900 years ago… No… 2,400 years ago… No… try, over 4,300 years ago…
That’s how far back in time we stepped today at the Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park located high up on Piute Butte in Eastern Lancaster overlooking the town of Lake Los Angeles. Wow!!! What a surprise!!!
Featuring a mind-blowing treasure trove of local artifacts dating back over 4,000 years, even a display of Arrowheads found at Vasquez Rocks, everywhere you look is filled with artifacts and walls and walls of display cases.
Built in 1928, in the Tudor Style and decorated with Native American decorations and motifs by artist and amateur archaeologist H. Arden Edwards and his wife and teenage son, the house and second level showroom, to display his extensive collections, were built literally over, around and thru the giant granite boulders of Piute Butte. Again, Wow!!!
Sold to Anthropologist Grace W. Oliver in the early 1940s, she added her extensive collections and opened and operated as the Antelope Valley Indian Museum from the 1940s thru the 1970s. In 1979 she sold the property to the state of California and donated the entire collection to be housed at the museum.
After driving past 150th St East to what seemed like the middle of nowhere, we were beyond amazed at what an incredible amount of ancient history is on display and what a unique artistic experience the museum itself is. It’s hard to describe the feeling, being in the presence of the actual items they used in their daily lives thousands of years ago. “Awe inspiring” doesn’t seem to say enough.
We had so much fun today, exploring and learning and explaining and answering the endless questions that our Granddaughter Audrey was asking.We even took a picnic lunch to enjoy in their picnic area overlooking the entire Antelope Valley and spent some time going over what all we had learned today with our granddaughter. What a great experience for each of us. Happy Monday to all. Stay safe.
