Past Events

Destiny: Is it born or is it made? Written for us or by us? You are invited to join the Storied Self, Moab’s local story slam, for an evening of stories and community. Bring your friends and put your name in the hat for a chance to tell your own personal 5-7 minute, true tale on the night’s theme, Destiny. Reception @ 5:30, Stories start @ 7 PM. Presented by Back of Beyond Books, Grand County Public Library, KZMU, Moab…

What can an archeologist interpret from a piece of ancient pottery? Why does it matter if we take something someone discarded long ago? Chat with the Moab Museum’s Curatorial & Collections Manager weekly on Tuesdays between 11am-2pm to ask these questions and more. Handle a variety of ancient pottery sherds at the Archaeology Station and learn what an archeologist sees when she examines an artifact and why it’s critical to visit cultural sites with respect. Free with Museum membership. Regular…

See how some of our local settings change over the seasons, or across many years, or even see some of the flowers that grow in those settings.

A portrait of life in the radioactive desert on the Navajo Reservation, following a group of indigenous scientists, elders, and activists as they work to protect a vital living space on contaminated land. Post-film panel discussion with film director | Presented by Rural Utah Project, Grand County Public Library, Moab to Monument Valley Film Commission, Heal Utah, and Working Films

During WWII, almost the entire population of Japanese Americans on the West Coast were forcibly removed from their homes and incarcerated. Their only crime was looking like the enemy. Featuring the inspiring stories of people in the Japanese American community, the 1 hour documentary “Injustice at Home: Looking like the Enemy” focuses on Japanese Americans during WWII, both inside and outside the evacuation zone; chronicling their struggles and perseverance.

YOU'RE INVITED: Join us for an evening celebration of the Moab Museum community and partner with us to make Museum programming, special events, and exhibitions possible. Community partners such as yourselves help us to introduce locals and traveling guests alike to our region’s cultural and natural history, and the big stories unfolding today across the region. Date: Wednesday, April 24th, 2024 Time: 6 pm-8:30 pm Location: The Grand Center, 182 N. 500 W., Moab, UT 84532

Koji Lau-Ozawa, PhD, will speak about his archaeological research at the Gila River War Relocation Center in Arizona where Japanese Americans were incarcerated during WWII.

Embark on a journey of introspection within our national parks: What is time, and why does it hold significance in our lives? Join Ranger Rhodes as he navigates these questions, unraveling the diverse perspectives through which we perceive time. Explore how these insights shape our appreciation, conservation efforts, and management strategies for our beloved public lands.

The vision of Charlie Steen, Bates Wilson and Stewart Udall paved the way for the creation of Canyonlands National Park. Charlie Steen represents the Atomic Energy Commission who provided access to the White Rim Sandstone via the White Rim Road. Bates Wilson Represents the vision of having a National Park that would pro- tect the confluence. Wilson wanted to protect a mil- lion acres of wild canyon country and generate a sustainable economy via tourism. Stewart Udall provided the political…

Sam Mihara is a second-generation Japanese American (Nisei) born and raised in San Francisco. When World War II broke out, the United States government using armed military guards forced Sam, age 9, and his family to move to the Heart Mountain, Wyoming prison camp. Mihara will speak to the Moab Museum audience at historic Star Hall on May 21. Time TBD.

Southeastern Utah is home to some of the darkest skies in the country with some incredible nocturnal night life thriving under its stars. However, with urbanization and population growth there are threats on the horizon. Join Ranger Rhodes as we explore what makes the night skies of Canyonlands and Arches special, how we can continue to protect them, and what differences we can make at home to save our night skies for future generations.

The original inhabitants of North America did not leave a written language; however, they did leave evidence indicating that they were studying the night sky long before Euro American colonization. Native Americans farmed, hunted, gathered, and established their lifeways by observation of the night sky. Encoded by oral traditions and encoded symbology, astronomy played an important role in Native American culture. Their star knowledge was the basis of governance, agricultural practices and social order. The study of the cosmos led…

Have you ever wondered how Canyonlands was formed? National Park Ranger/Geologist Rhodes Smartt will take us on a journey through the geologic history of Canyonlands National Park. He will discus the geology of the greater Colorado Plateau area and the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands, and how its unique geology led to uranium mining. Join us for an evening of geologic exploration!