Message from Mary -

With the change of season, we look forward to the traditions that mark the time of year. Two weekends ago the 2nd Annual Harvest Festival and Indigenous Farmers Market at Colton Garden brought lots of people to the MNA campus to celebrate the bounty of the summer and the fabulous work done in the museum gardens. Kudos to the many volunteers and staff involved, particularly our partners for the event, Flagstaff Foodlink. 

Now we are in the midst of the annual Flagstaff Festival of Science, another of MNA's community partnerships. On Tuesday kids and parents came to the museum's Discovery Village to learn about volcanoes within view of our most dramatic volcano - the San Francisco Peaks. Our biggest FFOS event will be this Saturday, when we will hold a Science Play Day at the museum exhibit building. This event includes hands-on science activities for kids, a series of short science talks, and some very special guests. Like all of the Festival of Science, the Science Play Day is completely free to the public, a gift from us to our community.

Another long-standing fall tradition comes at the end of October, when we partner with Flagstaff Nuestras Raices to put on Celebraciones de la Gente. That Day of the Dead Festival honors those we have lost while celebrating life.

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Closed to the public on Saturday, August 27 for Member Appreciation Day

Purchase admission tickets online or at the door.

Do you like to learn and share your interest in the human and natural history of the Colorado Plateau? Consider becoming a museum docent. Docents are highly-trained volunteer educators who lead group tours and workshops at the museum. Find out more by emailing msoliday@musnaz.org.

MNA believes everyone should have access to the museum, which is why we participate in the Culture Pass program. The Culture Pass allows people to check out a pass to visit the museum from the local library, the same way you would check out a book. It's another way we support our community. Learn more about Culture Passes here.

Science Play Day at MNA - FREE Entry

The world's only Indigenous droid returns to MNA. Come meet the life-size astromech droid, a moving, beeping example of how engineering, art, and Hopi culture work together. Hopi artist Duane Koyawena and engineer Joe Mastroianni will talk about their collaboration, including the engineering process and many challenges they had to overcome.

Enjoy a series of six short talks by MNA researchers and research associates. Find out what they've learned from tiny fossils, broken pottery, and animal bones. Hear how MNA archaeologists work with regional Indigenous groups and federal agencies.

Meet children's author Charlie Bynar and hear her Charlie and the Rainbow Trout. It's an inspiring story of a young girl trying to save all the trout from a river that is drying up and a fun way to introduce concepts of animal conservation. Bynar will also lead science trivia games for all ages, so get ready to test your knowledge.

Also known as the Day of the Dead, this event is a celebration of life, music, dance, food and heartfelt remembrances. In the evening, the decorated courtyard glows with candlelight and resonates with mariachi music. Tickets are good for the entire weekend and can be purchased in advance here.

Email elizabethblaker1@gmail.com for details.

MNA made space available for local artists to teach in our Discovery Village. Learn more about these weekly classes on our website or by emailing the instructor:

Watercolor, Email Lleearrist@gmail.com

Landscape Painting, Email rockhunterdeb@gmail.com

Nature Sketching, Email elizabethblaker1@gmail.com

Ceramics, Email chasarts101@gmail.com

Bursting with color, this retrospective exhibit presents the full spectrum of art by Baje Whitethorne Sr., a visual storyteller acclaimed for his colorful paintings full of life and energy. Born and raised on the Navajo Reservation, his art often depicts the landscape around his family home near Shonto and the harmony of the Navajo way of life. Click here to watch Baje explain the meaning behind the title of his exhition.

MNA has a long history of publishing research and some of the older publications are still available. Whether you want to learn more about who walked here during the Jurassic, how to identify pottery, or the original surveys at Navajo Mountain, you can find these research publications in the online store. Find more unique items, including pottery, jewelry, baskets, and books at the Museum Giftshop, where every purchase supports MNA and the artists.