EDGE OF THE CEDARS

UNIQUE IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT 
Witness the largest collection of Anasazi pottery on the West Coast, and visit an authentic Puebloan village that surrounds the museum. Edge of the Cedars has a world-class collection that is skillfully curated. Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum offers special exhibits, festivals, and events throughout the year

 

SITE HISTORY

Built around an existing village, Edge of the Cedars is part of a widespread network of Puebloan (Anasazi) communities that flourished in San Juan County, and throughout the Four Corners region. Between the years of 750 - 1300 A.D. This little village was first settled in 825 A.D. and abandoned roughly 150 years later. While it was unoccupied for an time, eventually a new set of habitants utilized the village until 1125 A.D.. Being more experienced, the new group of dwellers built on to the existing structure adding the crowning feature that still stands, the Great Kiva. They also added the central pueblo, and the surrounding unit pueblos. 

Because of its archaeological significance, the site was designated a State Historical Monument in 1970 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Edge of Cedars Indian Ruin in 1971. In 1974, the Utah Navajo Development Council donated the 6.65-acre (2.69 ha) site to the Division of Utah State Parks and Recreation. Shortly thereafter the Utah Legislature enabled the establishment of Edge of the Cedars State Park as a museum of Indian history and culture.

 

Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum opened to the public in 1978 after many, many years of planning by several different groups and organizations.  The idea to build a museum in Blanding originally came from Albert R. Lyman, the first Anglo settler in what is now the town of Blanding. The archaeological repository was completed in 1994. Today, the facility serves as the primary repository for archaeological materials excavated from public lands in southeast Utah, and includes archives and a research library that is still producing groundbreaking discoveries each year. ​