What We Collect

The Museum of Northern Arizona is dedicated to the preservation, research, and interpretation of items of natural and cultural significance on the Colorado Plateau, a geographical region spanning northern Arizona, southern Utah, southwestern Colorado, and northwestern New Mexico.  

We house a diverse array of collections including:  

• archaeological and ethnographic items such as pottery, stone and bone tools, baskets, jewelry, kachina (or katsina) dolls and other carvings, and textiles 

• geological and paleontological specimens including rocks, minerals, meteorites, animal and plant fossils, and fossil tracks and trails 

• botanical and zoological specimens representing thousands of plant and animal species

• fine art created by Native American and non-Native artists including drawings, paintings, prints, sculpture, and mixed media 

• archival materials such as correspondence, research and field notes, unpublished manuscripts, photographs, slides, and sound, film, and video recordings

Learn more about how we collect and preserve these significant materials, how to access and use our collections, and tips for caring for your own items.