Old Indian Meeting House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Indian Meeting House
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 Location in Cape Cod
Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 410 Meetinghouse Rd., Mashpee, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 6.8 acres (2.8 ha) |
| Built | 1758 |
| Architect | Hinckley, Deacon John |
| Architectural style | Colonial, Greek Revival, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 98001383 |
| Added to NRHP | December 3, 1998 |
The Old Indian Meeting House is a very old and important building in Mashpee, Massachusetts. People also call it the Old Indian Church. It was built in 1758 and is the oldest church in the eastern United States built for and used by Native American people. This special building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 because of its history.
Contents
What Does the Old Indian Meeting House Look Like?
The Old Indian Meeting House is found on Meetinghouse Road. It sits at the edge of a cemetery that covers about 7 acres. The building is made of wood and has a sloped roof. Its outside looks like the Greek Revival style, which was popular a long time ago.
The building has two doors at the front, placed evenly. Above these doors are special windows that don't open. The outside walls are covered with clapboards, which are long, thin pieces of wood.
A Look at the History of the Old Indian Meeting House
The very first church in Mashpee was built in 1670. Later, in 1684, a second meeting house was built by Deacon John Hinckley. This building was moved in 1717 to a new spot.
In 1758, a meeting house was at the current location. It's not fully clear if this was the old 1684 building moved and changed, or if it was a brand new building. The Wampanoag Native Americans used it as a Christian church. The building was also used as a school for many years. A cemetery was started on the church grounds in the late 1700s.
Why is This Place So Important?
The Old Indian Meeting House has been a special place for almost 400 years. It has had Native American leaders and ministers. This makes it very important to the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe. It holds a lot of history and spiritual meaning for them.
In 1833, a big event called the Mashpee Revolt happened here. Tribal members and their minister, William Apess (who was Pequot), protested. They were upset because the state was interfering with their self-governance. White settlers were also taking wood from tribal lands without permission.
The site was rededicated in 1923 by Nelson D. Simons. In 1998, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The Mashpee tribe celebrated its reconstruction and official re-opening in 2009.
Images for kids
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Old Indian Meeting House around 1905
See also
- Oldest churches in the United States
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Barnstable County, Massachusetts
- Praying Indian
