mitchell museum of the american indian

Very much enjoyed this museum that is not known outside of Chicago. I went there because they advertised artifacts and art objects made by Native American's and they were for sale. What a surprise! Plan on taking my grandchildren to this museum so they can learn the real story of our original people.

I had been warned that the museum wasn't very big so I wasn't expecting much when I stopped. As seniors, my husband and I paid a $3 admission fee and were given a brochure for a self guided tour. The museum is divided into areas based on the homelands of various tribes. Viewing pottery, jewelry, beadwork, quillwork, etc. made me appreciate pieces that I have collected over the years. I was told a lot of school groups come through which explained various stands around the museum that held things like animal pelts, corn cobs, moccasins, etc. Children have an opportunity for hands-on involvement which I'm sure helps create memories. I was a bit surprised at how old, worn, and dated some of the charts were such as the one with the Cherokee alphabet and a map that showed where various tribes lived. Replacing these items with newer, laminated charts would be a great improvement. I walked up to the 2nd story to see what was offered up there and was amazed to find only empty cases in the display area. I wasn't sure if the museum was scaling back or needed to add to their collection. I'm glad I spoke to the man who was staffing the front desk. He explained that only about 3% of their collection is on display; the rest is housed in a building next door. Apparently, they were gearing up for an event for museum sponsors and would be filling the cases upstairs within the week. I hope so because what I saw left me feeling sad that so much more could be done to help visitors appreciate the Native American culture. The museum has a small gift shop and also produces a newsletter. I picked one up on my way out of the building, hoping to learn more about the museum and feel better about my visit there.

Visited here last summer with visiting relatives. Very interesting. And not too big to be overwhelming. A nice short outing.

There are excellent descriptions of the artifacts as well as manipulative exhibits for children. There is even a small dwelling with fur rugs that children can climb into. Very nicely done. Quiet but a lot to look at and experience.

There's representation in artifacts and artworks by native tribes from all over the US, as well as a section that discusses what it means to be Native American today. Very informative, if in a fairly small space.

On the surface, this museum is tiny compares to Field Museum. However, the American Indian and Alaskan native artifacts are Mitchell's sole focus. It has lots of hands-on/interactive exhibits for K-12's. I was intrigued by the two dozen black-n-white portraits in the "atrium" area, as well as educational, social, cultural and religious trends, evolving from exclusions to inclusions. The who-is-who noteworthy's are the second floor is informative, as I did not know Jim Thorpe is of Native American ancestry. Well worth the $5 spent for the 1-hour self-guided tour.

This museum is currently without a curator, but is still an excellent combo of permanent and temporary exhibits. There are over 10,000 artifacts in the collection (most in storage) -- so each area (Woodlands, Plains, Southwest, Northwest Coast and Arctic) features the best highlights and samples. The entrance fees are very reasonable; the staff is friendly and helpful; the self-guided tour brochure is easy to follow.A current exhibit, "Moccasins: Steps Through Time," is small but nicely done.There is free kid craft programming (for ages 5 and up) on weekends -- 11-12 on Saturday and 12:30 - 1:30 on Sunday. Take-home crafts still to be offered this summer include quill boxes, woven baskets, loom beading or weaving, dream catchers, and others. Call the museum for the schedule.There is a small, free parking lot behind the building.Fun and educational!

I really enjoyed this museum and everyone was so nice. My favorite part was the children's craft for my kids. The volunteer made my daughter think when doing the craft. It was not just a simple artwork. My daughter learned about how the Native Americans survived when creating a canoe out of cardboard and other scraps of material.

It's a pretty small museum, but informative, and well-organized (by regions and tribes). I was also very impressed with the incredibly enthusiastic staff there. As said before, there's lots of hands-on stuff for kids, but everybody can take something away from the variety of displayed artifacts there. We got through in about an hour, but part of the exhibition was being renovated. So maybe the typical time is more like an hour and a half.

This museum does an impressive job stretching its very limited resources. You can learn a lot about the history and cultures of American Indians. They have some permanent sections, but also house temporary exhibitions. The museum is filled with visuals, from photos to clothing, from jewelry to household items. Lots of pieces are out for visitors to handle. The building also has an extensive collection of related literature including art books located near the entrance in a library room. This is worth putting on your itinerary. You can get through it in 1-1.5 hours.

A hidden gem. The museum is small but the kids can touch most everything! They can go inside a real teepee and touch and play with everything in it. It's really a wonderful place. They also have a free craft time on Saturdays that is fun.

Good representation of Native American artifacts, art, jewelry and more - very knowledgable staff.