The Museum Store, Agua Caliente Cultural Museum

Discover Authentic Native American Art and Stories

The Agua Caliente Cultural Museum offers a rich, immersive experience into the history, heritage, and contemporary lives of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. Through exhibits, artifacts, and storytelling, the museum brings to life the Cahuilla people’s deep connections to the desert landscape, their cultural traditions, and their journey over the centuries. Visitors leave with a greater understanding of the tribe’s unique contributions to the region’s history and Native American culture as a whole.

The Museum Store extends this educational experience beyond the gallery walls, inviting visitors to engage further with Native American perspectives through handcrafted items made by Indigenous artists. Every piece tells a story, embodying the techniques, symbols, and materials that reflect tribal heritage, creativity, and modern interpretations. By showcasing these diverse works, the Museum Store ensures that the spirit of learning and appreciation initiated in the museum continues, allowing guests to carry a piece of Native culture home with them while supporting Indigenous artists and makers.

The Museum Store showcases over 160 Native American artists and businesses, each sharing stories, techniques, and perspectives from tribal communities across North America. Visitors can explore pieces that reflect both the past and present of Indigenous creativity, especially from the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and other Native artists, who skillfully merge tradition with personal interpretation. Each item in the store is thoughtfully selected to represent a vast array of materials, designs, and stories that carry the spirit of Indigenous resilience and heritage.

Featured Artists and Their Artforms

Among the store’s treasures, Seish Norte, a Cahuilla tribal member and artist, presents her digital art, postcards, stickers, and hand-painted Christmas ornaments. Her creations illustrate figures central to Cahuilla culture, like the Cahuilla maiden and a bird singer with his traditional gourd rattle, beautifully capturing the essence of Cahuilla stories, imagery, and symbolism.

Another highlight is Tony Soares, a skilled potter and Cahuilla tribal member, whose small clay pots reflect the ancient paddle-and-anvil technique. Passed down from his grandmother, Tony’s process involves gathering natural clay directly from the desert landscape, making each piece a testament to ancestral methods and materials.

From the Northern Cheyenne Nation, Bethany Yellowtail’s bright, intricate scarves are infused with contemporary flair. At the same time, Navajo artists Leslie Bitsie Jr. and La Rose Ganadonegro contribute beaded jewelry and an exquisite squash blossom necklace, adding traditional Navajo adornment to the store’s offerings.

Additional highlights include:

ThunderVoice Hat Co. from the Navajo Nation: Sustainably crafted Navajo brim hats and vibrantly woven serapes using reclaimed materials and traditional wood-pedal looms.

Jeri Redcorn, of Caddo/Potawatomi heritage, revives Caddo pottery techniques in her wood-fired pottery, bringing back to life a once-lost art with designs echoing her ancestors’ craftsmanship.

Trickster Company from Alaska: Unique, Indigenous-designed skateboard decks merging Alaska Native culture with modern sports and urban life.

Red Lake Nation Foods from the Chippewa Tribe: Savor wild-harvested syrups, like plum and Highbush cranberry, handmade by Red Lake Band members in Minnesota. These syrups offer a taste of the northern forests rarely found in mainstream stores.

A Unique Selection for All Ages

The store offers thoughtfully curated items for younger visitors, including Native American-authored children’s books, durable dolls, and kids’ jewelry, all of which introduce young minds to Indigenous stories and values.

Discover More

With an ever-evolving inventory, The Museum Store continuously updates its selections, ensuring each visit unveils something new and authentic. Thoughtfully chosen items include portable options perfect for travelers who wish to carry a piece of Native American culture with them. The store, conveniently located off the museum’s main lobby, welcomes all without requiring museum admission.

Location and Hours

140 N Indian Canyon Drive
Open Tuesday – Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm
Closed Mondays

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