Ancient People of Santa Clara River Valley

Here are some pictures of Lavan Martineau, the white man raised with the Shivwits,when he, his wife and other Shivwits participted in the movies in the 60’s and 70’s. There are also additional pictures of Shivwit Indians included!

Professional Storyteller To See!

Randel McGee is a professional storyteller and decorative paper cutter who often visits the Santa Clara branch of the public library. The Santa Clara Historical museum sponsors Mr McGee.

The early Swiss settlers of Santa Clara brought the art of decorative paper-cutting with them from the old country. For years there were no stores with beautiful valentine or birthday cards so the pioneers used scraps of paper to cut their own cards. In an effort to keep these early traditions in mind, Randel McGee will tell folktales while cutting paper designs. This event is free and open all. For a very interesting experience please watch our calendar of events for the next event!

Puppet Show During Swiss Days

Every year at Swiss Days in Santa Clara a Swiss themed puppet show is sponsored by the Santa Clara Historical museum. 🙂 Swiss Days is held the 4th weekend in September at Santa Clara Town Hall, come check us out!

 

Cool Article to Checkout

Check out this cool website link about the ancient people who used to call Utah “home”!

 

http://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/local/2017/03/02/utah-ancient-history-archaeology-people/98663122/

Another Fun Santa Clara Fun Fact

Pioneers from Switzerland turned the land on the banks of the Santa Clara river into a small village. Many times the river overran it’s banks. In 2005 a flood washed away houses and put the whole village under water! Since then,  Historical restoration through out the village have included: Historical plaques, street-scape, town hall rebuilt to resemble the old school, historic  district designation, water feature with rescuer sculpture.
Come visit us! The Santa Clara historical museum is in the basement of town hall.

Fun Santa Clara History Fact

The ancestral Pueblo people residing in the Mesa Verde region and surrounding areas became agricultural societies, likely during the Basketmaker II period (about 500 BC to AD 500) as domesticated corn found its way north from what is now Arizona.  Farming became the main source of food, but Pueblo cultures see farming and their crops as much more.  Historical and contemporary accounts from Pueblo people regard farming and the crops, especially corn, as the essence of their culture, structure for their families, and infiltrating every part of their lives.  A member of the Hopi tribe, Donald Dawahongnewa, once told a group of students at Crow Canyon Archaeological Center , When we look at our crops… we don’t look at them as numbers, we look at them as our children.  That’s how we look at our plants; we treat them like that.  And so when you go to your field you sing a song and your children will hear you singing, they will say, ‘Our daddy is coming here.’

Ancient Santa Clara Ancient Writings

Ancient native peoples of the Santa Clara river valley communicated in ancient writing on walls. Hundreds of Hieroglyphs/Petroglyphs and rock writings have been left by the ancient peoples on the rock outcropping above the Santa Clara river.

 

Santa Clara Maypole Tradition

The Santa Clara Historical Museum is committed to keeping old world traditions alive. Each year volunteers from the museum teach local school children the maypole braiding dance. This tradition was done in the old world in the early spring to welcome warm weather and the growing season. Community members had to cooperate and work together to braid the maypole ribbons. This symbolized and mimicked the real life dependence old world villagers had on each other to survive.

Ancient Peoples of The Santa Clara River Valley

Check out this cool article! The ancient people who used to call Utah home:

http://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/local/2017/03/02/utah-ancient-history-archaeology-people/98663122/

Santa Clara Museum Mascot

This little Swiss doll serves as a mascot of the Santa Clara Historical Museum. Come in and see her some time! Basement of the Santa Clara City Town Hall. 🙂