Our Mission “ Antelope Valley The mission of California State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and Nestled in the rocks and education of the people of California by helping buttes of the Mojave Indian Museum to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and Desert on Piute Butte State Historic Park cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. is a precious gem that contributes immeasurably to the mosaic beauty of the desert, the Antelope California State Parks supports equal access. Valley Indian Museum.” Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at – Shirley Harriman (661) 946-3055. If you need this publication in an Antelope Valley Woman Magazine alternate format, contact [email protected]. CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369 (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service www.parks.ca.gov Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park 15701 East Avenue M Lancaster, CA 93535 (661) 946-3055 www.avim.parks.ca.gov © 2005 California State Parks (Rev. 2018) Standing snugly among the Perhaps as many as 2,000 his Antelope Valley Indian Research Museum majestic granite outcroppings of years ago, speakers of the to display his large collection of prehistoric Piute Butte, the Antelope Valley Shoshonean language and ethnographic American Indian artifacts. Indian Museum incorporates group—the Kitanemuk, In 1939 Grace Wilcox Oliver, a student of the bedrock into its interior Tataviam, Kawaiisu, and anthropology, bought the Edwards home. and exterior design. The folk Serrano cultures—became She added her own collections, converted art construction of this one-of- the valley’s inhabitants. In the living quarters to exhibit rooms, and a-kind building—listed on the the late 1700s, their lives were opened it in the early 1940s as the Antelope National Register of Historic drastically changed by the Valley Indian Museum. Ms. Oliver operated Places—is a Tudor Revival-style arrival of the Spanish and the museum for more than three decades, structure, inside of which is incorporated an other Europeans. continuing to add to the collection over time. entire natural rock formation. Located in the Franciscan priest Father Francisco Garcés In 1979, with the support of local groups Mojave Desert at the northeastern corner of passed among the native people in 1776 and individuals, the State of California Los Angeles County, the museum displays on a trip through the Mojave Desert, purchased the museum. Grace Oliver artifacts of the American Indian groups of keeping a diary that has been invaluable in donated its artifacts at that time. three major cultural regions—the Southwest, determining what groups lived here. Contact California State Parks designated the the Great Basin, and California. with European and American immigrants museum as one of its regional Indian increased gradually until the Indians museums in the mid-1980s. The collection PARK HISTORY found themselves being “resettled” in the of prehistoric, historic, and contemporary American Indian Peoples mission system. artifacts comes from various geographic At the end of the Ice Age, lakes, springs, and a In 1853 Fort Tejon was established just regions: the Southwest region is represented variety of natural food resources provided the west of the valley, ostensibly to “protect” in the Kachina Hall and Southwest Room; native people with all they needed to survive the Indians. Though many Indians deserted the upstairs California Hall houses artifacts and thrive here. For at least 4,000 years, the fort over the years, the U.S. government from California Indian cultures. The Great groups traded with each other along vast continued relocating them to reservations Basin and Antelope Valley rooms present the routes that extended from Mexico to Northern into the 1900s. peoples of the western Great Basin. California, and from the coast to the Southwest. THE COLLECTORS Artifacts discovered by archaeologists Howard Arden Edwards, a theatrical set have been dated as far back as 11,000 years, painter and self-taught artist, so admired though little is known of these ancient the grandeur of the Antelope Valley that cultures. Later artifacts attest to the everyday he decided to make Piute Butte his home. lives of these people over time. Grinding In 1928 he homesteaded 160 acres, and tools reveal how they processed plants for with his wife and teenage son started food, while spear and arrow points provide construction on their home. The home insight into their hunting methods. included an exhibit area that Edwards called THE COLLECTIONS as well as murals, paintings, travel meet current accessibility guidelines. Many of the museum’s thousands of artifacts drawings, and design motifs by Accessibility is continually improving. For are rare or one-of-a-kind items: Howard Arden Edwards. updates, visit http://access.parks.ca.gov. Pottery — A variety of storage, cooking, utility, Katsina Dolls —Originating from and decorative types originating the Hopi Tribe, authentic katsina PLEASE REMEMBER from the Southwestern and Southern dolls are carved from cottonwood • Pets are not permitted in the museum California cultures. root and decorated with fabric, or on the nature trail; horses are not Baskets —Twined and coiled baskets, bowls, paint, feathers, beads, and permitted in the park. cradleboards, hats, and footwear from three yarn. The dolls are an important • No food, drinks, or smoking are allowed cultural regions were used for storage, element in Hopi (and some other inside the museum. carrying, winnowing, and cooking, as well as Puebloan) religious expressions. • Call the park to make advance for decorative and ceremonial purposes. In the Antelope Valley Indian arrangements for guided tours Food preparation tools — Bowls and cooking Museum, exhibit styles of former (led on designated weekdays only, for vessels were made of pottery, stone, and owners blend with contemporary groups of ten or more). basketry. Stone utensils include mortars and exhibits. They illustrate more than 80 years • Guided tours for school groups (led on pestles for grinding acorns and seeds. and several eras of evolution and change designated weekdays only) are free Hunting / fishing equipment —Spears, darts, in the way American Indian materials are and require advance arrangements. and arrows tipped with flaked stone points displayed and interpreted in museums such Adult tours are also available. were the Indians’ primary hunting tools. as this one. • The park is open only on weekends. Fishhooks of bone and shell were also used. • Admission is charged. The museum has made every attempt Work tools — Knives, anvils, drills, scrapers, • The park closes when the museum closes. axes, and arrow-shaft straighteners were made to provide reliable identification and of flaked and ground stone. descriptions of the artifacts, but staff NEARBY STATE PARKS Clothing —Clothing items include a Hopi cannot guarantee complete accuracy. men’s wearing robe (circa 1860) and fragments If any errors are found, please contact • Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve of 2,500-year-old sea grass garments made by the curator at (661) 946-3055. 15101 Lancaster Road California coastal and Channel Islands groups. Lancaster 93534 Textiles — The museum displays a number INTERPRETIVE SALES (661) 724-1180 or 946-6092 of Navajo rugs, mats, saddle blankets, and a The interpretive sales area features authentic • Saddleback Butte State Park chief’s wearing blanket. handcrafted American Indian jewelry, katsina Avenue J and 170th Street East Adornment — Jewelry made by various dolls, and pottery. Publications on American Lancaster 93534 (661) 946-6092 cultural groups is on display. Indian history and crafts are also available. This park is supported in part through a Paintings — The museum ACCESSIBLE FEATURES nonprofit organization. For information contact: displays several tempera Friends of the Antelope Valley Indian Museum paintings by Navajo The park’s terrain affords no wheelchair- accessible activities here. However, P.O. Box 1171 • Lancaster, CA 93534 and Zuni artists, (661) 946-3055 parking, restrooms, and routes of Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park Paved Road Graded Road 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 Feet 0 200 400 600 800 Meters © 2005 California State Parks (Rev. 2018) Bamboo Ramada Ramada Bamboo Ramadas .