Visit To Pueblo Grande Museum In Phoenix

Introduction

Yesterday (8/31/2013), I finally made it to visit this Museum near the Phoenix Skyharbor Airport. It is a museum located in an industrial/business area on Washington Street very close to the 143 Hohokam Expressway. Once on the outdoor trail you see planes up close landing on the nearby airport.

The Outdoor Trail

What I particular liked about the trail was the reconstruction of pithouses (although I understand they are larger than original). One of the pithouses as a cutaway entrance which a look inside, which is decorated with items of the time.

There is also an interpretive agricultural garden featuring cotton, corn, beans, squash and amaranth on the trail where irrigation and planting techniques of the Hohokams are demonstrated. The garden fence is made up of Saguaro ribs and Ocotillos.

Dig It Gallery

It is unfortunate that this gallery is dumbed down geared toward small children. Adults would possibly also have fun to learn more about the Hohokam in a playful or otherwise engaging way instead of museum exhibits.

No Original Hohokam Canal

There are two canals crossing the premises of this museum, both are modern canals. Visitors are told that an original canal is about 50 yards north of the museum perimeter fence beyond the railway rails. Was it not possible to integrate the original canal into the park?

Archeology Stillstand?

Archaeology is a major topic of this museum (officially: “and archaeological park”) permeating the exhibits etc. However, visitors never really learn from the exhibits when were the campaigns, what these campaigns focused on, or are there still archaeological digs going on today etc. My impression was that the Platform Mound etc. was stabilized and covered up for future generations. There were no signs of active archaeological work on the premises. I suspect there might be a book or brochure in the gift shop about this subject, but I had no time for the shop since the museum was about to close.

Restrooms Are Darkened Early

Unfortunately, the museum was closing at 4:45 PM (what an odd time is this anyway), so I missed the museum shop. I also noticed that the museum darkened the men’s restroom about 4:30 PM and left the entrance door to the restroom wide opened with the urinals in view.