The San Diego Archaeological Center is a museum and educational facility where visitors can learn the story of how people have lived in San Diego County for the past 12,000 years. Our mission is to promote the importance of cultural resources through education and preserve them in partnership with Tribal and other communities.
Before SDAC opened in 1998, there was no place for locally excavated archaeological collections to be
curated. Today, the Center stewards 2,000,000+ cultural resources from 1,000+ archaeological sites in San Diego County. We engage the community with dynamic educational programming and exhibits to foster a deeper understanding of the past and its relevance to our world today; encourage appreciation and respect for other cultures, past and present; and reinforce critical thinking skills.
Visit https://sandiegoarchaeology.org/plan-your-visit for more information.
Current & Upcoming Exhibitions
Kumeyaay Cosmology (on loan from the Imperial Valley Desert Museum): This immersive exhibit explores the Kumeyaay people’s relationship with the seasons, stars, and celestial events.
Fact or Fiction? Hoaxes, Hearsay, and Hollywood: This exhibit investigates the scientific evidence (or lack thereof) for commonly held archaeological beliefs. Visitors can discover the facts behind aliens, crystal skulls, and more.
Hallmarks of the Holocene: This interactive exhibit highlights archaeological sites around the world.
By Land & Sea: Over the last 50 years, archaeologists thought they knew how the first humans arrived in the New World and spread out to different areas of the Americas. Recent findings have begun to dispute previously accepted theories and have sparked a surge of interest in New World archaeology. In this exhibit, explore how these early peoples came into the New World.
Archaeology 101: Archaeology is the study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains. It widens our understanding of human culture, technology, and lifestyle beyond what is written in the history books. In this exhibit, learn the basics about archaeology.
Lives and Lifestyles on Block 112: The Untold Story of San Diego’s Working Class: This exhibit explores the socioeconomic lives of people who lived in Downtown San Diego in the 1880s.
Visit San Diego Archaeological Center
Address:
16666 San Pasqual Valley
Escondido, CA
92027
Phone:
(760) 291-0370
Hours:
Wednesday - Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM
Website:
16666 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA
