Agua Caliente Cultural Museum — Attraction in Palm Springs

We really enjoyed our time at the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum and Plaza. The museum is beautiful inside and out. The first part of the museum experience consists of a wonderful, artistically rendered immersive film that tells the creation story of the Agua Caliente people. You are seated as a gorgeous and moving animated telling of this story appears on curved walls above and in front of you, as the seats move gently to immerse you in its details. The floor also has related images, and all of these images are gorgeous. After the film, you enter the exhibit halls. The history of the Agua Caliente people is explained in a rich and respectful way. I learned a lot about artistic traditions, trials they faced, contributions, and cultural practices. The people working in the museum were knowledgeable, friendly, and engaging. They added a lot to the experience. I also appreciated the displays that had videos and recordings of members of the Agua Caliente people. It was meaningful and moving to hear their voices. There are interactive exhibits as well. I also liked that there are small rooms with videos that tell about history and natural events of significance. There is a large room that documents the history of the Agua Caliente people from about 1870 through today. This was done so well, with photos, videos, archeological pieces, advertisements, and other artifacts that told how difficult non-Natives made life for the Agua Caliente people. The colonists stole so much and treated the Natives horribly, as is standard in history. We learned how the Agua Caliente organized and responded to this hideous treatment. After this part of the museum, we visited a photography exhibit that has intimate and sometimes humorous, but always rich photographs showing Natives in the 20th century. These photographs underscore the jarring juxtaposition of Native culture with white industry and fashion. After leaving the museum, we walked along the Oasis Trail. The Oasis Trail is short and accessible. It has a small waterfall and follows a stream of unbelievably clear water. This was a very peaceful way to end our visit. I highly recommend visiting...

Very nice for a small museum. But I had a very weird experience there. I walked from my hotel and had stopped to get a bottled drink and a bag of chips. When I went to the desk for entry I was told to put large bags in a locker. I asked if my bag was “large.” He saw it was a grocery bag and asked if I had food in it. I said I had a soda and he told me to go outside and finish it or throw it away. Well I was a little disappointed but I went outside and finished it. I came back in to put the bag (with my chips) in the locker. A guard intercepted me and said “DO YOU HAVE FOOD IN THAT BAG?” I said it was only my sealed bag of chips. She came over to look in the bag and said “NO FOOD IS ALLOWED IN HERE. NOT EVEN IN THE LOCKERS.” Another employee came over and said it was ok because my bag was sealed. But I have to say it rattled me and kind of ruined my visit. There’s nothing on the website about food. There’s a sign on the gallery that said “no food or drink” but the lockers are in the lobby, not the gallery. In addition, they sell food and sodas right next to the lobby in the gift shop, so this rule makes no sense. Overall the staff seemed a bit overbearing and rude. They should post the rules on the website and make them clear. Or just let us put stuff in...

Not very family-friendly. I came here with two kids, and they were reminded by everyone who worked there that they had to behave. They weren't even making a scene, and my toddler was in a stoller. The movie was good and informative, but that was quickly tarnished by the security in the actual museum. They kept following us, and the young boy in the first room kept rudely telling my daughter the rules. My daughter used the wall to write down on the scavenger hunt pad. I immediately told her that probably wasn't okay and I would help her. Well, the male security guard came running up to us and rudely said, "i only ask of one thing...." What a rude way to ask someone not to do something. And he knew I was already talking to her about it because he was watching us the whole time. Obviously, this place is not family friendly, and that is noted for sure. But maybe make that known that you make families feel uncomfortable? I do want to say that they only person who was nice and smilled at us was the security guard at the door, and the ticket person. Everyone else looked really upset that we were there. Please talk to your employees on how to control their emotions and not be so upset by innocent...