilots.
Now there are more than 800 aircraft including fixed-wing, single- and multi-engine aircraft, turboprops, jets and helicopters.
The public is welcome to enjoy two aircraft viewing areas at the Falcon Field Airport terminal building — a patio behind the terminal and a separate aircraft viewing area adjacent to the terminal. Both areas face the aircraft parking ramp and offer close-up views of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters on the ramp, taxiways and runways.
The airport includes a total of 784 acres between Greenfield, Higley, McDowell and McKellips roads in northeast Mesa, according to https://www.falconfieldairport.com.
Mesa Arts Center
Mesa Arts Center is at 1 E. Main St. in Mesa.
Richard H. Dyer
Location: 1 E. Main St. in Mesa
Cost: Cost for special events
The center is owned and operated by the city of Mesa and is home to four theaters, five art galleries and 14 art studios. Mesa Arts Center’s mission is to create meaningful arts experiences in Mesa for everyone. Go to https://www.mesaartscenter.com.
Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum
Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum is on the grounds of Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. in Mesa.
Richard H. Dyer
Location: On the grounds of Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. in Mesa
Hours of operation: Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday and June 29–Aug. 14.
Cost: Free
The museum collects exhibits and cares for contemporary works of traditional media and works on paper such as ceramics, fibers, basketry, metals, wood, glass, jewelry, papermaking and book arts. Go to https://www.mesaartscenter.com/about-museum.
Downtown art at light rail stations
Check out the downtown art at light rail stations in Mesa, including at Mesa Drive and Main Street.
Richard H. Dyer
Location: At the light rail stations in Mesa, including at Mesa Drive and Main Street
Cost: Free
If taking the Valley Metro light trail from a Mesa station, be sure to check the art such as the book-page art at the Mesa Drive and Main Street light rail station titled “Sixteen Stories of One Home Town.” It tells Mesa’s history through the eyes of children. Artworks are different at each station. Go to https://tinyurl.com/5a9386f9. See the locations of other downtown Mesa public art at https://downtownmesa.com/explore/public-art.
Arizona Museum of Natural History
Arizona Museum of Natural History is at 53 N. Macdonald in Mesa.
Richard H. Dyer
Location: 53 N. Macdonald in Mesa
Hours of operation: Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday and most federal and city holidays
Cost: Admission $16 for adults, $13 for ages 65 and older, $9 for children 3-12.
At the museum, every gallery is crafted from scientific exploration, bringing prehistoric creatures, ancient cultures and hands-on learning to life in unforgettable ways. Visitors encounter towering dinosaurs, cultures of the Southwest, glittering minerals, Ice Age giants and the history of the Sonoran Desert. Go to https://www.azmnh.org.
Arizona Baseball Museum
Arizona Baseball Museum is at 2345 N. Horne in Mesa.
Richard H. Dyer
Location: 2345 N. Horne in Mesa
Cost: Free
The Mesa Historical Museum recently opened the museum dedicated solely to Arizona’s baseball history. Located in the historic Lehi Auditorium, the museum shares the story of the origins of baseball in Arizona from early military posts and mining towns to community teams and the rise of spring training. Go to https://www.arizonabaseballmuseum.org.
Mesa Urban Garden
Mesa Urban Garden is at 212 E. First Ave. in Mesa.
Richard H. Dyer
Location: 212 E. First Ave.
Cost: Free
Mesa Urban Garden is a nonprofit community garden in the heart of downtown Mesa. Its mission is to inspire sustainable urban living by creating a welcoming gathering space that brings people together through gardening, education, community involvement, and creative cooperation. Go to https://mesaurbangarden.org.
Mesa Public Libraries
The sculpture on the outside of the south side of Mesa Main Public Library, 64 E. First St., is called “In Pursuit...” and was done by artist Susan Furini.
Richard H. Dyer
Locations: Main library, 64 E. First St.; Dobson Ranch Library, 2425 S. Dobson Road; Red Mountain Library, 635 N. Power Road; Mesa Express Library, 7045 E. Monterey Ave.; Gateway Library, 5036 S. Eastmark Parkway.
Hours of operation: Varied
Stop by a Mesa library for more than just new books, movies, audiobooks, downloadables, magazines and newspapers. You can also pick up a culture pass that gives library users two free tickets to participating local cultural institutions. Each household can check out one pass at a time for a maximum of two a month. Learn about the culture passes at https://act1az.org/culture-pass. Go to https://www.mesalibrary.org for library information including hours.
Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum
Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum is at 2017 N. Greenfield Road in Mesa.
Richard H. Dyer
Location: 2017 N. Greenfield Road in Mesa
Hours of operation: Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday
Cost: $20 for adults 18 and older, $15 for 65 and older and veterans; and $10 for children 5-17
The combat aviation museum shows how aircraft evolved to ground and sea operations from World War I to the present. Walk through a maintenance hangar and watch aircraft mechanics maintain the flying aircraft. Climb aboard bombers and cargo planes. The mission of the organization is education, such that generations of Americans will value and support the contributions of military aviation in assuring our nation’s freedom. Go to https://www.azcaf.org.
Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center
Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center at 50 N. Centennial Way in Mesa is the site for The Sidney Poitier New American Film School.
Richard H. Dyer
Location: 50 N. Centennial Way in Mesa
Hours and cost: Varied
The Arizona State University’s MIX Center is more than the site for The Sidney Poitier New American Film School, it also hosts hundreds of students who are designing new virtual worlds and video games, and creating other immersive media experiences of all kinds. It also has events, such as an all-levels vinyasa yoga class for all levels of experience, a game-based-learning camp on the Endstar Platform. Under location, search for ASU at Mesa City enter at https://asuevents.asu.edu for events.
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines, https://www.yourvalley.net/civility-checklist/.
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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