Southern Plains Indian Museum facts for kids
The Southern Plains Indian Museum is a special place in Anadarko, Oklahoma. It's a museum that celebrates the rich culture and amazing art of Native American people. It first opened its doors in 1948. The museum shows off beautiful cultural items and artworks from many tribes in the Southern Plains area of Oklahoma. These tribes include the Caddo, Chiricahua Apache, Comanche, Delaware Nation, Kiowa, Plains Apache, Southern Arapaho, Southern Cheyenne, and Wichita.
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Discovering the Museum's Past
The idea for the Southern Plains Indian Museum started in 1947. The Government of Oklahoma and the United States Department of the Interior worked together to create a place to show art from Southern Plains tribes. The museum officially opened on December 2, 1948. It cost $50,000 to build.
What You Can See Inside
The museum has a large collection of items from the Southern Plains tribes. You can see clothing, dance outfits, jewelry, and everyday objects. It also features art from many Indigenous artists from the Great Plains region. Some of these artists are from the Caddo, Chiricahua Apache, Comanche, Delaware Nation, Kiowa, Plains Apache, Southern Arapaho, Southern Cheyenne, and Wichita tribes.
The museum is proud to display special dioramas painted by Allan Houser (Chiricahua Apache, 1914–1994). It also has many original paintings by T. C. Cannon (Kiowa/Caddo, 1946–1978).
Museum Updates and Growth
In 1977, the Indian Arts and Crafts Board made big improvements to the museum. This gave more space for the permanent collection and for special exhibits that travel from other tribes across the United States. That same year, the museum started working with Oklahoma schools. They offered free educational tours for students who wanted to learn about Plains cultures.
Another major update happened in 2001. A new part, called the Rosemary Ellison Gallery, was added. This addition cost $1 million.
Famous Artists Featured
The museum's permanent collection includes works by many talented artists. Some of these artists are Blackbear Bosin (Comanche/Kiowa), T.C. Cannon (Kiowa/Caddo), Mildred Cleghorn (Fort Sill Apache), Amanda Crowe (Eastern Cherokee), Sharron Ahtone Harjo (Kiowa), Jack Hokeah (Kiowa), Allan Houser (Apache), Solomon McCombs (Muscogee (Creek)), Stephen Mopope (Kiowa), Georgeann Robinson (Osage), Mary Tiger (Seminole), Dick West (Southern Cheyenne), and David E. Williams (Kiowa/Tonkawa/Plains Apache).
A Plan to Keep the Museum Open
In 2006, the US government thought about closing this museum and two others. They wanted to use the money for other things, like stopping fake Native American art from being sold. However, the Bush Administration decided not to close the museums. Instead, they gave more money to keep them running.
Right next to the museum 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 and figures.
Visiting the Museum
The museum is open from Tuesdays through Fridays, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
