Museum of Native American History facts for kids
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| Established | 2006 |
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| Location | 202 SW 'O' Street Bentonville, Arkansas |
| Type | Native American museum |
| Founder | David Bogle |
The Museum of Native American History (MONAH) is a special place in Bentonville, Arkansas. It's a museum that teaches about the history, art, and culture of Native American people. It's a non-profit museum, which means it's not trying to make money, and it's easy for everyone to visit because it's handicapped-accessible.
The museum was started in 2006 by David Bogle. He's a local businessman and a member of the Cherokee Nation. MONAH wants visitors to learn about the many different Indigenous cultures of the Americas. They do this by showing amazing art and tools from both ancient and more recent times.
The museum's goal is to help everyone understand the human experience within these cultures. It's a place to imagine and explore! The exhibits are set up in time order, from the very oldest items to more modern ones. The art and tools left behind by Indigenous peoples tell their stories and history. By visiting, you can learn about their lives, challenges, successes, and what inspired them.
The museum has artifacts from all over the Americas, covering 24,000 years of history! Instead of focusing on just one tribe, MONAH shares the wider story of Native Americans as a whole. The exhibits start around 22,000 BC and go up to about 1930 AD.
It's free to get into the museum! In 2022, about 34,000 people visited, and even more are expected in the future. It's one of the most popular places to visit in Bentonville, right after the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Outside the museum, near the teepee, you can even go on an arrowhead hunt! It's fun for all ages.
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Museum History
David Bogle, who is a member of the Cherokee Nation, started his own collection when he bought some arrowheads from his childhood scoutmaster. Over time, his collection grew a lot! He wanted to share his collection and teach people more about how Native Americans really lived.
This idea led him to start the museum in 2006. It began in a converted house. The museum also has items from the University of Arkansas Museum, which closed in 2003. In June 2008, the museum moved to its current building. It has grown three times in the last ten years and is now 13,500 square feet! This extra space helps them show off their growing collection.
In 2015, the museum's collection got even bigger. Jim and Nancy Blair donated 1500 items from Meso-America. These new pieces came from Southern Mexico, Central America, and South America.
Cultural Celebrations
The Museum of Native American History used to host a yearly event called the Native American Cultural Celebration. This event included concerts, workshops, speakers, and movie showings. The celebration in Fall 2021 had over 20,000 visitors, both online and in person! In 2022, the 5th annual celebration was held, and it was the first time it was a "hybrid" event, meaning people could join both online and in person.
Field Trips and Group Visits
The museum is a great place for school field trips and group visits! They have special parking for buses, and the parking, restrooms, and museum itself are all easy to access. The museum offers fun scavenger hunts for groups. Plus, children can enjoy a free arrowhead hunt outside!
Permanent Galleries
The museum has several permanent galleries, each focusing on a different time period in Native American history. They are set up in order, so you can travel through time as you walk through the museum!
Paleo Period
This gallery shows the very earliest times when humans lived in the Americas. This period lasted from about 22,000 BC to 8,000 BC. When you enter, you'll be greeted by "Tusker." Tusker is a real skeleton of a Woolly Mammoth from Siberia!
Archaic Period
The Archaic gallery shows a big change in how people lived. This was after the Mega-Fauna (very large animals like mammoths) died out. People started living in small, somewhat permanent villages. They would gather their own food. This gallery has many examples of tools and weapons from the Archaic period, including Atl-atls, which were tools used to throw spears.
Woodlands Period
The Woodlands period lasted from 1,000 BC to 900 AD. This time was special because people started growing crops. They also formed bigger groups and built earthen mounds for burials and ceremonies.
Mississippian Period
The Mississippian Period was from 900 AD to 1450 AD. During this time, villages grew into larger towns and population centers. Because people were doing well, they created some of the most detailed pottery samples we have today. This gallery also has the Sweetwater Biface. It's thought to be the thinnest flint artifact ever found!
Historic Period
The Historic period goes from 1650 AD to 1900 AD. This part of the museum shows the first times Native Americans met and interacted with Europeans. It continues up to almost modern times.
Pre-Columbian Gallery
The Pre-Columbian Gallery looks at artifacts from Mexico, Central America, and South America. These are items from before Columbus arrived. You can see things made by the Aztec, Maya, and Inca peoples.
