Chumash Museum Opens in Santa Ynez
First-of-its-kind facility honors the first people of the Central CoastBy Mike Miller
Photos courtesy Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians
After years of anticipation, the Santa Ynez Valley has a new museum and cultural center to honor the rich history and culture of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. In May, the federally recognized tribe announced the grand opening of the Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center, a 14,000-square-foot facility that is designed to honor the rich history, culture, and heritage of the Chumash people. The long-awaited facility sits on a 6.9-acre plot of land that is nestled along Highway 246, across the street from the Chumash Casino Resort. It is simply a must-see for longtime area residents and visitors alike.
Ahead of the museum and cultural center opening to the public, I was honored to be invited to a private viewing of the newest destination location in the Santa Ynez Valley. As soon as I arrived, I was struck by the beauty of the landscape, which was highlighted by native plants — including wildflowers, sycamores, walnut trees, and California bay laurels — and a stream flowing through the property. According to the tribe, the landscaping consists of local Indigenous plants that were used by their ancestors, and continue to be used today, for things like food, medicine, and basket making.
Tribal leaders shared that the museum and grounds were designed and inspired by the Chumash history and culture. Each main structure, oriented toward the west, pays tribute
to the Chumash’s cultural identity as the “guardians of the west gate.”
In addition to being a breathtaking structure, the Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certified. For the tribe, sustainability and care for the environment has always been a priority. “This award was based on our commitment to energy conservation and environmental awareness,” reads a statement on the museum’s website. “Our museum received recognition for its water efficiency, energy efficiency, materials and resources and environmental awareness.”
The museum and cultural center were designed by architect Johnpaul Jones, who is known for his work on tribal museums all over the country. Jones has an impressive portfolio of more than 650 projects — most notably, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian building, in Washington D.C.
“We interviewed a handful of architects, but he was clearly the one we wanted to work on this project,” said Museum Board Chair Kathleen Marshall. “He was wonderful to work with and really listened to our tribal elders, and captured what they wanted to see and the stories they wanted to tell. He also thought of things we had not even considered.”
Guests at the private viewing were welcomed by several tribal elders, and tribal leaders like Chairman Kenneth Kahn, Board Chair Marshall, and Cultural Programs Director Nakia Zavalla. There were also a number of younger Chumash people in attendance, who shared with guests some of the many highlights and features of the new museum.
“It is such a powerful thing to have our younger language and cultural teachers working in this space. We are now in a position to tell our story and share our culture for generations to come. It has been emotional to see,” said Zavalla.
Zavalla also shared the tribe’s pride in the newest addition to the Santa Ynez Valley and the impact it will have on long-time residents of the area. “The Santa Ynez Valley has been exploding with new businesses and wineries, but very few local people know the stories of the Chumash people. We are the first people of this land and now others can learn and get a sense of who we are. This is us finally telling our story,” she added.
One particular display in the museum outlines the history of the reservation and the struggles that generations of Chumash people have had to overcome. For example, the reservation did not have running water until 1969. “It is incredible how long it took just to get up to basic standards. When you look at the modern-day luxuries people enjoy today, it reminds us how hard we had to fight just to get our basic needs met, and that wasn’t that long ago,” added Zavalla. “My mom talks about having to carry water home. It is all part of the education piece we are hoping to share with both local residents and visitors to the museum.”
Another educational component of the Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center is the Maria Solares Discovery Center, which is designed to nurture curiosity and learning. Named in honor of Maria Solares — a revered ancestor and keeper of the Chumash language, stories, and teachings — the discovery center doubles as a classroom. Here, children will learn through traditional stories while marveling at rock art-inspired images and representations of the Chumash reverence of the natural world.
In addition to the history of the Chumash people and reservation, the museum and cultural center is packed full of exhibits that feature ancient, historical, and contemporary objects — more than 24,000 objects in all. Personally, I was blown away by the basketry that was on display. The fine detail and beauty of the work was by far some of the best artwork I have ever seen. Marshall also noted that while the main exhibits will not change, they will have one temporary exhibit that will change periodically to ensure there is something a little different for return visitors. Additionally, the tribe will offer special events at the center, such as storytelling and dance exhibitions, and will host school groups from all over the Central Coast. This will range from grade school students to university scholars. “Every week, we’ll have one day dedicated to school tours. We are thrilled to have conversations around broadening the educational efforts around Chumash culture,” said Marshall. “There are already more than 100 schools on the wait list for a tour.”
When asked about the early feedback from guests that have toured the museum and cultural center, Zavalla said, “The initial feedback has been wonderful. From the local Chumash people to the tribes from all over California, people have loved what we have built. There have been a lot of emotions and healing during the visits.”
The Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center is open Thursday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm, and is located at 3500 Numancia St, Santa Ynez.
General admission tickets are $15 with discounts for children, seniors, and active military. All Santa Ynez Chumash community members are free of charge. For tickets, special event schedules, and more, visit sychumashmuseum.org.