Life in our oldest city is chronicled
Sky City Cultural Center and museum showcases Acoma culture

The Sky City Cultural Center and Haak'u Museum is owned and maintained by the Acoma Pueblo. [Photo by Daniel Zollinger/Independent]

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

One of the many senic views that can be seen near the Sky City Cultural Center. Mt. Taylor is seen in the horizon. [Photo by Daniel Zollinger/Independent]

PUEBLO OF ACOMA — The Sky City Cultural Center and Haak’u Museum sits at the base of the Sky City village, which lies atop a 370-foot high mesa in the center of the reservation.

Daily tours are operated out the center, the museum showcases Acoma pottery, and preservation and restoration of ancient artifacts is going on underneath the center as part of the tribe’s historic preservation efforts.

A fire destroyed the original center in 2000.

Connie Gracie, the new general manager, said when the new two story center, with a basement for preservation, was rebuilt in 2003.

“The people helped decide what the center’s and the museum’s focus would be, one of showcasing, restoring and preserving the culture,” she said.

“Within certain boundaries, the focus groups have guided the vision of the Cultural Center and museum to preserve the heritage of the Acoma people,” Gracie said.

National Historic Trust
In May 2007, Sky City, recognized as the oldest continually inhabited community in North America, was selected and placed on the National Historic Trust Sites List.

It is the first Native American site to be listed and one of only 28 in the United States.

The tribe has benefited greatly from this selection already having been able to communicate with preservation and restoration experts at the national level and being able to locate artifacts that were removed from the reservation and are in the process of returning them.

There are no plans to expand the center or the museum currently. The center is 31,500 square feet on two stories, excluding the basement area.

The exhibits that are showcased in two museum rooms, one larger than the other, are planned to be in a revolving pattern, however, one exhibit, not selected yet, may eventually become permanent.

The two exhibits that are in place today, “The Matriarchs,” which consists of Acoma pottery, and Southwest photographer Lee Maroon’s “Pueblo Places and Faces,” will both be on display until the end of this year.

A decision is being made as to what new exhibits will be forthcoming and whether to rotate them or not, Gracie said.

“It makes sense to stagger the exhibits, then place a permanent exhibit in the museum in 2009 or 2010,” Operations Manager Randy Howarth said.

Money is always an issue
“Money is always the issue here, it is what drives museums too,” Garcia said. It takes nearly $2 million a year to operate center and the museum.

The tribe is currently seeking a development director to be able to write funding grants for both the center and the museum, she said.

Part of the funding of the center and museum come from tour fees and admission fees to the Sky City tour and museum.

Current tour rates for adults are $12 per person, Seniors are $11 and youth are $9.

Admission to the museum is $4 per person, seniors are $3 and children or students with identification, $2.

All Native Americans are admitted at no cost.

No more than two exhibits will be open to the public at a time, because of space limitations and the amount of time it takes to prepare exhibits for display.

When the enter staff realized what type of center and museum was going to be built, in 2003, they became excited about making it the place it is today,” Garcia said.
“With mentoring and coaching, they have become first class employees,” she said.

The facility cost more than $14 million to build and the tribe is still paying off the debt that was incurred.

“The tribal council has ensured that this is the best environment for caring and preserving our culture,” Garcia said.

“It allows us to leave a legacy for those still to come, our grandchildren and those still unborn.”

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin call (505) 287-2197
or e-mail: jtiffin.independent@yahoo.com.