You are here The Museum's Ethnographic Collection is composed
primarily of artifacts produced by Utah Native American groups:
Goshute, Navajo, Paiute, Shoshone and Ute, or are from
neighboring tribes that had significant ties with the indigenous
people of Utah. The earliest artifacts were collected in the
1890s and the most recent addition includes a modern Navajo
basket collection acquired in 2009. Unlike archaeological
collections that are obtained from excavation and survey, the
ethnographic collections have grown through generous donations
and the acquisition of significant private collections. Beaded
regalia and moccasins are perhaps the best known objects in the
ethnographic collection. Other objects include blankets, rugs,
clothing, masks, basketry, jewelry and historic pottery.
Ethnographic collections are valuable not only as examples of
modern material culture, but also as examples of continuity, or
lack of continuity, between the prehistoric past and present-day
Native American traditions. Importan