SAN DIEGO ARCHAEOLOGICAL CENTER

Blue Star Museums
2026-05-16 10:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | San Diego Archaeological Center, 16666 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA, 92027, United States
As part of the Blue Star Museums program, the San Diego Archaeological Center offers free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families from Armed Forces Day through Labor Day. The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military–Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard–including Reservists, National Guardsman (regardless of status), U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members.
The military ID holder can be either active duty service member or other dependent family member with the appropriate ID card. The active duty member does not have to be present for family members to use the program. Just bring your DD Form 1173 ID Card, or DD Form 1173-1 ID Card, for active duty military family members.
About Blue Star Museums: Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of War, and museums across America to offer free admission to the nation’s active duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families each summer. The program begins on Armed Forces Day in mid-May and ends on Labor Day at the beginning of September. For more information, including a full list of participating museums, visit the Blue Star Families website.

Archaeology Summer Camp
2026-06-15 10:00 - 14:30
We are excited to announce our summer day camp! 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 as we explore the pyramids, the Ice Age, and the early California landscape. With our a la carte style day camp, you can choose individual days or choose them all! Space is limited to 30 campers. To help make camp accessible, a limited number of partial scholarships are available.
Learn More

MUSEUM CLOSED
2026-07-04

Lecture: Geology of San Diego County – The Formative Years
2026-07-18 11:00 - 13:00
This talk will focus on amazing geological forces and events from the last 200 million years that have shaped the San Diego County we see today. From regional tectonics to massive volcanism, uplift and erosion, and the many current infrastructure challenges San Diego currently faces, Mike Thacker will tell the story behind our broad mesas, dramatic coastlines, canyons, and wide valleys. Attendees will be sure to come away with a deepened understanding of and appreciation for the geological history of our unique region.
Cost: $15, SDAC Members $5

About the Presenter
Mike Thacker is a retired Senior Staff Research and Development Scientist at Thermo Fisher Scientific. He has a B.S. in zoology from San Diego State University and studied anthropology and archaeology at University of California Santa Barbara, Palomar College, and San Diego State University. He is a volunteer teaching assistant for Palomar College archaeological excavation field school and survey programs and a former member of the Board of Trustees for the San Diego Archaeological Center. Mike is passionate about his home of San Diego and leads interpretive hikes for the San Dieguito River Park and San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy. His interest in geology has motivated his study of the geology of the San Diego region for the last 16 years.

Weaving Workshop
2026-08-22 11:00 - 14:00
Create your own pine needle and juncus reed medallion. Participants will be taught how to identify and prepare the crafting material as well as how to bring those items together using the coil weaving method, a traditional Kumeyaay basketry technique. This method is one of the cornerstones of Kumeyaay culture and craftsmanship, serving as the foundation for storage baskets, food-processing trays, baby cradles, and many other woven items used in daily traditional life. All supplies and light refreshments are included. Ages 13+.
Cost: $50; SDAC Members & Tribal Members $40

About the Instructor
Haawka! Neve Luna is a Kumeyaay descendant and San Diego native who grew up on the San Pasqual Reservation in Valley Center, California. She received her B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Oregon and now works at the San Diego Archaeological Center as the Tribal Outreach Coordinator. Neve develops Indigenous-based educational programs to strengthen the Center’s engagement amongst Tribal youth and other diverse communities. With every project, lecture, or community partnership, Neve is dedicated to preserving the culture of the Kumeyaay People while inspiring local residents to appreciate San Diego’s rich history.

Indigenous Artisan Market
2026-09-19 10:00 - 15:00
Celebrate the creativity, craftsmanship, and living traditions of Indigenous artists at the Indigenous Artisan Market, a free community event hosted by the San Diego Archaeological Center. Browse a diverse selection of handmade artwork, jewelry, textiles, pottery, carvings, cultural crafts, and other unique creations offered directly by Indigenous artisans from across the region.
This family-friendly event provides an opportunity to meet talented makers, learn about the stories and traditions behind their work, and support Indigenous artists and entrepreneurs. Whether you’re searching for authentic one-of-a-kind gifts or simply looking to enjoy a day of culture and community, the Indigenous Artisan Market offers something for everyone.
Visitors are also encouraged to explore the museum while enjoying a vibrant marketplace dedicated to honoring Indigenous heritage, creativity, and cultural expression.

If you are an Indigenous artist who would like to participate, please contact aniesley@sandiegoarchaeology.org.
