About MIP
Since 1935, the MIP has called Prescott home, becoming the second oldest museum in the quad city area. The Museum of Indigenous People (MIP) is dedicated to bring light in respect to the southwest Native American languages, culture, and history. Located in central Arizona, the MIP is rich with Indigenous heritage and culture, including our neighbor, the Yavapai (Yavpe) Tribe. The grounds we reside on are the traditional lands of the Yavpe.
The museum is always looking for donations, sponsorships, and volunteers to create programing that features new artists, dance perfomances, and culture demonstrations.
We feature pottery, baskets and many other cultural resource materials of Indigenous artifacts since 1935. We offer private tours, events, performances, special exhibits, and events that offer education and entertainment to the general public.
Our Mission
To instill understanding and respect for the indigenous cultures of the southwest.
Our Campus
The stone buildings on the campus are on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum construction was completed in 1935 by a non-Native, community-minded social group, the Smoki People, with assistance from depression-era work program participants. The museum took the name of its founders. In February 2020, the museum was renamed to best reflect the cultural resources in our holdings as well as the Native community we serve. The MIP is a venue where the Native voice is heard and appreciated!
On exhibit are pre-historic, historic, and contemporary examples of Indian cultural and artistic material from the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Our focus is to enlighten the public and broaden their knowledge of the Native cultures of this part of the world, irrespective of political boundaries.