Agua Caliente Cultural Museum

A great place in downtown Palm Springs to spend a few hours to learn about the history of the Cahuilla Indian tribe and their deep and many hundreds of years of their connection to the Coachella Valley. There are multiple exhibits, several videos to watch, and multiple displays of Indian artifacts and interactive displays in the history of their tribe. They have a good gift shop, several restrooms and additional displays to enjoy outside of the main part of the museum. Be sure to add this museum to your “to do” list when visiting Palm Springs.

The tickets are low cost. The exhibits were helpful to learn about the native Americans of the area. Very helpful since people in Palm Springs often mention the history of the area but it's often unclear what that actually means. Gift shop had some great items for sale.

With a $10 admission fee I can honestly say that the immersive story in the first room is worth that price on its own. When combined with the hard work and informative displays of the rest of the space this museum is a must see!

Beautiful building and great landscaping outside. The price is $10 per person and overall we enjoyed our visit but the museum is quite small. It was good learning about the history of the area.

Really, really interesting place. From the historical and mythological to the disturbing modern history. I found it all fascinating.

Very interesting and educational ... love the new building and all the exhibitions/display and the stories. It is a self guided tour that starts with a movie telling the stories of the local natives, their origin, and the beginning of humanity, according to their tradition. A must visit! And it's conveniently located in the heart of Downtown Palm Springs. Head over to the spa and visit there ... there is a great Cafe restaurant inside there as well ... with a great selection of sandwiches, cold and hot drinks. Very clean and relaxing space!!

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 this museum.

A very interesting, immersive and impressive cultural museum. The artifacts in their collection are fantastic! I especially loved the small, delicate shells found at the site of the museum when they were building it. The shells are somewhere around 8,000 years old! The information about the area and the Tribe, from past to present, was thorough and in great detail. I really enjoyed the videos of current Tribal members speaking, really bringing it all full circle; Native Americans have always been here and will always be here.

Agua Caliente Cultural Museum celebrates and displays the culture and history of this band of Cahuilla Indians. It is located in the heart of Palm Springs at the site of their original home. Archeological evidence has documented over 6000 years of habitation at the site! The museum is well laid out and exhibits well presented. They have awonderful collection of ancient to contemporary artifacts that show the history of the area. Admission is minimal, and your visit begins with a movie introduces the visitor to what you will see. A must see when you are in Palm Springs!

Had an amazing time at the Agua Caliente museum. Residents told me that this is the new location that is mayb 2 years old. Use to b a smaller building down the road. There is an admission fee to pay for seniors, students, and regular adults. It is worth the admission There is a wonderful introductory video animating the beginnings of the Agua Caliente Indians. The spring waters can be felt at the Agua Caliente Spa in the nearby building. Great exhibits. Some use amazing computer graphics . There is a beautiful gift shop featuring products made by the native people. I bought a cool Indian eagle scarf.

Very nice location with friendly people,representing. Amazing new buildout with a lot of information and education for the public. We had a family outing and all agreed it was well worth our visit and minimal entry fee. Free for vets and a discount for locals. I am not an expert on the culture but so impressed with all they have done for the CV,

Beautiful museum. Poor staff attitude. Very unfriendly towards me and my family. Felt sad to just walk around and not be talked to at all but reprimanded for putting my hand on the railing. Completely beautiful but very small. No pictures, no talking. You would think this is a sacred museum the way they treat you like you're on watch all the time. lol too funny. If you want to know the TLDR the white man showed up and ruined everything. If you don't believe me pay the $20 entrance fee and see what they wrote and have wrote several times throughout their museum. Save your money.

I've been to the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum twice so far. This is an excellent place to get out of the summer heat yet get out of the house! The museum is pristine clean just you would expect. The staff are very friendly and welcoming. The tour starts with a 12 minute movie as a group then your off to explore the rest on your own. I think the tribe did a fantastic job of educating the public in a way that keeps you stimulated through interactive stations, rooms of short filmed interviews, various archives placed strategically to keep you guided and moving through the museum. Check out what was found during excavation of the property! Plan for 1.5 -2 hours. Free parking in back.

This museum has only been open for about a year. I thought it was quite impressive as it contains a lot of useful historical information about the local native tribes. They start you off with a short animated film in a 360 degree theater, Then you are free to wander around the museum for as long as you wish. I stayed about an hour overall, but it is certainly possible to stay there longer should you wish. The museum charges a modest $10 admission fee and there is ample free parking. It's located right in the heart of downtown Palm Springs close to the various shops and restaurants, and the Casino is right across the street.

The Agua Caliente Cultural Museum is must see when in the downtown area, next to the Ague Caliente casino It was founded in 1991. This is a amazing museum in the desert that tell the story and lives of the Agua Caliente Tribes in the Coachella Valley plus Palm Springs area, the admission is $10.00 and below with lot of free parking in the heat. The lobby is huge here, you start off by watching a short video in a small 360 theater style with bench seating that vibrate with special effects. Then there are 5 exhibit here to view, 1. Our Home, 2. Creation and Migration 3. Our Land 4. Change and Adaptation and 5. The Future. There are so many Interesting plus historical Items here plus I learn so much about the Agua Caliente people and the Cahuilla Indians reservation, there is also a very nice gift shop here too, the first thing you see, and the last thing you see when visiting here is the Oasis Trail which is a paved walk way with beautiful rock formation, waterfall, watersteams, flowers and plants, I will return to see what I miss plus to cool off.

Our first, but definitely not our last visit to this new museum. It really captures the unique history of the local population. The audio visual displays are state of the art, especially fascinating is the map of Palm Springs overlain with the changing faces of the landscape. You have to see it. Even more astounding are the artifacts on display from 8,000 years ago, found when excavating for the museum building. The front desk was very pleasant and helpful, explaining the location of the gift shop, restrooms, and the creation story movie you watch before entering the beautiful, informative gallery. Also enjoyable is the new heritage trail, a shady stroll along a waterway.

Absolutely stunning building, rich history, and friendly staff. I appreciated coming here and learning about the history in this region.

So happy we stopped by. Learned about the history of Agua Caliente. I did the waterfall trail the day before so I was able to connect the history to the site I went to. I wished we did the museum prior to hike. The museum makes you appreciate you're being tourist on a piece of history. I've been viewing Palm trees differently. I always keep an eye out for the dates. Please visit. It's a must.

Newly opened by the local Agua Caliente tribe. The permanant collection does a lovely history of the local indigenous tribes and explanations of how they were taken advantage by each encounter w incoming waves of "Manifest Destiny" immigrants. This is a MUST visit. The gallery has on loan from the Smithsonian an exhibit of Horace Poolaw(Kiowa) photographs. Superb! You are on Native Land.

My wife and I visited here and we thought it was an amazing museum. It told the history of the Agua Caliente people (including the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians) who have lived on this land, in the Coachella Valley for thousands of years. The artwork displayed is spectacular. The story of the lives of the people and struggles of the people is evocative. The exhibits and the way they're presented is world class. There is also a special exhibit of photographs of Native Americans in Oklahoma. The people who work at the museum are very nice and very helpful. To understand the Palm Springs area this museum is truly a must visit. Parking is very easy: it's available and free at the museum itself.

Beautiful experience your my two grandsons and myself. Was greeted right when walked in the building. Beautiful museum of the Cahuilla Indians . I totally recommend it . It's not expensive at all . Military and Veterans go in free . Children 5.00

Beautiful facility; so-so museum; sub-par guided tour. The museum opened about two years ago and is beautiful. Lots of parking, gorgeous entry, small gift shop, attractions interior. Entry fee for seniors only $5. Person taking the money gave unclear options and was singularly unhelpful. The actual museum is quite small and very attractive but lacks substantial information. A slick creation myth video was presented in an in the round theater. The actual exhibits are surprisingly modest with short explanations. I would skip the guided tour unless you like the fifth grade museum tour which asked what animal you see on a basket (rattlesnake) and what you think of when you think of home. Our group's average age was over 70 but the tour targeted know-nothings. You will learn more by reading the sparse descriptions. Tour guide was unable to answer rather basic questions.

This is a very interesting museum to visit. As usual the history of the band of native Americans is filled with disappointment for the manner in which they were treated. Fortunately in the end they were able to save their culture and heritage despite some very bad treatment. Well worth a visit.

IMPRESSIVE! The exterior, interior and content are exceptional. They start you in the theatre with 360 view of the story including effects! There are galleries past the theatre. Take your time to read the descriptions and interactive screen with information. There are a few videos throughout. There's a "bath house" with a short clip. There was another gallery once you exit the main gallery. Beautiful pieces in the gift shop.

Extremely well done presentations of the history and culture of the Agua Caliente tribe, spanning its more than 8000 year history in the area. A testament to the spirit of a people who were pretty much decimated by the coming of non-natives, the railroad, and everything else we've done to them. Well, worth a visit.

Such a wonderful place that is filled with truth and beauty. The tours are times 15 mins apart, the ticket prices are reasonable. You MUST show your ID to get the resident pricing. The star of the show is the Horace Poolaw exhibit. Some of the pictures were so beautiful that they brought a tear to my eye. So extraordinary. This exhibit is on loan from the Smithsonian, so it won't be at the museum forever. I am grateful that I came.

What a surprise. A fantastic museum. Don't miss it. Great use of display technology .

One of the best things in Palm Springs. All of the exhibits explained the cultural history of this region. The docents were friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. The use of technology was brilliant in the displays. We went early on a Monday in hot season, so there were few visitors that day. Easy parking and great gift shop,

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 this museum. There is free parking right by the museum and for the museum. Tickets range from $5 to $10 depending on age, etc. It's a bargain for all that you get on your visit.

This is an exceptional facility with modern creation displays. it's really fun to stop by with the family and friends to learn about history and Palm Springs. The story of the tribe is told by locals and is brought to life with their wonderful presentations. Plan to spend 45 minutes to an hour. you'll enjoy walking me outside grounds anytime you're downtown along the waterway. You won won't be disappointed you made the time to discover this place.

Wonderful establishment!!! Enjoy some of Palm Springs history. It's good to know about the indigenous peoples.

If you are someone who wants to check out a museum without being forced to watch a 15 minute video before getting into the exhibit then avoid this place. It wasn't clear to me that that's what you had to do to go to the museum and I wanted to quickly take a look around as I was short on time so I sort of wasted my money on this place unknowingly.

My family was looking for a way to kill an hour before their flight and this was such a wonderful surprise. One of the best museum experiences. The museum is so high tech. Great way to kill an hour or so. The museum starts off with a short animated video in a rounded room with rounded screens and seats that shake. Then you go into the exhibit. The museum is only a couple of rooms but it is so well put together. Would highly recommend this for anyone interested in anthropology and history. I imagine kids might get bored in the actual exhibits since it's a lot of reading, but they might enjoy the animated video at the beginning.

We've been wanting to visit your cultural museum and finally made it on a Friday morning, only to be turned away! The guy at the front desk told us the museum was closed due to a private event and we had to wait an hour before we could enter. Not only that, but he was rude and smirked as he told us we couldn't enter. And that guy is the museum's representative? I've visited numerous museums around the world and I've never experienced anything like this. The museum shows it's open on the your website! If you are going to close your entire museum then post a notice for visitors to see beforehand so they don't waste their time. So disappointed and I've now lost all interest in your museum and what it offers. And I will definitely pass this information on to anybody that asks me about my visit.

Its well done, multi modality with many exhibits. Would have liked even more info, things to read and discover.

Very nice from the outside garden to the film and exhibits inside it is exceptional ! It explains just about everything about the band before and after the white invasion. The gift shop Is great too.

One of the finest museums I have visited. Told from the perspective of Native Americans in a tone refraining from anger at mistreatment (which of course would be justified) to one of "how do we make this work and still maintain our cultural heritage?) The narrative displays were easy to read (white letters on dark background) and they were accompanied by a variety of media that told a compelling story.