Formerly known as the Smoki Museum, this small institution holds a substantial collection of Native American artifacts from across North America, with particular depth in items from Arizona's Indigenous cultures — Navajo, Hopi, Yavapai, and others. The collection spans pottery, baskets, textiles, kachina dolls, and jewelry, much of it gathered in the early 20th century.
The museum's history is complicated: the Smoki People, a non-Native fraternal organization, founded it in 1935 and staged ceremonies that many Native communities found offensive. The museum underwent a significant reckoning in the 1990s, changed its name, altered its approach, and has since worked to establish more collaborative relationships with tribal communities. It now acknowledges this history openly on its displays.
The collection itself is genuinely interesting, and the building — a Pueblo Revival structure — is attractive. A small but worthwhile stop for anyone interested in the archaeology and material culture of the Southwest.