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Joshua Tree, California: Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum

Purifoy created over 100 sculptures around his desert trailer beginning in 1988 (A smoker, he died, age 87, after accidentally setting himself on fire in his wheelchair). Strange facades, buildings, and installations bake in the desert heat.

Address:
62975 Blair Lane, Joshua Tree, CA
Directions:
At the junction of Blair Lane and Center Rd.
Hours:
Daily dawn-dusk (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:
213-382-7516
RA Rates:
Major Fun
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Visitor Tips and News About Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum

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Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum.

Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum

Amazing experience! Get there with plenty of time to explore and immerse yourself. You'll never look at "junk" the same way again.

[LiveWorkDream, 01/28/2023]

Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum.

Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum

This place is really really great. Our friends wanted to lounge by the pool, and we wanted adventure. We thought we would stop by the NPOAM for an hour; we stayed the whole day, and brought our friends with us the next day. If you like strange art made out of trash, this place is for you.

[Sandwich, 07/04/2015]

Art.

Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum

Noah Purifoy - Hidden genius of the high desert. [Mark K., 06/10/2013]

Without taking the time to examine what's going on, parts might be dismissed as a junkyard instead of an art environment.

Purifoy art.

Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum

Go early in the day during late spring and summer, because it gets crazy hot by 10 am, and you can easily spend hours in this sprawling, improbable collection of sculptures and ornately decorated handmade buildings.

[Arlette Thibodeau, 07/01/2011]

Purifoy building.

Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum

Noah Purifoy died at age 86, on March 5, 2004. The Noah Purifoy Foundation continues to try to care for his assemblage sculpture at this site.

[Steve Brown, 01/28/2010]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Futuro HouseFuturo House, Joshua Tree, CA - < 1 mi.
TransmissionTransmission, Josha Tree, CA - 3 mi.
Big Josh: Cowboy Muffler ManBig Josh: Cowboy Muffler Man, Joshua Tree, CA - 4 mi.
In the region:
Time Bandits Movie Pirate Ship, Big Bear Lake, CA - 37 mi.

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