In the United States, November is best known for the national holiday, Thanksgiving. However, since 1990, it has also been recognized as Native American Heritage Month. As Americans who walk the lands once populated by many indigenous peoples, it’s only right to learn their histories.
Native American Heritage Sites by Region
Across the country, there are many museums and historical sites where we can learn about those who were once the custodians of these lands. Let’s explore some of the places that honor the Native Americans of the U.S.
*Note: At this time, the U.S. federal government is shut down, and this may affect some national parks and museums. Check ahead if the site you want to visit is federally managed.
Native American Sites of the East
Mashantucket Pequot Museum – Connecticut
This Native American-owned and run museum should be on everyone’s list of must-visit museums. It opened in 1998 and is carefully tucked into the surrounding landscape. The 5-level structure includes a 185-foot tower that provides an amazing view of the surrounding area.
The museum houses eleven permanent exhibits, gardens of plants the Pequot relied on, hiking trails, events, and demonstrations. Visitors can expect to learn about the history of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and their lands. Accessibility features also make the museum a standout. Infrared audio guides and audio tours are available, as well as closed captioning for videos and films. The main entrance is also an accessible entrance for visitors with limited mobility.
Grave Creek Mound – West Virginia
The history of Grave Creek Mound is darker. The mound, which stands 62 feet high and is 240 feet in diameter. Smaller mounds and earthworks once surrounded it. However, immigrants, who sought treasure or claimed the land for farms, destroyed and plowed over those ancient constructions. The mound itself was disturbed by amateur archeologists long before professionals conducted their own investigations.
The mound was created to lay the dead to rest alongside various goods. The prehistoric people who constructed the mound and buried their dead within it have been called the Adena by the archeologists who study the clues they left behind. Today, you can visit the mound and the nearby Delf Norona Museum to learn more about the history of the area and the Adena. The museum website has the following message for visitors: “The Grave Creek Mound, as well as other mounds and earthworks, are sacred sites to Native Americans. We ask that visitors reflect on the indigenous people who built the mound and conduct themselves with respect.”
Additional Sites of Interest
- Abbe Museum – Maine
- Ganondagan State Historic Site – New York
- Tomaquag Museum – Rhode Island
- Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum – New Hampshire
- Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania Cultural Center – Pennsylvania
- Ramapough Lenape Nation Cultural Center – New Jersey
- Piscataway Park – Maryland
- Lenape Indian Tribe Cultural Center – Delaware
- Moundville Archaeological Park – Alabama
- Big Cypress Seminole Reservation – Florida
- Museum of the Cherokee People – North Carolina
- Pinson Mounds – Tennessee
Native American Sites of the Midwest
Cahokia Mounds – Illinois
The Cahokia Mounds are at the center of a mystery that may never be fully solved. The people who built the many mounds and structures that once stood there completely abandoned the site around the mid-1300s! They had the largest-known pre-Columbian civilization north of Mexico. They left no written records, so we can only piece together what can be guessed from the artifacts they left behind. Still, we’ve learned a lot, and you can visit the Cahokia Mounds to see them for yourself.
Ziibiwing Center – Michigan
In the heart of Michigan, you can visit a museum dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of “the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan and other Great Lakes Anishinabek.” The primary exhibit is the Diba Jimooyung, which means “Telling Our Story.” By walking through the exhibit, you can learn about the indigenous people of the area and how they fought for their land, language, and culture.
The museum also features a temporary exhibit gallery, a seasonal plant walk, and displays of photographs throughout the center.
Additional Sites of Interest
- Effigy Mounds National Monument – Iowa
- Angel Mounds – Indiana
- Hopewell Culture National Historical Park – Ohio
- Aztalan State Park – Wisconsin
- Wickliffe Mounds – Kentucky
- Etowah Indian Mounds – Georgia (sometimes considered Southeast)
Native American Sites Great Plains
Osage Nation Museum – Missouri
The Osage Nation Museum is the oldest museum that is tribally-governed in the U.S. It opened in 1938 and continues to preserve Osage history. Exhibits showcase their culture, history, arts, and more. The trader John L. Bird had a great collection of Osage items, which the Osage Council purchased in 1927. Those artifacts would become the heart of the museum’s exhibits, which have continued to grow with the acquisition of other collections.
Additional Sites of Interest
- Knife River Indian Villages – North Dakota
- Big Hole National Battlefield – Montana
- Agate Fossil Beds – Nebraska
- El Cuartelejo Ruins – Kansas
- Crazy Horse Memorial – South Dakota
Native American Sites of the West
Pyramid Lake Paiute Museum – Nevada
At the Pyramid Lake Paiute Museum, visitors can learn the history of the Paiute, including why Pyramid Lake and the land around it are sacred to them. You’ll also learn about the animals that live in the area, including the fish of the lake itself. And, while you’re there, be mindful that the lake is home to American White Pelicans, and their breeding ground is a National Wildlife Refuge.
Additional Sites of Interest
- Mesa Verde National Park – Colorado
- Chaco Culture National Historical Park – New Mexico
- Taos Pueblo – New Mexico
- Canyon de Chelly – Arizona
- Casa Grande Ruins – Arizona+
- Poverty Point – Louisiana
- Tamástslikt Cultural Institute – Oregon
- Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center – Washington
- Capitol Reef National Park – Utah
- Chumash Painted Cave – California
- Cabrillo National Monument – California
Final Thoughts
This list is far from complete. There are many more important sites and museums spread across the U.S. Seek out the ones that are near you and make it a point to visit similar sites when you travel.
Importantly, to the descendants of immigrants and new immigrants, too, the indigenous people who are called Native Americans, Indians, or other names are still here. They should not be ignored or forgotten. During this Native American Heritage Month (and throughout the year), remember them and consider what action you can take to recognize and respect them.
