Maidu
Museum
1970 Johnson Ranch Drive
Roseville, California 95661
roseville.ca.us
open daily except
Sundays, small admission fee
Photo: Maidu baskets display at
Maidu Museum in Roseville
In
Roseville the Maidu Museum &
Historic Site is an ideal part of
any vacation itinerary. The beautiful museum facility includes quality
indoor displays, souvenir gifts, and outdoor grounds to explore.
Classes, workshops and special events are hosted there, providing
reasons to go back time and again. The museum is a unique
cultural haven for families and
individuals who can explore the culture of the Nisenan Maidu who called this
location home for thousands of
years.
One highlight to the
museum is the basket collection:
Maidu weavers created
coiled baskets for many purposes.
Fish traps, burden baskets,
woodpecker traps, were woven loosely
with a twining technique. The
tradition of basketweaving was
passed down through the generations
for thousands of years from mothers
to daughters, fathers to sons,
grandparents to grandchildren,
linking the generations to each
other and to the land from with
their basketry materials emerged.
Today their is a resurgence of
interest in basketweaving. Skillful
weavers are sharing their intimate
knowledge of the landscape, the
spirit of the basket and the
intricacies of weaving.
Another fantastic offering: Tours provided by individuals (sometimes
Maidu) may walk you through the grounds and explore the various local
plants that were used by natives for brushing teeth and a variety of
functions--healing wounds, aid in digestion, etc.