San Diego Archaeological Center

About San Diego Archaeological Center

The San Diego Archaeological Center is a nonprofit museum where visitors explore 12,000 years of human history in San Diego County. Founded in 1993, the Center presents rotating exhibits including Kumeyaay Cosmology, which examines the Kumeyaay people's relationship with seasons and celestial events, and Fact or Fiction?, investigating archaeological myths about aliens and crystal skulls. Other exhibits cover how early peoples arrived in the New World, basics of archaeological science, and the lives of working-class residents in Downtown San Diego during the 1880s. Junior Archaeologists can use the Field Lab to excavate artifacts and record findings. The Center also hosts workshops where visitors create pine needle and juncus reed medallions with Tribal instructors, an Indigenous Artisan Market featuring handmade artwork and pottery, archaeology day camps, and monthly archery club gatherings for all skill levels. The museum is located in San Pasqual Valley near Escondido and publishes its hours and admission prices online.