Cabot's Pueblo Museum is a unique Hopi inspired Pueblo hand-made by Cabot Yerxa over 24 years. This multi-level building includes 35 rooms, 150 windows and 65 doors, all crafted from found materials. The museum houses Cabot’s collection of Native American pottery, early 20th century photographs and artifacts from his Alaskan adventures. The museum grounds, including a picnic area, are beautifully landscaped with native plants and home to many rustic period items – early 1900’s tools, machinery and housegoods.
The museum also houses a Pueblo Art Gallery, a bookstore, and the famed sculpture “Waokiye”, a 43 foot tall Indian monument carved from a 750 year old Sequoia Redwood.
Guided tours of this historic landmark are conducted Fridays and Saturdays during the open season (October through May). The museum is available year-round for group tours and special events.
Before settling in the California desert, Cabot Yerxa led an adventurous life in places as far-flung as Mexico, Cuba, Alaska, New York City and Paris, France (where he studied painting during the Impressionist period). In 1913 Cabot homesteaded 160 acres in what is now Desert Hot Springs. Pressed for water, he dug a well with pick and shovel, discovering the now famous hot mineral water of Desert Hot Springs. Nearby, through a second well, he discovered the pure cold water of the Mission Springs Aquifer. These two wells, hot and cold, give the area surrounding the Pueblo its name – Miracle Hill.
Cabot began construction on his pueblo-style home in 1941 and worked on it until his death in 1965 at the age of 83. The Pueblo was abandoned and vandalized after Cabot’s death. Cabot’s friend, Cole Eyraud, saved the Pueblo from demolition, holding off the bulldozers with a shotgun. Thereafter, Cole purchased the property and helped restore the Pueblo to its historic state. Later, the Eyraud family donated the property to the city of Desert Hot Springs to be used as an historic museum and art gallery.
