Arizona State Museum

Description

The Arizona State Museum documents the history and culture of native Southwestern peoples, and houses the largest collection of Southwestern pottery in the world.

The museum offers exhibits, self-guided and guided tours for school groups, summer camps, recreational and educational events, and research library access.

National Museum of the American Indian [DC]

Description

The Museum is the 16th of the Smithsonian Institution, and is the first national museum dedicated to the preservation, study, and exhibition of the life, languages, literature, history, and arts of Native Americans. The museum works in collaboration with the Native peoples of the Western Hemisphere to protect and foster their cultures by reaffirming traditions and beliefs, encouraging contemporary artistic expression, and empowering the Indian voice.

The museum's extensive collections encompass a vast range of cultural material—including more that 800,000 works of extraordinary aesthetic, religious, and historical significance, as well as articles produced for everyday, utilitarian use. The collections span all major culture areas of the Americas, representing virtually all tribes of the United States, most of those of Canada, and a significant number of cultures from Central and South America as well as the Caribbean. Chronologically, the collections include artifacts from Paleo-Indian to contemporary arts and crafts. The museum's holdings also include film and audiovisual collections, paper archives, and a photography archive of approximately 90,000 images depicting both historic and contemporary Native American life.

The museum offers exhibits, tours, educational programs, reference library access, and recreational and educational events.

NOTE: The museum also maintains a branch in New York City, NY.

Sanchez Adobe [CA]

Description

The Sanchez Adobe was constructed between 1842 and 1846 by Francisco Sanchez, owner of Rancho San Pedro and one-time alcalde of San Francisco. Sanchez was a leader of Mexican California who led volunteers against United States forces at the Battle of Santa Clara. Today, the site shows the different periods of local history. Visitors can take a walk on the grounds and see native plants—the Ohlone village of Pruristac was located on the site. They can view the location of the original Spanish farm buildings; explore the Sanchez family's adobe home; and discover what items were uncovered during archaeological digs, including items from the adobe's time as a hotel and speakeasy.

The site offers exhibits and educational programs.

Sheldon Museum and Cultural Center [AK]

Description

The museum collects, preserves, and interprets through historic artifacts and art the unique blending of diverse cultures within the Chilkat Valley. The Sheldon Museum's presentation of artifacts, clan trust property, and memorabilia includes permanent, temporary, and traveling exhibits.

The museum offers exhibits, tours, research library access, and occasional recreational and educational events.

Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park [TN]

Description

Pinson Mounds, one of two state archaeological parks, is a special park, set aside to protect the prehistoric remains found there. The Pinson Mounds grouping consists of at least 15 earthen mounds, a geometric enclosure, habitation areas, and related earthworks in an area that incorporates almost 1,200 acres.

The site offers exhibits, tours, educational programs, and occasional educational and recreational events.

Bear Paw Battlefield [MT]

Description

Following the breakout of war in Idaho, nearly 800 Nez Perce spent a long and arduous summer fleeing U.S. Army troops first toward Crow allies and then toward refuge in Canada. Forty miles short of the Canadian border and following a five-day battle and siege, the Nez Perce ceased fighting at Bear Paw on October 5th, 1877, in which Chief Joseph gave his immortal speech: "From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever."

The site offers a short film and exhibits.

Cedar Key Museum State Park [FL]

Description

Cedar Key, on Florida's Gulf Coast, was a thriving port city and railroad connection during the 19th century. The museum contains exhibits that depict its history during that era. Part of the collection has seashells and Indian artifacts collected by Saint Clair Whitman, the founder of the first museum in Cedar Key. Whitman's house is located at the park and has been restored to reflect life in the 1920s.

The park offers tours and exhibits.

Clear Lake State Park [CA]

Description

Clear Lake State Park is on the shores of California's largest freshwater lake. The area is popular for all kinds of water recreation, including swimming, fishing, boating, and water-skiing. Hikers enjoy the Indian Nature Trail, a self-guided trail that shows how the Pomo people, who lived in the area for centuries, utilized the area's resources. The trail passes through the site of what was once a Pomo village. The park visitor center features displays about the area's natural and cultural history.

The park offers exhibits and tours.

Bothe-Napa Valley State Park [CA]

Description

Located in the heart of the Napa Valley wine country, the Park offers camping, picnicking, swimming, and hiking trails that go through stands of coastal redwoods as well as forests of Douglas-fir, tanoak, and madrone. Next to the park's visitor center is the Native American Garden which displays some of the plants important to the first people of this area. Today, many of the same plants are used by the Wappo people. A guide for the garden is available by mail or in the visitor center to broaden one's understanding of the first people. Near the day use/picnic area is the Pioneer Cemetery, resting-place of some of the original settlers of the Napa Valley. The cemetery is currently under restoration to return it to its original, mid-1800s appearance.

The site offers exhibits and occasional recreational and educational programs.

Año Nuevo State Park [CA]

Description

The purpose of Año Nuevo State Park is to preserve and protect a substantial area on the western slope of the central Coast Range inland from Año Nuevo Point. Cultural resources include the remnants of a prehistoric Native American village site and a number of structures from the 19th-century Cascade Ranch.

The park offers exhibits and tours.