Exploring Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum

The Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum is another unique museum located in the city of Blanding, Utah. The Ancestral Puebloan archaeological site found on the property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Edge of Cedars Indian Ruin on August 12, 1971. The museum was opened in 1978.

The museum contains one of the largest collections of Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) pottery on display in the Four Corners Region. It also serves as the primary repository for archaeological materials excavated from public lands in southeast Utah. Besides their permanent exhibits the museum also showcases special exhibits throughout the year and hosts a number of festivals and interactive events.

The star of the museum is the authentic partially-restored 1,000 year old Puebloan village behind the museum. An interpretive trail located around the village provides history on the lives of these ancient people.

The village was inhabited from AD 825 to 1225 by Ancestral Puebloans. The underground kiva, used mainly for ceremonial rituals, is extremely well preserved. What makes the structure even more special is you actually get the opportunity to climb a ladder down into this ancient kiva. It’s not very often you get permission to actually enter an archeological site so it was pretty cool.

An entire room inside the museum is dedicated to this archeological site, referred to as the Edge of the Cedars Pueblo. A lot of information is given on the site itself and those who inhabited it. A number of artifacts excavated from the actual site are on display as well.

The Spirit Window murals were another favorite attraction of mine. Located on multiple walls throughout the museum are murals created by a local Bluff artist named Joe Pachak. These murals are reproductions of rock art panels that can be found throughout San Juan County.

When you pay for admission make sure to ask for a guide book. They are free and give information on multiple exhibits including the actual location of these petroglyphs.

Another favorite room of mine also had to do with petroglyphs. There were photographs of rock art also found in the four corners region. Each picture included an informational placard and I just thought the pics were interesting.

There is one area referred to as Visible Storage. Through the glass walls you can see rows and rows of ancient pottery. A computer allows you to look up the history of each pot on display. And while no one was there during our visit sometimes you have the opportunity to watch a curator at work on the artifacts in this room.

The Horse Rock Ruin basket collection and a loom dating from the middle of the first millennium were other items in the museum I enjoyed. Both were still in remarkable shape. There was more than one pot that really struck my fancy as well.

Oh and there was one freaky necklace made out of insects legs. Literally just a couple strands of insects legs threaded together with a shell pendant attached. It was so so weird.

My favorite item was a a Macaw feather sash (posted the pic right below) on display near the Visible Storage room. It was showcased as an example of the many different items that were traded among the various groups of people visiting the four corners area. I just thought it was extremely beautiful.

In my humble opinion this is one museum that you cannot skip if you are in the area. For a measly $5 and an hour or two of your time you get to visit an incredible little museum packed with an amazing amount of history on the area.

And how often do you have the chance to literally climb down into and explore a 1,000 year old kiva? You know that’s one opportunity you don’t want to miss out on!