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| - My personal opinion is it is a 4 star rating, but that is because I am a history buff, and like to talk to museum staff and volunteers. Some people may rate it lower, though. This place was created to preserve the petroglyphs of the Archaic, Payatan, and Hohokam peoples, who were pre-Columbian tribes,. Modern tribes like the Tohono O'odam and Hopi consider them their ancestors. Not much is known what the petroglyphs mean, or why they are there. There is over 1600 along the 1/4 mile trail, but most are hard to see.
This museum was constructed starting in the 1980s, when the Adobe Dam was constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers. This dam allowed for much of the growth in the Deer Valley, Moon valley, and Arrowhead areas in the NW Valley. Thelda Williams is a long time supporter of this museum, and between her, and the many volunteers, and backing of ASU and its director Dr Richard Toon, it wouldn't exist.
The museum's bread and butter are school kids, so there are exhibits and activity stations inside and along the trail geared toward kids. There are special events throughout the year, usually live performances. Inside, the permanent exhibits are pretty spartan, and since it is an ASU museum, there are visiting exhibits that usually stay 1/2 to full semesters, usually set up by students, and staff alike.
What makes this museums stand out, however
If you are a historian, into archaeology or anthropology, or you are a Native American, I highly recommend this place. If you are a casual visitor of museums, depending on your tastes, you will either love it, or be underwhelmed, in which case, I would say plan a visit during a special activity or event, so that you have additional entertainment. In any event, seek out a docent here. Most of them are retirees who spend hours working at the museum, and most are very knowledgeable about not only the site, but Phoenix and Arizona history.
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