Verde Valley Archaeology Center & Museum

06/23/2026

Kids had a fantastic time getting creative at the second workshop of the Young Creator's Summer Studio!

There is one upcoming workshop left on Friday, July 17 from 12:30 to 3 p.m. where children will be painting a mystery designed to be revealed. The class is for ages 10-18, no experience is required—creative freedom is encouraged!

The cost is $20 per student and includes all supplies. Free museum admission is included for registered participants and a parent/guardian.

Registration is required at this link: https://verdevalleyarchaeology.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F44988

06/18/2026

As part of Arizona’s year-long celebration of the Centennial of Route 66, Ken Zoll, author of H.H. Nininger: Master of Meteorites and VVAC’s Director Emeritus, will present the story of “The Rise and Fall of the Route 66 Meteorite Museum” on Friday, September 11th at 4 p.m.

Zoll will share the history of the museum from its beginnings as the Meteor Station, a cafe and gas station, and Meteor Crater Observatory, opened by Harry William Locke and his wife, Hope in the 1920s and 30s. In 1946, Harvey H. Nininger leased the former observatory to establish the American Meteorite Museum. However, the new Interstate 10 highway opened in June 1949, bypassing Route 66, resulting in a drop in visitors and income.

Following the talk join us for a complimentary reception with hors d’oeuvres, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages.

This talk is free and open-to-the-public. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

06/16/2026

Yesterday, our Members had a refreshing hike in the cool pines and wildflowers at Leroux Springs!

Located near Flagstaff, big and little Leroux Springs sit at the base of the San Francisco Peaks. These two springs have been an important source of water for thousands of years, supplying Indigenous Americans, explorers, and homesteaders with a reliable water source.

Thank you to trip leaders Richard McGaugh and Monica Buckle!

06/15/2026

Join us at our Native American Heritage Garden and Pathway on Sunday, July 25th for an interpretive walk “Native Plants of the Ancestral Trail: Identification and Indigenous Uses of Local Flora.”

Conducted by VVAC’s Ethnobotanist Rob Estrada, the holistic 1/3-mile walk will start promptly at 9 a.m. where Rob will will point out Native plants and discuss their many uses by Native peoples. Highlights include prickly pear, amaranth, dandelion, wild lettuce, buckwheat, clover, plantain, lambs quarters, globe mallow, yucca, thistles, and agave. The walk is expected to last one-hour with periods of standing.

Complimentary water and cold beverages will be provided. This event is available to both members and non-members and registration is not required.

Please note, the garden is not located at the museum. VVAC's garden is located at 330 N. Homestead Parkway in Camp Verde directly off of Highway 260. We are the large gravel parking lot on the left-hand side.

For more information, visit this link: https://www.verdevalleyarchaeology.org/events/native-plants-of-the-ancestral-trail-identification-and-indigenous-uses-of-local-flora

06/10/2026

Come see what’s blooming in our Native American Heritage Garden!

Rob Estrada, VVAC’s Ethnobotanist, and garden volunteers have been busy tending to our garden and pathways. Currently, larkspur, penstemon, and poppies are in bloom, and corn is sprouting! Enjoy a moment of respite in the shade or a peaceful walk viewing native plants and learning about the prehistoric pit house village below.

The Native American Heritage Garden and Pathway is open to the public from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The pathway and gardens are located at 330 N. Homestead Parkway in Camp Verde, not at the Museum.

06/09/2026

Join us at VVAC this Saturday, June 13th, for a complimentary reception with the Camp Verde Artists Group Gallery!

At the reception, view the group's refreshed exhibit while meeting with the artists. The reception is from 1 to 3 p.m. and is free and open-to-the-public. There will be light bites and beverages. Museum admission will also be free on this day.

06/08/2026

The Arizona Site Steward Program, one of our non-profit partners, is officially celebrating their 40th anniversary!

The AZ SSP is a volunteer organization that monitors prehistoric and historic sites to report vandalism and damage. They act as the “eyes and ears” for land managers, serving as custodians for Arizona’s irreplaceable cultural resources.

Since its founding on June 5, 1986, the program has had 6,000 site stewards pour 600,000 volunteer hours into preserving Arizona’s heritage.

If interested in becoming a site steward, please visit this link: https://azstateparks.com/arizona-site-stewards-volunteer-program

For 40 years, Arizona’s Site Stewards have served as unwavering custodians of our state’s irreplaceable cultural and heritage resources. Today, June 5th, marks the official 40th Anniversary of the Arizona Site Steward Program — a milestone of dedication and enduring legacy. 🎉

Since its founding in 1986, the numbers tell an extraordinary story:
- 6,000 committed Site Stewards
- 600,000 volunteer hours poured into preserving Arizona’s heritage
- $21.7 million in economic value generated for the state
- 50 million miles driven on personal vehicles to monitor sites

These are not just statistics. They represent thousands of volunteers who have braved remote landscapes, fickle weather, and countless miles to preserve Arizona’s history.

Through vigilant monitoring and partnerships with land managers, Site Stewards have joined the frontline in the management of our shared past — ensuring that the stories, artifacts, and sacred places of Arizona’s cultures endure for generations yet to come.

05/26/2026

Explore the intricacies of Sinaguan basketry in our newest exhibit, “Tim's Cave Reimagined: Stewarding a Cultural Collection.”

At the cliff site, baskets and basket fragments were present alongside the massive ollas. The basketry assortment, which includes a coiled basket base and twilled yucca mat fragment, offers a glimpse into the techniques and styles used by the Southern Sinagua (Hisatsinom) between AD 1200 and 1400.

Visitors can view the exhibit during our summer museum hours, Thursdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with last admission at 3 p.m.

05/21/2026

Throughout April and May, the National Park Service has been hosting artists and cultural demonstrations on site at Montezuma’s Castle and Tuzigoot National Monument.

On Saturday, May 23 at Montezuma’s Castle and on Sunday, May 24 at Tuzigoot National Monument, Makwesa Chimerica will be sharing his skills and work as a traditional Hopi Katsina Carver and Artist.

Makwesa and VVAC have collaborated over the years on numerous projects. He has presented his work at multiple events at the center and made Katsinas for the museum's Indigenous Cosmology and Astronomy Gallery.

Find more information at this link: https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/event-details.htm?id=8F19B7A1-989C-763F-127D24991AA842E7