Representing Community Voices
Overview:
The Agua Caliente Cultural Museum is a 48,000 square-foot state-of-the-art facility, which includes dedicated galleries, education classroom and garden, rentable meeting rooms, Tribal Library, retail space, the latest in dedicated collections storage and housing spaces, administrative offices, a Tribal Boardroom and Terrace, and outdoor interpretive areas including the Oasis Trail. Situated in the heart of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indian Reservation, the Museum is in the immediate downtown area of Palm Springs, California. The ACCM serves as a vital hub for cultural preservation, education, and community engagement, showcasing the rich history and vibrant culture of the Agua Caliente people.
Goals:
- To create a state-of-the-art museum that tells the authentic story of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.
- To serve as a center for cultural education and community gathering for Tribal members.
- To enhance the cultural landscape of Palm Springs and raise awareness of the Tribe’s history and sovereignty.
Timeline:
| 2015 | Master Planning for the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza began |
| May 2018 | Construction commenced |
| 2023 | Construction completed |
| October 2023 | ACCM opened to Tribal Membership |
| November 3, 2023 | Tribe held a Grand Opening for the public |
JCJ Architecture was recruited to complete a conceptual architectural design created by Jones and Jones of Seattle, Washington.
Key Activities:
- Tribal Leadership: The project was spearheaded by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Tribal Council, with the Museum’s senior management team and a design-build company leading the construction and development process.
- Community Engagement: Throughout the project, the Tribe prioritized community input, ensuring that the museum reflected the values and perspectives of the Agua Caliente people. This included extensive consultation with Tribal members, elders, and cultural experts.
- Addressing Challenges: The project faced several challenges, including the discovery of archaeological artifacts during construction and delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions.
To ensure that the project met the expectations and values of the Tribe, ACCM staff worked tirelessly to ensure that every element of Museum and exhibition planning was reviewed and approved by ACBCI Tribal Council and ACBCI membership. This entailed creating presentations, attending planning meetings, and requesting participation and feedback over the course of the project. ACBCI membership alone includes over 500 enrolled individuals; with descendants and family members from other Cahuilla bands, the impact on Cahuilla Nation has been significant.
Community Impact:
- Cultural Revitalization: The museum has become a central hub for cultural revitalization within the Agua Caliente community, providing a space for learning, sharing, and celebrating their heritage.
- Community Education: The museum has significantly increased public awareness of the Agua Caliente people’s history, culture, and sovereignty.
- Tourism and Economic Development: The ACCM has become a significant cultural attraction for Palm Springs, contributing to the local tourism economy, hosting dozens of tribal groups and over 16,000 visitors from around the world since its opening to the public.
Since opening in 2023, the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum serves as a place for Tribal members to learn more about their own history and culture, hear the stories and knowledge of elders, hone their Cahuilla language skills, and participate in telling the Agua Caliente story to the rest of the world. The Agua Caliente Cultural Museum has also impacted the greater Palm Springs community, and beyond, adding a rich cultural element to the already flourishing Downtown Palm Springs attractions and generating awareness of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians’ long-standing occupation of this area. Historically, many visitors (and even residents) of Palm Springs have been unaware of the fact that they are on Indian land. The ACCM Permanent Exhibition has served to break stereotypes and misconceptions about the Tribe by sharing their authentic story. Showcasing art and culture from other tribal groups in the ACCM Changing Gallery and Museum Store has also helped to generate awareness and understanding of other tribal nations.
For more information, contact:
- Email: info@accmuseum.org
- Phone: (760) 778-1079
- Website: https://www.accmuseum.org/
View ATALM2024 Conference Session Materials HERE.