Maturango Museum, Ridgecrest

About Maturango Museum

Founded in 1962, the Maturango Museum in Ridgecrest preserves and interprets the natural and cultural history of the Northern Mojave Desert. Visitors explore exhibit galleries featuring the region's desert ecology and heritage, participate in art exhibits and cultural programs, and attend lectures and concerts. The museum sponsors guided tours to the world-famous Coso petroglyphs, where visitors encounter ancient rock art. The museum maintains gardens on its grounds and operates as an information center for Death Valley, the Northern Mojave Desert, and the Highway 395 and 178 corridors. Educational outreach programs and children's activities support learning about the upper Mojave region. A gift shop and museum store offer desert-themed merchandise and books. Families interested in natural history, indigenous cultures, and desert landscapes find exhibits and programs suited to varied ages and knowledge levels.