Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park as a Film Location

Our view of the American West and its inhabitants—including Native Americans—has been influenced by movies and television. Before the Antelope Valley Indian Museum and State Park came into being, the property was often a filming location for Westerns. While most of those programs presented simplistic and stereotypical views of Native cultures, they remain part of our heritage today—something to acknowledge and also something to move beyond.

This list is based on notes recently found in the FAVIM archives. It may not be complete; if you have updates or corrections, reach out on the Contact page.

Filming inside the museum today is rarely allowed and requires permission from the State Park office and the California Film Commission.

State Parks no longer allows filming on Piute Butte (the landscape around the museum) because it was designated as a sacred landscape by the Native American Heritage Commission in 2003.

The Avengers (1960s television)

Bonanza (1960s television)

Brave New World (1980 television movie)

Crazy Mama (1975 film)

The FBI (1960s television)

The Fugitive (1960s television)

Gunsmoke (1950s, 1960s television)

Have Gun—Will Travel (1960s television)

High Chaparral (1960s television)

The Legend of Valentino (1975 movie)

Logan’s Run (1976 movie)

The Magnificent Seven (1960 movie)