A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center

The A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center is the cultural heart of the Zuni Pueblo, a tribally run museum that presents Zuni history and culture from an explicitly Zuni perspective. The collection includes historic photographs, pottery, jewellery, and ceremonial objects, displayed alongside oral histories and interpretations provided by community members rather than outside academics.

The museum is small but thoughtfully conceived, and the staff — most of them Zuni — are genuinely welcoming to curious visitors. It is the best starting point for understanding the pueblo before walking through it. The museum also runs cultural programmes, artist demonstrations, and guided tours of the pueblo that provide access and context not available to unguided visitors. Hours and programmes vary seasonally; call ahead.

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The museum's name means "Zuni People's Museum" in the Zuni language. It was established in 1992, partly in response to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, which required federal institutions to return sacred objects and human remains to tribes. The Zuni have used the museum as a vehicle for repatriating and caring for their own cultural heritage on their own terms.