Malki Museum, Banning

About Malki Museum

Malki Museum Inc. is the oldest Native American-founded nonprofit museum on a California Indian reservation, dedicated to preserving Southern California Indian cultures. Visitors explore art, artifacts, and historical materials from the Indians of the San Gorgonio Pass Area, including collections focused on Cahuilla Indians and other regional tribes. The museum serves as a gathering place where both Native and non-Native visitors learn about the past and cultural traditions of these communities. The museum also operates Malki-Ballena Press, an academic publishing house founded in 1965 that produces books and materials on Native American culture, including the Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology. Visitors can attend lectures, workshops, and classes throughout the year to deepen their understanding of Southern California Indian heritage. The museum is located in Banning, California, on the Morongo Band of Mission Indians Reservation. A valid driver's license is required at the reservation entrance to access the museum grounds.