Tomaquag Indian Memorial Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1958 |
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| Location | 390 Summit Rd, Exeter, Rhode Island USA |
| Founder | Princess Red Wing |
The Tomaquag Indian Memorial Museum is a special place in Exeter, Rhode Island. It teaches about the history and culture of Indigenous peoples. It was started in the 1950s by Eva Butler, who studied human cultures, and Princess Red Wing. Princess Red Wing was a Narragansett and Wampanoag woman.
This museum is one of the oldest museums in the United States run by Indigenous people. In 2016, it won a big award called the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse suggested the museum for this award.
Contents
What You Can See at the Museum
The museum shares the stories and traditions of Native peoples. These are groups who have lived and still live in southeastern New England. This includes the Narragansett, Niantic, Pokanoket, Wampanoag, and Nipmuck tribes.
Inside the Museum
Inside, you can see many interesting things. There are traditional crafts, like baskets made from ash wood. You can also see dolls made by local artists. The museum has old records and papers that go back to the 1880s. These show how people lived long ago.
The museum also highlights important Indigenous leaders. These include Princess Red Wing and Ellison "Tarzan" Brown Sr..
Outside the Museum
Outside the museum, you can explore the grounds. There is a wetu, which is a traditional domed hut. You can also see a special garden called a Three Sisters garden. In this garden, they grow corn, beans, and squash together. This was a common way for Native peoples to farm. There is also a forest and an outdoor Friendship Circle.
History of the Museum Site
The land where the museum stands was once home to the Dovecrest Restaurant and Trading Post. This was started by Eleanor and Ferris Dove. The Dove family later gave their own property. This helped create a permanent home for the museum.
Nuweetooun School
In 2003, Lorén Spears started the Nuweetooun School at the museum site. It was a private school for children from kindergarten to eighth grade. The school was open to all students. It especially focused on helping Indigenous youth. The Nuweetooun School closed in the spring of 2010. This was because of damage from flooding.
Visiting the Museum
The museum is open to visitors on Wednesdays and during the weekends.
See also
