Events
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The Big Exchange
Multiple LocationsSDAC EventsEvery spring, San Diego’s museums come together for something truly special: The Big Exchange, happening this year from May 1–18. During this limited-time event, your membership at the San Diego Archaeological Center gives you FREE general admission to more than 50 museums all across San Diego County! You can find more about The Big Exchange, including a listing of participating museums, on the San Diego Museum Council website. Not a member or need to renew? Purchase SDAC Membership
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Art with an Archaeologist
Featured Art with an ArchaeologistSan Diego Archaeological Center 16666 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA, United StatesKids Dig ArchaeologyFree admission for kids on select Saturdays! Join us for family-friendly activities in our classroom, where you can create your own art with an archaeologist, become a junior archaeologist with our miniature excavation units, and curl up with a book on our cozy reading rug. Families can also explore the museum on an Archaeology Quest and check out our Excavation Station and Field Lab. Kids 12 & under: Free; Adults: $5 (includes museum admission)
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Open Archery Range
FeaturedSan Diego Archaeological Center 16666 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA, United StatesSDAC EventsWe're stringing our bows for a spot of archery featuring fresh hay bale targets right here at the San Diego Archaeological Center! Shoot some rounds and learn about how different cultures around the world crafted, hunted, and fought with bows and arrows. This event is family friendly. Kids will enjoy a supervised range at the front of the museum all to themselves, with an adults-only range for more powerful bows in the back. No previous experience required. Please bring your own gear if possible. A limited amount of gear will be available to borrow - first come, first served. Cost: $15; SDAC Members Free
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Open Archery Range
FeaturedSan Diego Archaeological Center 16666 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA, United StatesSDAC EventsWe're stringing our bows for a spot of archery featuring fresh hay bale targets right here at the San Diego Archaeological Center! Shoot some rounds and learn about how different cultures around the world crafted, hunted, and fought with bows and arrows. This event is family friendly. Kids will enjoy a supervised range at the front of the museum all to themselves, with an adults-only range for more powerful bows in the back. No previous experience required. Please bring your own gear if possible. A limited amount of gear will be available to borrow - first come, first served. Cost: $15; SDAC Members Free
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Archaeology Summer Camp
Featured Archaeology Summer CampSan Diego Archaeological Center 16666 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA, United StatesSDAC EventsWe are excited to announce our summer day camp for elementary school students! Whether your child or grandchild is a budding archaeologist or just eager to experience the past in a whole new way, our camp offers something for everyone. Get ready for a week filled with adventure, discovery, and endless fun! With our a la carte style day camp, you can choose individual days or choose them all! Space is limited to 20 campers. Grades: K-5 Dates: June 16-20, 2025 Schedule: Monday: Welcome to the Ice Age Tuesday: Fun with the Ancient Maya Wednesday: Ancient Egypt Thursday: The Roman Empire Friday: Kumeyaay Day Hours: 10 AM to 2:30 PM Extended care hours: Early drop-off (starting at 8:30 AM) and late pickup (ending at 4 PM) are available for an additional fee. Pricing: Full Session (Monday-Friday): $425 $395 Daily Rate: $85 per day Extended Care Hours: $20 per camper per day A late charge of $1 a minute begins accruing after scheduled pick-up time. Enroll Your Child in Archaeology Summer Day Camp Registrations are non-refundable. Enrollment information will be sent within 7 business days of registration. Please note that registration is not confirmed until SDAC staff send a confirmation email with enrollment information. Many of our activities are outside in the San Pasqual Valley. All campers MUST wear close toed shoes, and bring a hat, water bottle, and sunscreen. Campers must provide their own snacks and a lunch brought in a clearly labelled brown paper bag. All lunches are stored in our communal fridge, so we ask that no peanut products be brought to the San Diego Archaeological Center for the safety of those who may have a severe allergy.
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Lecture: Modeling Mesoamerican Masks
FeaturedSan Diego Archaeological Center 16666 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA, United StatesSDAC EventsDiscover how a 3D modeling project at San Diego State University is bringing a historic collection of Mesoamerican masks into the digital age. This in-person lecture will explore how these digital models are enhancing teaching and public interpretation while tracing the deep history of masks as ritual, funerary, and ceremonial objects in ancient societies like Teotihuacan. The presentation will also examine how these traditions endure today in community practices such as danzas, offering a look at the ongoing cultural significance of masks across centuries of change. Cost: Pay what you wish Registration is closed. Please pay at door. About the Presenters: Keith Chan is a local anthropology instructor at Grossmont College, MiraCosta College, and SDSU. He is especially interested in using immersive technology in his teaching to bring students face-to-face with culture and biology. He created the virtual anthropology museum AnVRopomotron, which won the first Poly Award for Best Educational Experience, and is working on PaleoCalifornia, which turns the Pleistocene into a virtual reality theme park ride. He was also a recent research fellow at SDSU's Virtual Immersive Learning and Teaching center, in which he launched the current project on masks. Irene Gonzalez received her M.A. in Latin American Studies from SDSU, where her research focused on cultural preservation. Her work has explored the importance of community museums, specifically in Mexico, where she conducted field research in Oaxaca. She is currently the Collections Coordinator for the Mesoamerican Mask Collection at SDSU’s Center for Latin American Studies. Irene is passionate about bridging technology and cultural heritage in ways that are equitable and grounded in deep respect for Indigenous knowledge systems.
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Art with an Archaeologist: Mesoamerican Masks
FeaturedSan Diego Archaeological Center 16666 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA, United StatesSDAC EventsFollowing our lecture on Modeling Mesoamerican Masks, join us for a special Art with an Archaeologist workshop and make your own tissue paper mask. All ages (including adults) are welcome. Pro Tip: Attend our lecture on Modeling Mesoamerican Masks: Using Photogrammetry to Bring Cultural Heritage to Life to get inspired!
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Senior Wednesdays
San Diego Archaeological Center 16666 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA, United StatesSDAC EventsSeniors 65+ can enjoy free admission to the Center on Wednesdays. Discover the science of archaeology through our interactive Archaeology 101 exhibit, explore the cultural periods of San Diego, and uncover the Lives and Lifestyles on Block 112: The Untold Story of San Diego’s Working Class.
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Story Time with an Archaeologist
San Diego Archaeological Center 16666 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA, United StatesKids Dig ArchaeologyJoin us on select Thursday mornings for archaeology-themed story time at the Center. Stay afterwards to explore the museum with family-friendly activities like our Archaeology Quest and Field Lab.
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MUSEUM CLOSED for Independence Day
San Diego Archaeological Center 16666 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA, United StatesSDAC Events -
Historic Archery Day
FeaturedSan Diego Archaeological Center 16666 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA, United StatesSDAC EventsWe're stringing our bows for a spot of archery featuring fresh hay bale targets right here at the San Diego Archaeological Center! Shoot some rounds and learn about how different cultures around the world crafted, hunted, and fought with bows and arrows. This event is family friendly. Kids will enjoy a supervised range at the front of the museum all to themselves, with an adults-only range for more powerful bows in the back. No previous experience required. Please bring your own gear if possible. A limited amount of gear will be available to borrow - first come, first served. Cost: $15; SDAC Members Free
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Clay Pinch Pots & Free Summer Lunch at College-Rolando Library
College-Rolando Library 6600 Montezuma Road, San Diego, United StatesOther Events of InterestJoin us at the College-Rolando Library to Create air-dry clay pinch pots while learning about ceramic as the first synthetic material and why it is appreciated by both artists and archaeologists. Free Summer Lunch at San Diego Public Library is offered Monday-Friday from 12-1 PM. Lunch can only be served to youth ages 0-18. In addition to providing summer lunch for youth, San Diego Public Library aims to bridge the summer learning gap by hosting enrichment programs, provide access to community resources and inform families of opportunities. For more information, please contact the College-Rolando Library.
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