Pamunkey Indian Museum and Cultural Center facts for kids
| Established | 1979 |
|---|---|
| Location | King William,  Virginia |
The Pamunkey Indian Museum and Cultural Center is a special museum located on the Pamunkey Indian Reservation in Virginia. It teaches visitors all about the Pamunkey Indian Tribe. You can learn about their history and how they lived, from 12,000 years ago right up to today. It's a fantastic place to explore the rich culture of the Pamunkey people.
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What is the Pamunkey Indian Museum?
The Pamunkey Indian Museum and Cultural Center is a tribal museum. This means it is owned and operated by the Pamunkey Indian Tribe itself. It helps share their unique story and traditions with everyone.
How the Museum Started
Building the museum began in 1979. Two important people helped a lot: Warren Cook, who was a Pamunkey tribal member, and Errett Callahan, an expert in ancient tools and ways of life. The museum officially opened its doors on October 11, 1980.
What You Can See at the Museum
When the museum first opened, it had a "living Indian Village." This was a place where visitors could see what a traditional village might have looked like. That village is no longer there.
Today, the main part of the museum features glass display cases. These cases show how the Pamunkey Indian Tribe lived throughout history. Grover Miles, another Pamunkey tribal member, built these cases when the museum was new. They still hold most of the museum's collection.
The displays include amazing replicas, many made by Errett Callahan. There are also real Native American artifacts. These were given to the museum by tribal members from their own family collections.
Exploring Pamunkey History Through Time
The museum's displays start with information from 12,000 years ago. This was during the Ice Age! They cover all the different time periods up to modern times. Each display case is divided into four main themes. These themes help you understand the Pamunkey way of life in different eras.
- PEOPLE (blue): This section shows how the Pamunkey people lived during that specific time.
- NATURAL ENVIRONMENT (green): Here you can learn about the natural world around them. This includes the plants and animals they interacted with.
- SETTLEMENT (yellow): This part focuses on the homes and villages where they lived.
- SUBSISTENCE (red): This section displays the tools they used and how they found food and survived.
The museum uses different colors for each theme. This makes it easier for you to follow how each theme changed over time.
The Museum Gift Shop
After exploring the exhibits, you can visit the museum's gift shop. It has many unique items made by Pamunkey Tribal Citizens. A special item you can find is pottery. This pottery is made using techniques that are hundreds of years old. The clay for the pottery is even dug from the Pamunkey River!
