For all its wintertime charms, including temperate weather that draws flocking snowbirds from the depths of Manitoba, summer in Phoenix is a challenge.

Temperatures soar past the century mark. Residents scurry — shuffle is more like it — from air-conditioned house to air-conditioned car to air-conditioned office.

Forget frying an egg on the sidewalk. Try your own forehead.

And longtime denizens have a stock reply when out-of-town know-nothings note that, well, at least it’s a dry heat: Yeah, well, so is a blowtorch.

But here’s the thing. Phoenix boasts some terrific museums, large and small. So if you find yourself in the Valley of the Sun, pouring a cold beverage over your head instead of down your throat, consider a respite from the heat and immerse yourself in a pool of culture.

Here are some possibilities:

Phoenix Art Museum

Housed in a striking 285,000-square-foot building, the PAM offers an outstanding collection, from some choice Old Masters to artists of the Old and New West and Latin America, plus an array of contemporary pieces that include striking installations and mixed-media pieces.

The museum also has an excellent fashion collection and is big enough to draw prestige touring exhibits.

Highlights that always draw me to the PAM are the Philip Curtis collection. Curtis came to Phoenix in the 1930s with the WPA, and founded the museum. An entire room is devoted to his surreal and spooky oil-on-board paintings that evoke a cross between Salvador Dali and Edward Hopper. Related Articles Phoenix dining scene stuffed with rootsy, contemporary fare

Also, don’t miss “Mass (Colder Darker Matter),” a work by British artist Cornelia Park. It is composed of charred bits of wood from a burned-down church (it was struck by lightning) that are suspended by wires in a spatial cube. It’s gorgeous and unsettling. 1625 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-257-1222. phxart.org

Heard Museum

Arguably the finest repository of Southwest Indian art, craft and culture in the world. This powerhouse of a museum covers everything from pre-Columbian civilizations to the 21st century. One deeply moving recent exhibit chronicled the Indian boarding schools set up by the U.S. government, which amounted to forcible assimilation of young tribal members into Anglo society. The exhibit was augmented by filmed oral histories of alumnae.

Terrifically curated, the museum also addresses the physical environment the Indians lived, including where they gathered the materials needed to craft both religious and everyday objects. The gift shop features potter, metalwork and other arts and crafts from a variety of Southwest tribes and nations.

The setting is lovely: whitewashed adobe in a hacienda style, with lush courtyards. 2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602- 252-8840. heard.org

Wells Fargo History Museum

How many banks have their own history museum? Then again, how many banks have the history of Wells Fargo, particularly as it relates to the settling of the American West.

Yes, there is an authentic 19th-century stagecoach. But there are also cash boxes, authentic printed and minted money from the era, and all sorts of period paraphernalia you would find in banks, traveling accommodations and telegraph offices.

An art gallery houses the largest collection of N.C. Wyeth’s Old West-themed work. 145 W. Adams St., Phoenix. 602-378-1852. wellsfargohistory.com



Arizona Science Center

Open daily except for Thanksgiving and Christmas, the Arizona Science Center sits in the heart of downtown Phoenix. The experience is designed for the entire family, including the Dorrance Planetarium, where special programs replicate celestial phenomena. There is also an IMAX theater. 600 E. Washington St., Phoenix. 602-716-2000. azscience.org

Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaelogical Park

This pre-Columbian museum sits on a 1,500-year-old site once occupied by the Hohokam culture. This National Historic Landmark has a fully-accessible trail winding two-thirds of a mile through the property which was acquired by Phoenix’s Parks and Recreation Department in 1929. A hands-on gallery for children helps kids learn about archaeology. 4619 E. Washington St., Phoenix. 602-495-0901. phoenix.gov/parks

Hall of Flame

Dedicated to firefighting, this multi-gallery museum features fire engines from 1725 to 1969. You get a history of how fires were fought, from bucket brigades to the use of aerial tankers. There are 90 fully restored pieces of firefighting apparatus on display, including pieces from England, France, Austria, Germany and Japan. The museum is sponsored by the National Historical Fire Foundation. 6101 E. Van Buren St. 602-275-3473. hallofflame.org

The Children’s Museum of Phoenix

Some museums have docents, this one has “playologists.” Located in downtown Phoenix, it is open daily in summer. The museum is interactive in the extreme, and kids are encouraged to try their hands at any number of activities, from art to science.

One room is dedicated to building blocks, and there is a book nook that lets kids curl up with various volumes. Toddlers are not only welcomed, but have rooms built just for them. 215 N. 7th St., Phoenix. 602-253-050. childrensmuseumofphoenix.org

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art

Located in Old Town Scottsdale, this is Arizona’s only permanent museum dedicated solely to modern works of art, design and architecture. Big draws include rotating exhibits that showcase national and regional artists. 7374 E. 2nd St., Scottsdale. 480-874-4666. smoca.org