The Noah Purifoy Outdoor Museum is a remarkable collection of artwork located in the middle of the desert along a dusty road. Artist Noah Purifoy (1917-2004) moved to the desert to escape the high cost of living in Los Angeles. During the last 15 years of his life, he created unique sculptures, buildings, and artwork using recycled materials. Purifoy transformed 10 acres of land into a space showcasing over a hundred works of art. After the passing of Noah Purifoy, a foundation was formed dedicated to preserving his Outdoor Desert Art Museum.
Remote Desert Artworks
Noah used materials—such as tires, toilets, bicycles, and burnt wood—to craft thought-provoking works that reflect social commentary, often addressing themes like race, poverty, and resilience. Notable pieces include No Contest, Ode to Frank Gehry, a drinking fountain, and a toilet to critique segregation. Some of the sculptures show signs of deterioration due to minimal maintenance, per Purifoy’s philosophy of letting nature interact with the art. The site faced a bulldozing threat in 2001 but was preserved through the Foundation’s efforts.
About Noah Purifoy
Purifoy, the first Black full-time student at Chouinard Art Institute (now CalArts), was a key figure in the Black Assemblage movement, influenced by his earlier work with debris from the 1965 Watts Riots for the 66 Signs of Neon exhibition. His Joshua Tree museum, started at age 72 after moving due to financial constraints, is considered a pinnacle of his career, blending environmental sculpture with social change. Today, the Noah Purifoy Outdoor Museum showcases an eccentric collection of artworks in a remote desert location.
Admission & Donations
Admission to this unique collection of artwork is free. There is a donation box where visitors can contribute to the preservation of the site. At the front gate, you can pick up a pamphlet that explains the stories behind the various sculptures and provides a biography of Noah Purifoy. From there, you can explore the property and admire what Noah Purifoy created using nothing more than discarded items.
Getting To Noah Purifoy Outdoor Museum
Please be cautious while walking around, as this is the desert. It’s not uncommon to see a rattlesnake slithering about, especially on hot summer days. The museum can be reached via a short dirt road off Highway 62, and is about a 10-minute drive from downtown Joshua Tree and 25 minutes from Twentynine Palms. Groups of 10 or more need prior arrangements, and leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome. Website.
Nearby Points of Interest
The Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum in Joshua Tree, California, is surrounded by several attractions within a short drive, offering a mix of art, nature, and quirky desert experiences. Here are some notable spots nearby, all accessible within a 30-minute drive from the museum.
Pioneertown Western Movie Town is a unique attraction located just outside Yucca Valley, California, approximately 15 minutes (4 miles) from the Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum in Joshua Tree. Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace is A legendary saloon, restaurant, and music venue known for its barbecue and live performances by artists like Paul McCartney and Robert Plant.
Joshua Tree National Park (~10-15 minutes, 10 miles) A 794,000-acre park known for its surreal desert landscapes, Joshua trees, and rock formations. Highlights include hiking trails like 49 Palms Canyon Trail, climbing at Intersection Rock, and panoramic views from Keys View. Ideal for outdoor enthusiasts. Entry fees apply (around $30 per vehicle).
World Famous Crochet Museum (~10 minutes, 6 miles) Located in downtown Joshua Tree, this quirky attraction inside a lime-green photo booth showcases hundreds of crocheted figures collected by artist Shari Elf. It’s a quick, free stop for those into eclectic art. Open during daylight hours. Outside the museum, there’s a courtyard scattered with art installations. There is a wall of hubcaps called the Wheel of Fortune, a steel flower with male attachment petals, an unusual watchtower, giant boulders of aluminum foil, ceramic mushrooms, rocking horses, and other assorted scrap artworks.
Integratron (~15 minutes, 10 miles) A unique, white-domed structure in Landers, originally built as an electrostatic generator for time travel and rejuvenation. Integratron is now primarily known for its sound baths, an experience leveraging the dome’s exceptional acoustics—considered acoustically perfect due to its parabolic shape and desert location. During a sound bath, participants lie on mats while quartz crystal singing bowls are played, producing resonant tones that promote relaxation, meditation, and reported therapeutic effects— reservations required.