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Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum

Located in Blanding, Utah, the Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum is an Ancestral Puebloan archaeological site, a museum, and an archaeological repository. The goal of Edge of the Cedars is to inspire and educate visitors about the prehistoric and contemporary American Indian cultures of the Four Corners region.

Cowboys from Bluff camped here in the late 1800’s and called the site Edge of the Cedars because it sits on the edge of a natural boundary, separating a heavily forested region and a treeless landscape to the south. Cedar is a term locals use for the Utah juniper tree.

The museum’s beautiful collection is presented in a way that tells about the Native American people, who they were and how they lived.

Just behind the museum is the Edge of the Cedars Pueblo, an actual village inhabited by Ancestral Puebloans from AD 825 to 1125. You can learn more about what life might have been like for the residents at this Chacoan era great house as you explore the ruin. Make certain to descend the ladder to a 1,000 kiva for a truly unique experience.

The museum is also home to the largest collection of Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) pottery on display in the Four Corners area. The museum’s Visible Storage and Interactive Pottery Exhibit is a must see. You can select a piece of pottery on display, and then use a computer to learn more about the time period and origin of the pottery.

Museum walls contain murals created by Bluff artist Joe Pachak which reproduce rock art panels found in San Juan County. Pachak also created the museum’s solar marker which serves to mark the sun’s movement at the solstices. Solstices were important events for Ancestral Puebloans and used for crop planting and harvesting.

Edge of the Cedars hosts several exhibitions each year that spotlight unique artisans and speakers of the Four Corners area. Be sure to check the museum’s website to view current and upcoming exhibitions.

General Information

Restrooms, gift shop available.

Hours: Open year-round Monday-Saturday, 9 am-5 pm except in winter; closed Sunday. Holiday Closures: Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day

Fees: $5 for adults ($2.50 Utah seniors 62+) $3 for children (age 5 and under are free) $20 Family.

Directions: Edge of the Cedars State Park is 27 miles from Bluff. From Bluff, travel Highway 191 north to Blanding, Utah. Turn left on W. Center Street, then right on N 600 W.

Address: Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum, 660 West 400 North Blanding, UT 84511

Telephone: 435-678-2238