- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
8 reviews for Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park
Amidst the urban sprawl and commercial filth of Phoenix, lie the ruins of a 1500 year old civilization, the Hohokam. Literally meaning "those who have gone," this was the name given to the mysterious Indian culture that thrived in the southwest of Arizona between AD 1 and 1500. Known throughout the southwest for the irrigation canals, pottery, and ruins they left behind, this is one of the parks that brings you closer to this culture.
Though the ruins are little more than mounds, due to building materials back then being in limited supply (i.e. adobe, caliche, and if you got lucky - some logs) and heat and monsoons eroding away what once was, there are some wonderful full scale homes (replicas) for visitors to explore.
Picture the teepees we know and love in the Westerns, now replace the furs and leather with the surrounding soil. I can't imagine that their villages were easy to sustain, though their exceedingly large ballcourts survive to this day, seen here at Pueblo Grande. Walk the trails and walk in the footsteps of this ancient culture, trace the foundations of their homes, look at pottery which has been found at the site, learn about the amazing irrigation canals that helped their civilization thrive as a successful farming community for 1500 years.
Advice: never come here unless it is below 85 degrees. Locals can talk all they want about it being a dry heat, but you will be doing a lot of walking while here.
Admission is $2, that's all the city gets for sponsoring the research, tours, talks, digs, and displays.
If you are bored to tears just thinking about walking amidst almost non-existent ruins, visit the visitor center museum and gawk at the artifacts found in or around the site. Kids can be archeologists for a day and dig around in their life-size excavated trench.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (2)
I never knew this place existed in the middle of the city. I saw an article about this place in the paper and we decided to come and check it out.
It doesn't take very long to watch the video, walk the park outside and check out the museum inside. It was pretty neat and I'm glad I checked it out, but I was a little bored.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
Rock on! I had no idea that right in Phoenix was the site of the original hub of the Hohokam people in the first century. This museum is so interesting and while the 10 minute intro video is informative, and i'm sure kids enjoy the Dig It zone, but the archaelogical park is my favorite part of the tour.
It's so hard to picture the life the Hohokam lived here a thousand years ago, but the plaques scattered around the park paint a great picture of early desert living. Also fun are the reconstructed home and pit houses that you can go inside of and check out daily life for Hohokam people.
I love that the entry fee is only $5 because you really are transported at Pueblo Grande.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (2)
Phoenix was the *first* [or right close to the first] city to have an Archaeologist on staff. Pueblo Grande was why.
If you don't *yet* know about the Hohokam, when you get there, ask.
I've been going there for several Centuries. Now that I think of it, I haven't been for a while. I better go again.
Go there. Walk around on the mound. Let your imagination transport you back a thousand years. Enjoy.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Cool (2)
If you went to school in the Phoenix area, you've probably been to Pueblo Grande. There's also a strong likelihood that you haven't returned since that fourth grade field trip.
I'm thoroughly confident this is a happenin' place, particularly for the history/anthropology/southwest geeks out there. This is not, however, due to the fact that I'm a part-time employee and hide out behind the scenes.
New exhibits open a few times a year in the changing gallery. Just last winter brought a traveling Smithsonian exhibit and the current exhibition highlights the archaeology found beneath Sky Harbor.
The stroll around the archaeological site shows Hohokam village ruins and a platform mound. Replicas of the houses are at the end of the trail for your enjoyment and there's a small garden displaying native foods. There is also an excavated ballcourt to be seen and Park of Four Waters, the ancient canal system, is located behind the museum and occasionally open to the public.
It's cheap, it's fun, and you can buy prickly pear jelly in the gift shop. What more could one ask for?
People thought this was:
- Useful (4)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (2)
Just walked the park. Agree with all the good things folks say about the place. The best part is the FREE ADMISSION on Sundays.
People thought this was:
- Cool (1)
The only prehistoric Hohokam archaeological site you can visit within the Phoenix city limits. There is a platform mound, ballcourt and replicated dwelling structures that you can go inside of to get a better idea of how these first people of Phoenix lived. There are three small galleries inside the museum. One gallery showcases the material culture and lifeways of the Hohokam. Another gallery called Dig It! Explore Archaeology offers a hands on experience for children to learn about the concepts and practice of archaeology. There is also a changing gallery area where new exhibits showcase exhibits on topics from historic photography of Phoenix, WWII Codetalkers, New Mexican Pottery and Archaeo-astronomy. They offer workshops, petroglyph hikes, Archaeology for kids programs and summer programs all at pices far less expensive than any other Phoenix cultural institution. It's a great place to also purchase authentic Native American art, jewelry, music and books on a variety of topics. It's easy to get to . It's easy on the wallet. And it's a great place to learn about Arizona's prehistory.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
If you love learning about the Hohokam culture, Pueblo Grande is a must-see! It's an incredibly cheap activity- it will cost you a mere $2 for adults and $1 for children, but you'll get to see things you can't anywhere else. For instance, you'll see 1,500 year old Hohokam village ruins, an 800 year old platform mound and an excavated ballcourt.
You'll also be given a wealth of information on the Hohokam culture, so you not only will get to see how they lived, you'll learn about the people themselves, the challenges they faced and their everyday lives. Really cool.
You can also take a little trail to see replicas of prehistoric Hohokam homes. You can go in them because they're full-size and it's a hands-on experience.
Lastly, if you want to take a little of the culture home with you, there's always the museum store!
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
