THIS IS THE BEST PLACE TO LEARN ABOUT ARCHAEOLOGY! BEAUTIFUL DISPLAYS AND MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRAVEL, FIELD TRIPS, HIKES AND EXCAVATIONS.
We joined VVAC at the urging of our friends. So glad we did. In addition to their museum there are classes, volunteer opportunities and trips sponsored by VVAC. We have learned so much about the history and archeology of the Verde Valley area. The museum has been a wonderful place to take guests. We are rally looking forward to the move to a larger building with more exhibits. Anyone visiting in the Verde Valley are should be encouraged to drop by the museum.
I was introduced to the Verde Valley Archaeology Center in 2018. The passion and hard work of the volunteers at the Center was amazing. Their efforts to “conserve, preserve and educate” people about the local indigenous tribes and keep artifacts from the Verde Valley IN the Verde Valley led them to found this museum. The Paul Dyck collection contains thousands of artifacts. His artwork is also displayed at the Center. The Center has had a faithful following of members for eleven years, and as it moves into its new location, it will become one of the main attractions in the Verde Valley.
The Verde Valley Archaeology Center (VVAC) has as its mission not only the preservation of artifacts, but also education relative to the history of the native peoples of the Verde Valley. Working with a staff of professional volunteers, the VVAC has been successful in its endeavors for over eleven years. Indicative of this success is the VVAC's current transition to a building that is three times larger than its former one. Visionary leadership ensures that the VVAC will continue to inform and grow well into the future.
We had a wonderful visit to the center! Interesting exhibits and Ken, the director, talked to us for quite some time. We learned a lot. I’m excited about their new, expanded site opening in November!
The Verde Valley Archaeology Center is an innovative, dynamic hub for research, preservation, and information related to prehistoric culture and indigenous arts of the Verde Valley. A leader in its field, it is the official partner of the National Park Service for the Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot sites, as well as coordinator for regional site stewards.
Its exhibits feature unique, intact collections of artifacts from ancient caves of the area, including textiles, pots, tools, sandals, belts, jewelry and even a meteorite. The museum also includes distinctive, regionally relevant artwork and paintings from our own modern area.
The Center also offers lectures, films, workshops, volunteer opportunities, and exceptional archaeological tours around the southwest. The local hikes for members to prehistoric sites are really engaging and fun.
For over 20 years I have been volunteering within the archaeology community of the Verde Valley. A major emphasis which I found lacking was unification throughout the various towns/cities within the Verde Valley emphasizing the wealth of undiscovered/unappreciated pre-history within this verdant valley. During the late 1800's, the archaeologists who came and saw the exception number of sites here took what they uncovered and sent same back to the Smithsonian and other museums in the East, because there were sadly lacking facilities here in the Southwest who even had room for the artifacts.
The aim of the VVAC is to provide an accredited museum facility to show the world the exceptional ability of ancestral peoples in their adaptation to an environment and - indeed - improving on that environment with outstanding examples of weaving, ceramics, archaeo-astronomy, and so much more which needs study and analysis. Our members are dedicated to learning more each day about the pre-historic Southwest and implementing the best of our efforts in identifying and processing our findings for the benefit of the entire arena of Southwestern archaeology.
This organization is fantastic,. They bring a wealth of knowledge and learning to the whole state. Don't take my word, one visit will tell it all.