Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center

Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center Explore the rich heritage of the Santa Ynez Chumash people. Open Thursday-Sunday from 10am-5pm.

Please join us from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, September 10 for our "Second Thursday at the Museum" event series at the Santa...
09/02/2026

Please join us from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, September 10 for our "Second Thursday at the Museum" event series at the Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center! Our featured speaker this month is award-winning author and filmmaker Gary Robinson.

Gary’s bibliography includes From Warriors to Soldiers, a history of American Indian military service; The Language of Victory, a history of Native American code talkers in WWI and WWII; the launch of the PathFinders imprint for Native Voices Books with the first teen novel to feature a contemporary Native teen as the main character; historical novel series Lands of our Ancestors; and most recently, the Thunder Child Prophecy series.

For this free after-hours event, Gary will be discussing his latest series – and the most ambitious project of his career - the Thunder Child Prophecy. The trilogy’s central character, Billy Buckhorn, is called upon to battle evil Underworld forces intent on invading and ruling the Middle World, and has been described as a “Native American Harry Potter.” Attendees will also be able to enjoy free museum admission to the Permanent Exhibit, Temporary Exhibit, and Cultural Park. Audio tours can be added to your experience for $10 per person.

Admission is free, and no reservation is required.

We hope to see you there!

FAQ Spotlight: Grants for School Field TripsSchool field trips provide a unique opportunity for students to learn about ...
08/30/2026

FAQ Spotlight: Grants for School Field Trips

School field trips provide a unique opportunity for students to learn about the first people of this region, and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation seeks to eliminate as many barriers as possible so that all schools in Santa Barbara County can experience our museum.

Chumash Foundation currently offers two distinct grants to support school field trips:

• Inspire & Explore Access Grant: Covers the cost of admission for students.
• Journey to Discovery Grant: Provides funds to offset transportation costs to the museum.

To learn more about these grant opportunities and submit an application, please visit the “Museum Grants for Schools & Students” section at chumash.gov/foundation.

08/29/2026

The Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center not only celebrates the rich history of Chumash culture, innovation and resilience; it honors the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians' commitment to preserving these sacred traditions for generations to come.

A place for guests to experience the cultural heritage and vision of our proud tribe; and a point of reflection and gathering for Santa Ynez Chumash community members wishing to explore their own legacy.

Thank you for joining us here on Facebook to learn more about the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. 🧡

All museum members and registered guests are welcome to explore the 3.5-acre cultural park, a unique eco-experience that...
08/29/2026

All museum members and registered guests are welcome to explore the 3.5-acre cultural park, a unique eco-experience that seamlessly ties together the key attributes of the land our ancient villages thrived within.

In addition to exploring four unique ecosystems including wetlands, an oak meadow, chaparral lands, and a woodland forest, the cultural park also includes an outdoor amphitheater, the Tomol House, and a traditional tule 'Ap!

Reserve your tickets or begin your membership online at sychumashmuseum.org.

Our 3.5-acre cultural park is an open air exhibit dedicated to our ancestral lands.Carefully cultivated to include local...
08/27/2026

Our 3.5-acre cultural park is an open air exhibit dedicated to our ancestral lands.

Carefully cultivated to include local flora our ancestors relied on for food, medicine, and manufacturing, this park will give visitors the chance to learn not only the common and botanical names for the plants found within, but also the traditional names in the Samala language.

Learn more about this special park, and all that our property has to offer, by visiting: https://www.sychumashmuseum.org/explore/.

It was an honor to share our rich history and culture with you, Josefa! Thank you so much for sharing your experience wi...
08/26/2026

It was an honor to share our rich history and culture with you, Josefa! Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us, and others. 🧡

Today marks the 19th anniversary of the passing of Assembly Concurrence Resolution 75, Establishing Chumash Highway.This...
08/23/2026

Today marks the 19th anniversary of the passing of Assembly Concurrence Resolution 75, Establishing Chumash Highway.

This important milestone, along with many others the Santa Ynez Chumash have achieved in the past century, can be seen commemorated in the timeline pathway guiding visitors from the parking lot to the Welcome House.

Each tile represents a small piece of our story - a gift we are proud to share with you as you explore the Museum and Cultural Park.

Planning a visit? We are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through Sunday!In addition to annual membership opportuni...
08/22/2026

Planning a visit? We are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through Sunday!

In addition to annual membership opportunities for Tribal Nations Citizens, educators, individuals, and families, our general admission is as follows:

$15 for Adults (18-64)
$12 for Seniors (65+)
$12 for Teens (13-17)
$10 for Children (3-12)
$12 for Military Members (with ID)
Free for Toddlers (2 and under)

𝑺𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒂𝒕𝒆: "Second Thursday at the Museum" returns on Thursday, September 10 from 5-8 p.m.! This special monthly event will feature a lecture by an artist, author or artisan whose work can be found in the Museum Gift Shop, or a subject matter expert covering a variety of topics explored throughout the museum's exhibits and grounds. Plus, admission to the indoor exhibits and Cultural Park are free for all guests who attend!

The Museum Gift Shop can be found nestled right off the main walkway, before arriving at the Welcome House for visitor r...
08/21/2026

The Museum Gift Shop can be found nestled right off the main walkway, before arriving at the Welcome House for visitor registration.

Many of the items featured in the gift shop's rotating selection are exclusively crafted by Indigenous makers, both local and beyond. Museum admission is not required to access the Museum Gift Shop, which is open during museum hours Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Did you know that all of our Individual and Family members get unlimited admission to the Museum and Cultural Park for a...
08/20/2026

Did you know that all of our Individual and Family members get unlimited admission to the Museum and Cultural Park for a full year? It's true!

Every museum membership also includes:

• Invitations to member-only previews or exclusive member events.
• 10% discount at the Museum Gift Shop and ticketed special programs.
• 10% discount on educational programming.
• One-year subscription to the special members only quarterly newsletter.

Individual memberships are $60 and Family memberships are $125. Special membership options are available for students, military, educators and Tribal Nations Citizens, too! Learn more at: https://www.sychumashmuseum.org/become-a-member/.

Address

3500 Numancia Street
Santa Ynez, CA
93460

Opening Hours

Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+18056867500

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center:

Shortcuts

Share

Category