Beauty.
Culture.
Art.
For More Than Two Thousand Years
Come rest in the embrace of Acoma Pueblo. This locus, rich in historic architecture, warmly welcomes visitors who seek to experience the beauty of our culture. Journey with us from our initial role as the home of the Anasazi people to the 13th century founding of the Pueblo—still a thriving community, a touchstone for Native Americans nationwide. We invite you to explore Acoma Sky City Cultural Center and Haak’u Museum!
Hours of Operation
We are open Monday and Tuesday 9am- 4pm, Wednesday- Sunday 9am- 5pm
Tours start every hour on the half hour starting at 9:30am to 3:30pm
In addition to annual closures, unannounced cultural events or weather issues may affect tour times.
Please call 800-747-0181 between 9am to 5pm for specific questions prior to your visit.
NOTE: Cameras are not permitted during feast days or Christmas events.
Learn More About Acoma Pueblo
Featured Artist
Dan Vallo is a Member of the Acoma Pueblo. He spent his younger years living on the reservation in Acomita, and there he watched his grandmother Helen R Vallo make pottery. Dan also spent some time with his great uncle Clyde Hunt (AKA Chief Sunny Skies) who was a well-known silversmith. “This is where I get my artistic inspiration”. Dan currently resides in Belen, New Mexico where he is building a studio and gallery.
Dan is mostly known for his flint knapping creations, but woodworking has always been one of his hobbies. Dan started flint knapping in the late 1980s when his father Henry Vallo, an accomplished silversmith, showed him the basics of knapping. He was mostly self-taught until the onset of google and YouTube, where there are many video resources about flint knapping. He was inspired by the many arrowheads he found while out exploring the Acoma reservation and hunting in the fall.
In the early days, he made small arrowheads and tools attempting to replicate some of the pieces he found during his explorations. Later, he was able to use his tools for hunting. In 2001 Dan went on a hunting safari in Africa and was able to use his primitive arrows and stone knives. His time on safari opened new doors to the art world. While shopping for gifts as trinkets, Dan picked up many unique, handmade art pieces and displays. Soon after that trip, he started making flint knapped knives with interesting display stands to showcase the craftsmanship of the knife. The striking uniqueness of his art is what makes Dan Vallo’s work so interesting, no two of his knives are the same.
Dan started attending various Indian markets in the last few years and has really enjoyed the many fellow artists he has met and appreciated the encouragement they have provided regarding his art. The handles of his pieces are all different, just by the nature of his materials. Dan incorporates antler, hardwood, leather and cholla cactus wood, which has been very popular. In 2019, Dan started to use some of his grandmother’s pottery designs on the handles. The challenge was that natural pottery paints that Acoma potters use is designed to be baked in, so the traditional paint could not be used. Dan experimented with various types of paint and is now using acrylic paint to create the beautiful designs on his art. Over the last 4 years, Dan has collected native clay from various sources on the Acoma Reservation and processed his own clay for use in his pottery creations.
Recently he received a 1st place award for his pottery work at the New Mexico State Fair. He has also been awarded Best Diverse Art for the last 3 years at Bernalillo Indian Arts Festival. Dan has won many 1st place award over the course of his artistic career.
Dan was awarded Best of Show at the prestigious 2024 Santa Fe Indian Market for an amazing piece called “Pueblo Revolt” and 1st place in the Pottery Figures Division. Dan has created a unique style that is now his signature in the Acoma Pottery community.