Southern Plains Indian Museum facts for kids
The Southern Plains Indian Museum is a special place in Anadarko, Oklahoma. It teaches about the amazing art and culture of Native American tribes. This museum first opened its doors in 1948. It was a team effort between the U.S. government and the state of Oklahoma. The museum shows off beautiful art and cultural items. These come from tribes in the Southern Plains area of Oklahoma. Some of these tribes include the Caddo, Chiricahua Apache, Comanche, Delaware Nation, Kiowa, Plains Apache, Southern Arapaho, Southern Cheyenne, and Wichita.
Contents
Museum History and Collections
How the Museum Started
In 1947, the government of Oklahoma and the United States Department of the Interior worked together. They planned to create a museum in Anadarko. The goal was to show the art of the Southern Plains tribes. The museum cost $50,000 to build. It officially opened on December 2, 1948.
What You Can See Inside
The museum has a large collection of items. These include both old and new cultural works. You can see clothing, special dance outfits, and jewelry. There are also household items and tools. The museum also displays art from Indigenous artists. These artists are connected to the Great Plains region. They come from tribes like the Caddo, Chiricahua Apache, Comanche, Delaware Nation, Kiowa, Plains Apache, Southern Arapaho, Southern Cheyenne, and Wichita.
The museum is famous for some special artworks. It has painted scenes called dioramas by Allan Houser. He was a Chiricahua Apache artist. You can also see many original paintings by T. C. Cannon. He was a Kiowa and Caddo artist.
Museum Updates and Growth
In 1977, the Indian Arts and Crafts Board made big changes to the museum. They added more space for the main collection. This also allowed for special exhibits from other tribes. In the same year, the museum started working with Oklahoma schools. They offered free tours for students. These tours helped students learn about Plains cultures.
Another big update happened in 2001. A new part called the Rosemary Ellison Gallery was added. This addition cost $1 million. The museum's main collection features works by many talented artists. These include Blackbear Bosin, T.C. Cannon, Mildred Cleghorn, Amanda Crowe, Sharron Ahtone Harjo, Jack Hokeah, Allan Houser, Solomon McCombs, Stephen Mopope, Georgeann Robinson, Mary Tiger, Dick West, and David E. Williams.
Keeping the Museum Open
In 2006, the U.S. government thought about closing this museum. They also considered closing two others. These were the Museum of the Plains Indian and the Sioux Indian Museum. The government wanted to use the money for other things. They wanted to prevent fake Native American art from being sold. This was part of the American Indian Arts and Crafts Act.
However, the Bush Administration decided not to close the museums. Instead, they gave more money to keep them running. Next to the museum, there is a ten-acre park. This park is home to the National Hall of Fame for Famous American Indians. It has sculptures of important Native American leaders.
Visiting Hours
The museum is open from Tuesday to Friday. You can visit between 10:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
