River of Time Museum & Exploration Center

River of Time Museum

Grab a paddle and start your adventure!
Recently reimagined and remodeled the River of Time Museum & Exploration Center takes visitors on a journey through time to explore the Lower Verde River Valley. Visitors can re-create the topography of this unique region using by manipulating the sand in an augmented reality sand table. Using deductive reasoning skills and team consensus, guests decide the items that will be most effective in sustaining them on the journey from the east traveling west to settle in the deserts of Arizona. The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Tribal people are chronicled from their ancient ancestors through the present-day Tribal Leaders; a strong and dynamic people who have sustained immense hardship through the years. From the stunning introductory video through the thought-provoking water conservation challenge, the River of Time offers an opportunity to become immersed in a spectacularly beautiful and diverse region of the Sonoran Desert.

Exhibits

Smithsonian Museum Day Activities
A Family Fun Day with activities and experiences for kids and adults. River of Time Docents will be stationed throughout the galleries to share in-depth stories that go beyond the exhibit interpretation. Visitors can explore the topography of the Lower Verde Valley by recreating the mountains and deserts in the Augmented Reality sand table. Kids can dig for dinosaur bones and meet "Sonora" the Sonorasaurus Arizona's official dinosaur. Families can message each other using petroglyph symbols like those used by the ancient Hohokam people. Guests can follow the timeline of the local Fort McDowell Yavapai tribe from the ancients up to the present day. A visit to the Riverbanks Gift Shop will round out the day. Local and regional art, jewelry, and decor are available along with a wonderful selection of books for every age. Extend the day by lunching at one of Fountain Hills great local eateries.

Participation in Museum Day is open to any tax-exempt or governmental museum or cultural venue on a voluntary basis. Smithsonian magazine encourages museum visitation, but is not responsible for and does not endorse the content of the participating museums and cultural venues, and does not subsidize museums that participate.