S'edav Va'aki Museum (formerly Pueblo Grande Museum) — Attraction in Phoenix

This is a very special place. My daughter (8) is currently learning about Native American history in school and I thought this was the best time to show her the old ruins. I have lived in Phoenix for over 38 years and this was my first time visiting. So many people think that the history of Arizona has been lost and yes we lost a lot of historic buildings. But this museum has shown me that the history goes back long before Europeans, Spain, etc, ever set foot here. The exhibits were very interesting to see and the map of the Salt River and the canals leading to so many different locations was astonishing. It is recommended to plan about an hour and half to visit and I feel that's a good assessment depending on if you're readying each and every sign and watching a video. One of the most interesting things is their pop up exhibit. The people and organization are clearly working to undo a lot of false ideas, commentary and information that was previously shared here. They have new plans for the museum, one of which was changing the name from Pueblo Grande, to the new S'edav Va'aki. It's humbling to read how things were portrayed and knowing that the proper steps are being taken to not only make changes, but own that there were errors. I love the ownership in calling them out, versus pretending they weren't there. The three adults in our party enjoyed this experience. To know we drive by this location all the time was a shock. I don't think many people know the site is here. I would say the two eight year olds were a little less impressed. There was a kids craft section but mainly coloring pages. I hope as they make enhancements, more is put into making this hands on and fun for kids to enjoy. I want them to go back and share the excitement with their classmates in hopes more kids will want to visit and share this rich history.

Special note: Loved that they offered guests to borrow the large umbrellas to protect ourselves from the sun! Check out the info about the solstice rooms and the possible connection with the Hole in the rock...

Some of the reviews were suggesting the museum was small, but I felt the opposite. Besides the super spacious parking area, there was a lot of stuff densely packed into the museum. I actually spent a little over 2 hours there.

There are 3 sections to see: the outside 1/3 mile trail and two exhibit halls.

I would reccomend to start with the outside part before it gets hot! The trail started out a bit bland for the first 5 minutes. It was a straight path with what appeared to be a construction site mound of sand. However, past that, the trail takes you up to see what is in that mound! You see historic remains of the Hohokam Indian rooms and a ball-court. Very nice! Continuing onward, you travel even further back in time to see older versions of their settlements- round houses, stoves, crop yards, etc. Next to each display, there was a helpful sign to educate the what, when and why. (I also must say I appreciate the clean water fountains they had on that loop as it did get warmer while I explored and I got some refreshing water to cool me off!)

Regarding the exhibits, the one on the right of the main entrance includes a theater with a 10 minute film to give you an overview of the history of the area and then there is an interactive area for kids where they can reconstruct an ancient site with some plastic parts. There's also an explanation of the animals in the area as well as some exhibits detailing how archaeologists work.

The exhibit hall on the left had maps of Indian settlements, glass-enclosed displays of ancient tools and pottery, and they even had scale models of the settlement. I...

You'll want to budget at least an hour to explore this ancient Hohokam site of the O'odham peoples. It was occupied from approximately AD 450 to 1450 representing centuries of pre-Columbian history and life.

The outdoor portion takes you through the ruins of the ancient dwelling with interpretive signs along the way. It is quite exposed so bring a hat and water.

After meandering through the village, recreated dwellings, and taking in the irrigation canals, take a look at the working garden and learn about cultivation techniques that are still being practiced.

Inside you'll find a nice museum with artifacts, a hands on area for younger kids, an art gallery, and a shop. The gallery was focused on Zuni art when I visited. The docent told me that Zuni people had made it to this area hundreds of years ago and then passed onward in their journey. Super interesting!

The docent up front was fantastic. She explained that she had a background in anthropology and spent the next 30 minutes detailing a high level overview of the site's historical significance intermixed with information about farming techniques and botany.

I learned that the vast majority of the inhabited time here was peaceful and that it was only towards the end that conflict arose (related to the rebuilding of irrigation canals after massive flooding).

Very friendly and attentive folks here who are passionate about their work. A great place for all to learn about local...