Bullion Plaza Cultural Center & Museum

McKusick Hummingbird tiles at Bullion Plaza
Some of the many McKusick Hummingbird tiles on display

Bullion Plaza Cultural Center and Museum, a true gem of a regional museum located in Miami, AZ, is housed in the Bullion Plaza School, which was opened as a grammar school in 1923.

Regional exhibits focus on minerals and geology, mining, Slavic, Native American and Mexican culture, ranching, dignitaries and military. And McKusick tiles!

The staff and volunteers are a great group - always welcoming, helpful and enthusiastic!

The McKusick tile room has a fantastic display of tiles including birds and animals, a case dedicated to Hopi White Bear, and another case dedicated to the wildlife tiles made for displays at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Included in the Arboretum case are tiles that are not currently on display at the Arboretum. There is also a case of pottery made by the McKusicks.

McKusick/Hopi White Bear tiles at Bullion Plaza
A few of the McKusick/Hopi White Bear tiles on display

In addition, this one-of-a-kind exhibit includes tile molds, tools, stamps used to sign the tile backs, videos, articles, photographs and equipment.

For a great day trip from the Phoenix metro area, start in the morning at Boyce Thompson Arboretum to stroll the gardens and see the McKusick tiles, and then continue up to Bullion Plaza. The museum is less than 30 minutes from the arboretum.

Bullion Plaza is currently open Wed.-Sat. from 11-2. For more information: bullionplazamuseum.org/

Here are a few of the other tiles that can be seen at Bullion Plaza:

 

McKusick tile at Bullion Plaza

McKusick tile at Bullion Plaza

McKusick tile at Bullion Plaza

McKusick tile at Bullion Plaza

McKusick tile at Bullion Plaza

McKusick tile at Bullion Plaza


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