The S'edav Va'aki Museum, a treasure trove of historical and cultural exhibits in Phoenix, is hitting the pause button on welcoming visitors through its doors. According to an official release from the City of Phoenix, the museum is slated for a considerable refurbishment. This marks the first time in 50 years that the museum's entrance lobby is being overhauled with a new floor and a custom front desk, not just for aesthetics but to craft an inviting gateway into the legacy of the O'Odham people, who are the descendants of the region's earliest known inhabitants.
It's not just the lobby getting a facelift; the "Dig It" gallery, which has kept its exhibitions static for the past two decades, is getting repurposed into a dynamo of changing exhibit spaces, the museum promises this will pave the way for presenting a variety of new and riveting themes to its patrons when it swings open its doors again, its first exhibit titled "Following Their Roots," is expected to delve into indigenous farming practices scattered across Arizona's myriad ecosystems, including a discussion relevant to today's ecological discourse on sustainable farming techniques and food sovereignty initiatives led by indigenous communities.
While the interior of the museum hits the refresh button, outdoor enthusiasts will still have an opportunity to engage with the museum's offerings, albeit in a different setting. Anticipated to open up in early August, albeit contingent upon the renovation's progress, the museum's outside trail will be accessible to visitors, where they can also find respite and amenities in the Community Room area, however, the museum itself isn’t expected to resume its usual operations until sometime in September.
For those eager museum-goers who can't wait until autumn for their cultural fix, the S'edav Va'aki Museum has put together a robust offering of digital experiences, prospective visitors or those simply curious about the museum's wealth of knowledge can dip into its virtual world through the Virtual Programming page, additionally, online exhibits which showcase a plethora of both permanent and previously showcased exhibits and even a virtual trek along the Interpretive Mound Trail are available at the click of a mouse, ensuring that the museum's outreach remains active even during its physical closure.
