10 SUMMER ’25 By Sherry Sklar he Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) houses more than 7,000 instruments and related objects from around the world, including historically significant and rare cultural artifacts. The museum is celebrating its 15th anniversary in April with concerts, lectures, demonstrations, and community events centered on – you guessed it – music. The collections within are acquired through curatorial research, collaborations with musicians and cultural institutions, and dedicated fieldwork. Guests are immersed in diverse genres, cultures and audio experiences. Visitors entering its Orientation Gallery are often astonished by the largest string instrument ever to grace an orchestra, towering between 11 and 12 feet tall. This commissioned replica of the octobasse was first developed in the mid-19th century. It is known for its deep, resonant tones – some so low they fall below the threshold of human hearing. Upstairs in the Asian Geographic Gallery, a far more unassuming but equally remarkable instrument, the Paigu Goblet Drum, is displayed. It is the oldest instrument in the collection, dating back 6,000 years. Originating from the Neolithic Yangshao culture (c. 5000-3000 BCE), this instrument provides a glimpse into the rituals of an ancient people. This striking juxtaposition between grand and humble, modern and ancient, captures the essence of the vast and diverse collection, offering insights into traditions and cultures that span time and place. Beyond that, MIM is a vibrant hub for live music, education, and public programs. The business actively engages the community, producing more than 300 concerts annually in its intimate theater and hosting special events and exhibitions. The museum partners with schools to introduce children to the joy of music and global cultures through programs like Mini Music Makers, Musical Adventures, and Junior Museum Guides. Last year, nearly 50,000 students walked the halls. “Providing opportunities for schools is important because we see it as a way to create lifelong learners. We want to spark curiosity, so students come back, bring their families, and continue to learn about the world and the music around them,” Communications Specialist Sydney Rich said. For seniors and individuals with memory loss, Memory Care and Music (presented in partnership with AARP) provides families, caregivers, and participants with an enriching experience, harnessing the power of music for emotional well-being. The galleries showcase immersive and interactive exhibitions guests can see and hear. The Geographic Galleries invite visitors to “travel the world through music,” experiencing traditions from across the globe. Other areas include the Experience Gallery, the Mechanical Music Gallery and the Collier STEM Gallery. Perhaps the most popular is the Artist Gallery, which spotlights instruments owned and played by legendary musicians like Elvis Presley, Tito Puente, Ravi Shankar and Madonna. “Visitors can fully immerse themselves. The Geographic Galleries, in particular, offer a glimpse into traditions and instruments many might never experience unless traveling to those regions,” Rich said. Stradivarius and the Golden Age of Violins and Guitars, on view in the Target Gallery through September 14, showcases more than 70 exquisitely crafted string instruments and bows by master luthiers of the 16th to 19th centuries. MIM first opened its doors on April 24, 2010, and to kick off its anniversary month, there will be a Signature Event Weekend filled with live performances, hands-on crafts, and curator-led talks. Guests can experience live demonstrations of two remarkable instruments: The Robjohn Pipe Organ, built in 1859, and the octobasse. The Music Theater offers a robust schedule of concerts throughout the year. Artistic Director Andrew Wallace, curates a diverse lineup that spans jazz, pop, classical, blues, bluegrass, rock, and world music. “In the galleries, you see musicians performing in their home countries and cultures, but in the theater, you experience it live. The intimate setting makes it a one-of-a-kind experience you can only have here,” Rich said. In the fifteen years since its opening, MIM has continued to be a place where the past and future of music converge. The collections span eras, cultures, and categories, bringing the world’s musical heritage to life in a way few institutions can. As the museum embarks on its next chapter, it remains committed to expanding its collection, deepening its impact, and inspiring future generations through the universal language of music. mim.org T Where the past and future of music converge MIM Fast Facts GENERAL INFORMATION Opened: April 24, 2010 Founder: Bob Ulrich, former CEO of Target Collection: Over 12,000 instruments and related objects On Display: 7,000+ objects, including 4,100 instruments Represented: 200+ countries and territories THE MUSEUM & BUILDING Location: 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix Size: 200,000 square feet Notable Feature: guidePORT technology allows guests to seamlessly move from one exhibit to the next, immersing themselves in audiovisual experiences that showcase the instruments played in their original cultural contexts – all without the need to press any buttons. CONCERTS & PERFORMANCES Annual Live Concerts: 300+ Concerts in 2024: Estimated 330 Venue: MIM Music Theater (300 seats, award-winning acoustics) NOTABLE INSTRUMENTS Oldest: 6,000-year-old Paigu Goblet Drum (China’s Neolithic Yangshao culture) Largest: ‘Apollonia,’ a 25-ft-wide orchestrion located in the Mechanical Music Gallery. Performances are held daily at 12 and 3 p.m. RARE FINDS: Andrea Amati Violin (c. 1560s) – One of 23 surviving Amati instruments. 48K Grand Jumbo Sousaphone (1924) – Largest playable model of its kind. Robjohn Pipe Organ (1859) – The only known surviving organ built by Thomas Robjohn, a rare example of 19th-century American organ craftsmanship. CURRENT EXHIBITION Stradivarius and the Golden Age of Violins and Guitars (through Sept. 14, 2025)

11 SUMMER ’25 Where comfort meets nature or those who aren’t interested in “roughing it,” there’s always glamorous camping – or glamping, which offers all the traditional parts families need for a successful camping trip with the added luxuries of beds, electricity, indoor plumbing, on-site restaurants and more. If sleeping on the ground is not your jam, here are five spots that you may like instead: UNDER CANVAS 979 Airpark Lane, Grand Canyon Junction undercanvas.com Under Canvas was founded in 2012 with its first camp in Yellowstone. Under Canvas Grand Canyon, the fourth of 13 locations, is one of the world’s first Dark Sky resorts. What this means is the lighting has been purposefully selected and installed to minimize impact on the surrounding environment. Most of the 90 available tents are set up on elevated, wood deck platforms and include king sized beds and bathrooms with toilets and showers. There are also safari tents available for a more affordable option that include a king size bed and access to a separate bathhouse. Meals, snacks and retail are available for purchase at the lobby tent. Included in each reservation is daily programming like yoga classes, arts and crafts, live music, and evening s’mores. There is an on-site restaurant, Embers, that serves breakfast and dinner. Under Canvas also partners with nearby adventure outfitters for added experiences like astronomy hikes, guided tours, and other excursions. Rates start at $199 per night. VERDE RANCH RV RESORT 1105 N. Dreamcatcher Dr., Camp Verde verderanchrvresort.com Verde Ranch opened in August 2019 and is owned and managed by CRR Hospitality. The resort offers a unique glamping experience, with 16 vacation rental park models, eight Conestoga wagons, and two luxury safari tents. The inspiration for the wagons comes from the covered ones used by settlers in the area in the 1800s. The resort offers over 400 total sites, with 26 dedicated to glamping. Each unit puts guests in the lap of luxury, offering king-size beds, AC and heat, coffee makers, mini-fridges, and private bathrooms nearby. The Safari Tents even include full interior bathrooms with a clawfoot tub. Verde Ranch provides a variety of year-round activities for guests, like scavenger hunts, rock painting, trivia and bingo nights. For grown-ups, there are wine tastings and paint and sip events. While they don’t have a restaurant on-site, the resort is a short drive from Cottonwood, Jerome and Sedona, so food options – and local attractions like Jeep Tours – are aplenty. Verde Ranch is family, pet, and work-friendly, and has earned national and state recognition, including being named the #1 Luxury RV Resort in Arizona by Outdoorsy and receiving a USA Today 10Best Award for Best RV Resort. Rates vary by season, but guests can expect to spend $500-$1,000 per two-day stay. CLEAR SKY RESORT 629 Highgrove Road, Williams clearskyresorts.com Clear Sky’s Grand Canyon location opened in 2021 and became the first full-service dome hotel in the country. Georgia transplant Hal Feinberg is the visionary and founder behind the concept. “The inspiration for Clear Sky Resort was to create a one-of-a-kind stargazing experience for travelers,” Feinberg said. “The goal was to provide a stay that allowed guests to connect with nature while enjoying the beauty of the night sky.” At the Grand Canyon location (there’s a second Clear Sky Resort at Bryce Canyon in Utah), guests kick off their vacation at the Welcome Dome, which offers games and activities, an outdoor fire pit, live music, a projection movie screen and more. The resort also features an on-site food truck for breakfast and lunch, yoga classes, stargazing and telescope tours. The scenery and activities are enticing, but it’s the domes that are the showstoppers – because each one has its own theme. There’s the Snow Globe dome, the “Stairway to the Stars” dome (with a spiral staircase leading to a queen size bed that’s suspended under the skylight!), Secret Agent dome, Pink Unicorn dome… creativity knows no bounds at Clear Sky Resort. Amenities include heating, AC, private patios, coffee and more. Domes accommodate two to seven people. Rates start at $295 per night, depending on reservation dates and site chosen. BACKLAND LUXURY CAMPING 6929 E. Rosilda Springs Road, Williams travelbackland.com Immediately captivated by the natural beauty of the land, Backland’s Co-founder Jeremy Budge knew the property was something he wanted to share with the world. Armed with the support from family and friends, Jeremy and partner Mark Jones created an eco- friendly resort – that officially opened in 2022 – that spans across 160 acres of private land in Williams. “Having worked in the industry before, I saw a lot of what worked and didn’t work in other glamping concepts,” Budge said. “We designed Backland to solve many of the problems with standard glamping while improving on what makes luxury camping such a special experience.” There are 10 tents on site that sleep 4-6 people. Each comes with panoramic windows, king-sized beds, en-suite bathrooms, an outdoor patio and more. Included in each stay is complimentary continental breakfast and s’mores by the campfire. Guests can check out the on- site restaurant that’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and includes grab-and- go, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. Activities include: stargazing, frisbee golf, kayaking, fishing, trails, scavenger hunts, games and more. “Our hope is to create outdoor lodging experiences where people and nature benefit from each other,” Budge said. “This includes creating native plant and pollinator gardens, establishing milkweed gardens to support monarch butterflies, adding new wetlands and more.” Rates start at $475 a night. Outdoor escapes showcase Northern Arizona’s starry skies F