Background

Tusayan Museum and Ruins: Echoes of Ancestral Puebloan Life

Step back 800 years to explore an Ancestral Puebloan village and museum showcasing the rich human history of the Grand Canyon.

4.5

Explore the Tusayan Museum and Ruins, an 800-year-old Ancestral Puebloan site in Grand Canyon National Park. Discover ancient dwellings, artifacts, and learn about the people who once called this dramatic landscape home.

A brief summary to Tusayan Museum

Local tips

  • Visit during the summer or fall for ranger-led tours of the ruins.
  • Download the Tusayan Ruin Trail Guide for a self-guided tour.
  • Combine your visit with a stop at the nearby Desert View Watchtower.
widget icon

Getting There

  • Driving

    From Grand Canyon Village, follow Desert View Drive (Highway 64) east for approximately 22 miles. The Tusayan Museum and Ruins will be on your right, about 3 miles west of Desert View Point. Parking is available at the site.

  • Shuttle Bus

    During the summer, take the free Tusayan (Purple) Route shuttle bus from the gateway community of Tusayan to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. From the Visitor Center, transfer to another shuttle or drive along Desert View Drive to the Tusayan Museum and Ruins. A park entrance pass is required to use the shuttle.

Unlock the Best of Tusayan Museum

Buy tickets

    No tickets available

Book tours with entry

    No tours available

Book tours without entry

    No tours available

Discover more about Tusayan Museum

The Tusayan Museum and Ruins offer a captivating glimpse into the lives of the Ancestral Puebloans who inhabited the Grand Canyon area some 800 years ago. Located three miles west of Desert View along the South Rim's Desert View Drive, this site provides a tangible connection to the human history of this iconic landscape. The Tusayan Ruins, also known as Tusayan Pueblo, consist of the remains of a small, U-shaped village. This village includes living quarters, storage rooms, and kivas (ceremonial structures). Tree-ring studies indicate that the site was occupied for a relatively short period, approximately 20 years, beginning around 1185 AD. The structures are made of rock, adobe, and wood. The village's central plaza faced south to capture sunlight during the cooler months. The Tusayan Museum displays artifacts excavated from the site and other archaeological digs within the Grand Canyon. These items, including pottery, arrowheads, and split-twig figurines dating back 2,000 to 4,000 years, offer insights into the daily lives and cultural practices of the Ancestral Puebloans and other regional tribes. The museum also highlights the enduring cultural connections of contemporary tribes – Havasupai, Hopi, Hualapai, Navajo, and Paiute – to the Grand Canyon. The museum building itself, designed by Herbert Maier, resembles a traditional Hopi structure. A short, self-guided trail leads visitors through the partially excavated ruins. Interpretive signs along the trail provide information about the history and significance of the site. Ranger-led tours are also offered, providing additional insights into the lives of the people who once lived here.

Popular Experiences near Tusayan Museum

Popular Hotels near Tusayan Museum

Select Currency