MNA was founded in 1928 by a group of Flagstaff citizens to protect and preserve the rich natural and cultural heritage of northern Arizona. Through the years, the museum has evolved into a regional center of learning with educational programs, publications and research projects that serve thousands of people each year. As a visitor, you can see limited-engagement exhibitions, take part in hands-on classes and participate in workshops, festivals and camps. One of the exhibitions currently on view is Liberating Landscape: Women Artists in Northern Arizona, 1900–1940 . This special exhibition running through December 2021 highlights the drawings, paintings, pottery and photography of six pioneering women who lived in the region and became leaders in their respective fields. MNA is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. To learn more, go to musnaz.org or call 928.774.5213 . By collecting, studying, interpreting and preserving the region’s natural and cultural heritage, MNA strives to inspire love and responsibility for the beauty and diversity of the Colorado Plateau. The award-winning museum store at MNA offers an array of authentic Native American artwork, jewelry and more. KEY TO THE GOOD LIFE { from the road }

LOWELL OBSERVATORY Explore our Solar System at the northern Arizona treasure, the Lowell Observatory. Founded in 1894 by astronomer Percival Lowell, Lowell consists of several telescopes located in three sites in the Flagstaff area, including the Lowell Discovery Telescope, the fifth-largest in the contiguous United States. Its mirror was ground and polished into its parabolic shape at the Optical Fabrication & Engineering Facility at the University of Arizona College of Optical Sciences. It was at Lowell that Pluto, the distant dwarf planet, was discovered in 1930. Later, the rings of Uranus were first seen in 1977; then, the atmosphere of Pluto and two of its rings were identified. Our astronauts studied the surface of the moon at Lowell before their space flights, and Lowell astronomers continue today to research the solar system and related astrophysical phenomena. Visitors can observe the solar system through multiple telescopes, enjoy several guided tours and visit three major exhibit areas: The Rotunda Museum, The Putnam Collection Center and the Giovale Open Deck Observatory, a plaza with six telescopes. Reservations are currently required. In 2012, Lowell began offering camps for children. Summer camps are scheduled in June and July, and preschool camps are available all year. Kids have a chance to get hands-on learning about science, technology, engineering and math through a variety of activities that include games, experiments, art, music and more. Lowell Observatory is an escape to outer space that you can enjoy just two hours from Phoenix. To learn more, go to lowell.edu or call 928.774.3358 . For more than 125 years, Lowell Observatory has connected people to the universe through education, exploration and discovery. continued... FRONTDOORS MEDIA | 45 | AUG/SEPT 2021