• Carmen Lucas Presentation

    Sunday, June 8, 2025 1:00PM (Alpine Women's Club (2166 Alpine Blvd, Alpine, CA)

    The Alpine Historical Society is honored to host Carmen Lucas, a respected Kwaaymii Laguna elder and lifelong advocate for Native American heritage preservation. Come hear Carmen share her story on Sunday, June 8th at 1:00 PM at the Alpine Women's Club (2166 Alpine Blvd, Alpine, CA) for a meaningful and inspiring program. Carmen brings decades of experience as a Native American Monitor, Consultant, and Educator, and will share insights from her work and life as caretaker of her ancestral homeland, Lucas Ranch. Admission is free! Please RSVP to Corinne at (619) 417-1306 or email info@alpinehistory.org.

  • Protect the Pollinators Mural Unveiling

    Thursday, June 12, 2025 from 5:30PM-7:30PM Kennedy’s Market, Heber, CA

    Hosted by Imperial Valley Equity and Justice, join us for a special evening of art, community, and environmental justice at the unveiling of a stunning new mural by local artist Takito. His latest mural is dedicated to some of our region’s vital pollinators: the pallid desert digger bee, white-lined sphinx moth, orange sulfur butterfly, and red-winged blackbird, all of which play a powerful role in sustaining our local ecosystems.

  • Campo Days

    Saturday, June 14th & Sunday, June 15th from 9 AM to 4 PM Campo, CA

    Join us for a free, family-friendly celebration of East County’s Wild West history! Enjoy museum visits, a historic train ride, equestrian demos, and more! Don’t forget to stop by our information booth to connect and learn about our work!

  • Museum Day at the Library (Calexico)

    Friday, June 20th 3:30PM-4:45PM CAMARENA MEMORIAL LIBRARY

    Discover the rich history of the Imperial Valley at your library! Enjoy a fun and interactive experience with a short presentation and hands-on activity for all ages.

  • June Volunteer Day

    Sunday, June 22, 2025 from 11:00AM-2:00PM.

    Join our Head Curator to assist with organizing our research library and sorting documents and photographs within our collections. 📚

  • Museum Day at the Library (Imperial)

    Friday, June 27th 2:00PM-4:00PM IMPERIAL PUBLIC LIBRARY

    Discover the rich history of the Imperial Valley at your library! Enjoy a fun and interactive experience with a short presentation and hands-on activity for all ages.

  • IVDM Water Day

    Saturday, July 12, 2025 from 11:00AM-3:00PM

    FREE COMMUNITY EVENT- Join IVDM as we beat back the summer heat with a day of fun and water that's FREE for the community to enjoy! Fun for all ages and families, we'll be featuring water activities and fun all day! We will also have music, snacks, games, & prizes. We hope you join us!

  • 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.

    Visit Us

    11 Frontage Rd
    Ocotillo, CA 92259

    Hours of Operation

    Mon-Tue
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    CLOSED
    Wed-Sun
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    10am-4pm

    Admission

    General
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    $5