Dottie's Sponsorship Club
Meet Dottie! IVDM recently adopted a Sonoran Desert Tortoise, we are excited to announce Dottie's Sponsorship Club is now available to help support her care and be updated on all things Dottie, including a separate monthly newsletter!
Open Call for Oral History - Founders Exhibit
In celebration of our 50th Anniversary, the Imperial Valley Desert Museum (IVDM) is excited to be hosting its first Founder’s Exhibition, May of 2024!
As part of the exhibit, We are searching for: written responses, photos, documents, audio files, videos discussing your experiences with IVDM, both past and present.
If you have information/experiences you would like to share, please fill out Oral History form found below, OR reach out to IVDM’s Head Curator, Ryan Pagett (curation@ivdesertmuseum.org) to make an appointment for an Oral History interview.
Native Voices | Native Truths: A Contemporary Experience
Now on display from January - April 25, 2024. This is an in-house exhibit developed by Curational Research Fellow Ryan Pagett in collaboration with 17 indigenous artists from Southern California & Northern Baja California!
Jacumba Hikers: Clark Lane in NE Davies Valley
Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 8:00AM
We will hike approximately 5 miles through sandy washes, small slot canyons, and canyons with towering walls. Some areas are steep with slippery rocks. Note: This is our last hike of the season, so please join us for a few provided snacks afterwards. You’re also welcome to bring snacks to share with the group! Leaves from IVDM parking lot at 8:00 AM. We will carpool or caravan to the trailhead in high-clearance vehicles.
Evening with an Expert: Matthew Herbst
Saturday, April 20th, 2024 from 6:00PM-9:00PM- ALL AGES WELCOME!
You will enjoy a delicious dinner, refreshing drinks, ask burning questions, and gain a deeper understanding of the Colorado Desert. Tickets include food & drinks! Catered by Ursa.
April Volunteer Day
Sunday, April 21, 2024, 10:00AM-4:00PM.
You will get to organize photos, talk with museum staff, and learn about local history! Please either call us at (760) 358-7016 or email us at curation@ivdesertmuseum.org and we will get you signed up. We look forward to working with you!
Stargazing: Come Enjoy the Night Sky!
FREE COMMUNITY EVENT: Friday, May 10, 2024 from 7:30PM-10:00PM. We will have an informational talk, telescopes, games, and snacks! Don't forget to bring your own chairs & binoculars! This event is FREE to all visitors of IVDM, with no reservations required. All ages welcome!
Yoga in the Yuha- Lauren Layton
Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 8:00AM. Join us for a rejuvenating yoga sessions amidst the serene beauty of the Yuha Desert led by the talented instructor, Lauren Layton. Don't miss this opportunity to find your inner peace and find balance in the heart of the desert. Grab your yoga mat and get ready to unwind!
Traditional Craft Day-Acorns
FREE COMMUNITY EVENT: Saturday, May 11, 2024 from 10:00AM-4:00PM. The Kumeyaay were masters of the desert and acorns were, and still are, a prominent food source. Learn about how acorns were used and make Shawii!
This event is FREE to all visitors of IVDM, with no reservations required. All ages welcome!
Wine Tasting & Silent Auction
Friday, May 17, 2024 from 6:00pm-9:00pm
Join us for a fabulous evening of sipping and bidding at our 9th annual Wine Tasting & Silent Auction on May 18, 2024 - cheers to good wine!
The Imperial Valley Desert Museum is a new facility in the heart of the Yuha Desert housing Indigenous and historic artifacts found within the Imperial Valley and surrounding region. Opening a new museum in the twenty-first century, we do not want to be seen as an exhibit within four walls, but to engage and interact outside of the limitations of the "box" – both metaphorically and physically.
OUR MISSION is to preserve, interpret, and celebrate the deserts of Southern California through outstanding collections, research, and educational programs.
OUR VISION is to be the foremost research and educational institution devoted to the preservation, interpretation, and celebration of the deserts of Southern California.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We, the Imperial Valley Desert Museum, recognize our place on the traditional lands of the Kumeyaay who have been here, as they say, 'since the beginning', with a vibrant and rich history dating back over 10,000 years. The lands of Imperial and San Diego County include the traditional lands of many Indigenous groups composed of Quechan, Cahuilla, CoCoPah, Pai Pai, and Kumeyaay. Each of these groups are still present and active today.
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Ocotillo, CA 92259