Antelope Valley Indian Museum Day Trip

Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park displays a fantastic collection of Native American artifacts. The museum is located in the Mojave Desert, about 25 miles from the town of Lancaster.

This wonderful little gem is only open on weekends from 9 am to 4 pm. There is a small admission fee; kids 12 and under are free.

Since 1979, the museum and the surrounding 147 acres have been part of the California State Parks system with the official title of Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park.

The museum is housed in a unique 1920s Swiss-style chalet built into a rock formation. Visitors have to walk up the rock formation inside the museum to view the upstairs California Hall.

Also, on the grounds is a collection of historic cottages and a rustic barn from when the property was used as a Dude Ranch. A short self-guided nature trail is adjacent to the main building.

Antelope Valley Indian Museum-History

The one-of-a-kind museum building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was built in 1928 by Howard Arden Edwards as a homestead. Howard had an extensive collection of Indian artifacts in the attic of the Antelope Valley Indian Research Museum.

In 1939, Howard sold the property to Grace Oliver. She expanded the collection to fill the whole house, becoming the Antelope Valley Indian Museum. Grace was the museum’s caretaker until the mid-1970s, when she sold the property to California.

Antelope Valley Indian Museum Exhibits

Each room in the house has a unique theme.

Antelope Valley Room – Focused on Native American people that lived in the Antelope Valley. Spearheads, pottery,  shells, and ornaments.

Great Basin Room – Collection of Native American artifacts from California, Oregon, Nevada, Wyoming, and Colorado.

Southwest Gallery – Displaying some scarce and unusual artifacts of southwestern natives, including pottery, stone tools,  mortars, and beads.

Kachina Hall – Large collection of baskets,  pottery, Kachina Dolls, and some one-of-a-kind artifacts not found anywhere else.

California Gallery –  This part of the house is the original museum and displays artifacts from California coastal and the Antelope Valley Native Americans.

Getting There

Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historical Park 15701 East Avenue M Lancaster, CA 93535. The museum is open weekends Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.; kids 12 and under are free. Dogs are not permitted in the museum or the nature trail. Museum Website.

Nearby Antelope Valley attractions include the California Poppy Reserve and Vasquez Rocks Natural Area.

Things To Do in California Desert Regions

Indian Canyons Palm Springs

SoCal Hiking Trails