From Betsy Malloy,
Your Guide to California Travel.
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• Hours: Open daily except Thanksgiving, December 25, January 1
• Reservations: Not required
• Cost: Admission fee
• Location: Three miles north of Flagstaff, directions below
• How Long: Allow three to four hours
• Best Time to Visit: Any time

The Museum of Northern Arizona is dedicated to the history of the Colorado Plateau and its cultures. Its creator saw local artifacts being taken to other parts of the country and wanted to provide a place to keep them near where they were found. Today's collection includes over 600,000 artifacts, and the museum also preserves the collections of many local tribes.

Museum of Northern Arizona Review

One of the best small museums in the West, the Museum of Northern Arizona is an excellent place to explore the history of Native American pottery, jewelry and crafts. It's a must-see for anyone who loves Native American art, or who would like to learn more about it or the people who make it.

The museum's curator has done an extraordinary job of designing exhibits that make it easy to examine the evolution of various items and styles, and at the same time to discover differences between tribes.

Some of the highlights of the Museum of Northern Arizona include:

• Kiva Murals: Perhaps the facility's most distinctive items, these murals are used to decorate the inside of the kiva (a Native American spiritual meeting place). Here you can see a rare section of historic mural, along with a modern one that depicts the history of the Hopi tribe.
• Exhibit Galleries: Seven galleries include two for rotating exhibititions. Permanent exhibits trace the history of the food, housing and pottery of the local native people, while others explore their artistic traditions.

Other Activities at the Museum of Northern Arizona

The museum holds annual Hopi and Navajo Festivals of Arts and Culture. These festivals rival Santa Fe's annual Indian Market.

On the third Friday of every month, you can go on a behind-the-scenes tour of the collections.

The Museum of Northern Arizona store caters to buyers of all levels, from the novice to the serious collector.

Getting to Museum of Northern Arizona

Museum of Northern Arizona
3101 N. Fort Valley Rd.
Flagstaff, AZ
928-774-5213
Museum of Northern Arizona Website

Follow U.S. Highway 180 three miles north of Flagstaff.

If You Liked Museum of Northern Arizona, You May Also Like:

• Heard Museum, Phoenix