Besh Ba Gowah Archaeological Park and Museum

About the Park:

In Besh Ba Gowah visitors will see Salado Ruins and both Ethno-botanical gardenand a Botanical garden and what is said to be the largest collection of Salado pottery artifacts in the world.Visitors can start tours with a short video in the Auditorium depicting the Salado history and way of life, the coming of Apaches, miners and settlers.  The video also includes information regarding the re-excavating of the ruins.

Our Ethno-Botanical Garden illustrates plants, which were used by the Salado in their daily lives for food, fiber, construction materials and dyes. As you walk through you can try using tools and grind corn as was done eight centuries ago.you can learn more about how the ancient Salado civilization survived here nearly 800 years ago, there are informative interpretive signs throughout the maze-like village. Climb the ladders to allow a full view of the park from the second story pueblo.

The Botanical Garden located below the Besh Ba Gowah grounds, is home to plants from the desert environment and provides a picnic area to visitors and citizens in the area.  Some of these plants were generously donated out of local citizens yards & gardens.  We will accept unwanted plants from homeowners for this garden.The Don Haines Memorial Library houses a number of publications Southwest archaeology and anthropology, a pictorial of the Apache Sunrise Ceremony. Mr. Haines’ personal collection of hand-carved Apache Crown Dancers, and a Crown Dancer Hood donated by Dale Peterson.