Museum of Ancient Wonders in Cathedral City

We went to this museum based off of the highly rated Google maps reviews. we felt a little bit duped. When we first got there, we were surprised. It was in a shopping center next to a big lots. That was the first sign that we should not have gone. We decided because of all the reviews that we would go. Its $15 per adult. The first area was decent, had some nice big dinosaur bones. The problem is its very, very small. Half the stuff in the reviews you dont see there anymore. Theres not a lot to see. Theres no outside area like the reviews show.I think we were the only ones there. You can see everything in about ten minutes. its OK. For somebody whos really into this. But overall its very small and didnt feel like it was worth it Instead of only then five or six dollars to enter.

I had such a pleasant experience organizing a tour of the museum for my homeschool group, 29 Palms Home Educators. Alberto was greatly knowledgeable, passionate, and presented with interesting insights! This is such a wonderful gem in our desert community! More people need to visit and experience our history!

This collection will appeal to tourists and student spanning a wide range of ages. Exquisite fossils and dinosaur bones moulded replicas numbered 125 examples. These were displayed in chronological order rather than by geographic region. The second room contained large Asian genuine artifacts ranging from 500 to 3000 years old. They were in exceptional condition. The third exhibit was over 40 large format astronomical photos of fabulous colors and quality. The fourth room was a local historical exhibit of old photos and artifacts of the regions development. Each item had a full description and a museum catalogue contained additional information. The curator gave an informative introduction with a theatrical flair. We spent almost 2 hours. This was very much well worth the time we spent! It is conveniently located in a shopping center accross the street from a casino.

When we drove up to the museum I joked to my husband that we can go to the museum and shop at Big Lots. I wasn’t sure of what to expect. Well we were pleasantly surprised! We were greeted by a very knowledgeable gentleman that gave us a brief yet informative summary of the items we were about to see. This museum is packed with wonderful artifacts with very detailed descriptions of each item. This museum is well worth the $15 and definitely deserves to be in a more appropriate, prominent area and not hidden away in a strip mall. This is a hidden treasure that should be enjoyed by all.

Very cool museum, dense with hundreds of displays. Employees are super knowledgeable, definitely worth the visit

My family and I decided to stretch our legs here as we were just passing through. Please don’t be discouraged by the exterior as you will be pleasantly surprised of what lies within. The caretaker was wonderfully knowledgeable on everything that was on display and we truly enjoyed our brief visit. We felt a little embarrassed as we were dressed in our travel clothes but it was a very welcoming museum nonetheless. Pay them a visit if you are ever in the area.

The Museum of Ancient Wonders has what the Coachella Valley has lacked for the longest time, an immersive and engaging place to explore and learn about the foundations of humanity and of life itself. The Museum has curated an exellent collections of African masks and works of art from Egypt, South Eastern Asia, China, and Japan. The highlight, however, is their extensive collection of fossils, all sequenced chronologically, so you can experience the earliest stages of life evolve through every time period, concluding in the advent and evolution of the human species. It was a pleasure to experience this collection of history firsthand. The curators were knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides, lending even more depth to the experience. Definitely go and check it out for yourselves!

What a wonderful surprise. The museum is extraordinary, it was an hr or so well spent. Will be telling friends about it. Alberto took us thru the exhibit, he was so informative on the history of all that was presented. A must visit to this hidden gem.

This museum was amazing. The gentlemen running it had so many facts and great stories about all of the artifacts. I hope to see them in a larger place soon. The history lessons I have gotten from just one trip was amazing. I will be returning!

Such an amazing find! I love history and paleontology, and The Museum of Ancient Wonders exceeded my expectations! I really appreciated how the fossil record was ordered chronologically, which most museums dont do very clearly. The exhibit on Asian artifacts was incredible as well. The curators were super friendly and so informative! We got to learn about the history of Cathedral City as well as life on Earth.The Museum of Ancient Wonders is a great place to take your kiddos, or to stop by if youre visiting the area! They are upgrading to a larger location soon, so it will be an even cooler experience with all of their exhibits out on display. Make sure to check it out!