Researcher FAQ

Visiting Researchers

The Desert Museum is a repository for artifacts and archival records relating to the history and culture of the Imperial Valley and its surrounding regions. Our new 10,000 sq foot facility is home to over 30,000 objects and an extensive archive of original photographs, slides, correspondence, papers, reports, and audio and video recordings.

Interested in working with the Museum collections? Great!

Imperial Valley Desert Museum charges a small fee to access to our collections; this rate varies and can be found below in our 'Fee Policy' form. All researchers should first contact us to coordinate a time for their visit, specifying any specific materials or subject matter of interest. Finding Aids are available for select collections to help researchers prepare for their visit.

Visiting researchers should first read IVDM policies and procedures for visiting researchers, and come prepared with a signed copy of the Researcher Registration Form.

  • Supporting Documents

  • Visiting Researcher Policy & Collections Description

  • Researcher Registration Form