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New Phoenix Airport Museum Installation Showcases the Region’s Legacy of Ingenuity
Travelers moving through Terminal 4 now have a new way to experience Phoenix’s story of growth and problem-solving through a large-scale photo mural.
Desert Innovation is a captivating installation of historic and contemporary images along the post-security passenger bridge between the A and D gates at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport’s Terminal 4. Presented by the Phoenix Airport Museum, the mural celebrates the talent, industries and ideas shaping Greater Phoenix. The images invite travelers to explore how the region paved the way to become a corridor for creativity and resilience, from ancient canal systems to present day Semiconductor manufacturing.
“Phoenix Sky Harbor is the front door to our city, and this exhibition gives travelers a powerful first impression,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “We’re a region built on innovation and collaboration, and by highlighting the talent and industries driving our economy, Desert Innovation shows how Phoenix continues to lead with creativity, resilience and opportunity.”
The project is a partnership between Phoenix Sky Harbor and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC). The exhibition honors Greater Phoenix’s past while spotlighting how far the region has come as a thriving center for innovation. The museum team worked with GPEC to identify key industries and the impact they have locally and regionally, blending historic context with present-day imagery and data, to tell the story of Greater Phoenix’s past, present and future.
"The story of Greater Phoenix is groundbreaking technologies, fruitful collaboration and a fierce determination to be leaders in industries that improve the lives of communities around the world,” said GPEC President and CEO Christine Mackay. "We're honored to showcase our heritage and transformation into a world-class market to the millions of travelers welcomed by Phoenix Sky Harbor each year.”
Desert Innovation highlights key industries that continue to drive the region forward, including:
More information about Desert Innovation can be found at skyharbor.com/pastpresentandfuture. Information about the Phoenix Airport Museum can be found at skyharbor.com/museum.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, America’s Friendliest Airport®, has an annual economic impact of more than $44 billion. On an average day, approximately 1,000 aircraft and more than 130,000 passengers arrive at and depart from Phoenix Sky Harbor every day. PHX Sky Harbor is funded with airport revenue. No tax dollars are used to support the airport.
