The Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park is a California state park situated on the Antelope Valley's rural eastside in northern Los Angeles County, California. From http://www. ... From http://www. ... State nickname: The Golden State Other U.S. States Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Official languages English Area 410,000 km² (3rd)  - Land 404,298 km²  - Water 20,047 km² (4. ... State park is a term used in the United States and in Mexico for an area of land preserved on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or other reason, and under the administration of the government of a U.S. state or one of the states of Mexico. ... A truck passes eastbound along the busy Highway 58 through the Antelope Valley. ... Map of California showing Los Angeles County. ...

The museum represents Great Basin Native American cultures. The museum contains the combined collections of H. Arden Edwards and subsequent owner and anthropology student Grace Oliver. The exhibits represent and interpret American Indian groups, both aboriginal and contemporary, of the Southwest, Great Basin and Californian cultural regions. A number of the artifacts on display are rare or one-of-a-kind items. The Great Basin is a large, arid region of the western United States, commonly defined as the contiguous watershed region, roughly between the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada, that has no natural outlet to the sea. ... Native Americans (also Indians, Aboriginal Peoples, American Indians, First Nations, Alaskan Natives, Amerindians, or Indigenous Peoples of America) are the indigenous inhabitants of The Americas prior to the European colonization, and their modern descendants. ... The Southwest region of the United States is drier than the adjoining Midwest in weather; the population is less dense and, with strong Spanish-American and Native American components, more ethnically varied than neighboring areas. ...

The museum was originally constructed by homesteader/artist H. Arden Edwards in 1928. The chalet-style structure was built over an entire rock formation of Piute Butte in the Mojave Desert. The unusual folk-art structure, originally used as a home (and not at that time a museum) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum offers the visitor a unique experience. 1928 was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Mojave Desert The Mojave or Mohave Desert occupies a significant portion of Southern California and parts of Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. ... The National Register of Historic Places is the USAs official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects worthy of preservation. ...

Note: the museum is closed in the summer months due to lack of air conditioning in the building. See the external link below for opening and closing dates - the museum is open yearly, but on a seasonal basis each year.

Layered clothing is advisable - especially for hikers - as a good number of winter mornings can be brisk, though the afternoons are many times quite pleasant in temperature.

Location - directions

The museum is located 19 miles east of the Antelope Valley Freeway (California State Route 14), at 15701 East Avenue M east of central Lancaster. Go East on Avenue K or Palmdale Boulevard and follow the signs to the museum. Alternatively, take Pearblossom Highway (California State Route 138) to the intersection of 165th Street East and travel North on 165th Street East (changes name to 170th Street East as you travel north to Lake Los Angeles) for 9 miles. Turn left (west) at Avenue M and proceed for approximately a mile and a half. The museum is on the right (north) side of Avenue M. California 14 is a north-south highway largely in the Mojave Desert, also known as the High Desert, just east of the crest of the Sierra Nevada in its northern part. ... City nickname:The Heart of the Antelope Valley County Los Angeles County, California Area  - Total  - Water 243. ... California 138 (or CA-138 for short) is an east-west highway generally following the northern foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains of southern California between Gorman, junction Interstate 5 eastward to Crestline, junction California State Highway 18 in the San Bernardino Mountains. ...

Latitude/Longitude: 34.7506 / -118.3583

Demonstrations and special events

Joshua Cottage features a "touch table" room where everyone, regardless of age, can experience food grinding and processing techniques. Or you can learn how earlier Native American groups started fires using sticks or bow drills.

Next to the museum is a self-guided nature trail, a picnic area and an outdoor ceremonial arena. Occasionally guest Native American groups perform traditional dances and other programs. There is an annual opening event each fall featuring a traditional ground blessing ceremony. There are also Native American artists demonstrating and selling their work, Native American food, and special activities for children. The museum also sponsors periodic educational seminars. A country trail, formed by wheels of vehicles. ... In contemporary usage, picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors, ideally, taking place in a beautiful landscape. ...

External links

• Antelope Valley Indian Museum Official website
• Antelope Valley Indian Museum (State Parks Department site)