Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, Illinois, United States

5Taylor B 5:00 PM Oct 27, 2020

Focusing on the history, culture and arts of Native Americans
You might expect to find the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian in Denver or Flagstaff or Moab or even Las Vegas. But Evanston, Illinois? Founded in 1977, the Mitchell Museum is one of only a handful of museums across the country that focuses exclusively on the history, culture and arts of Native American and First Nation peoples from throughout the United States and Canada. Located at 3001 Central Street in Chicago's closest northern suburb, its mission is to promote and share a deeper understanding of Native American peoples through the collection, preservation and interpretation of their traditional and contemporary art and culture. The museum's collection of over 9,000 objects includes archaeological, ethnographic and art objects of American Indian and Eskimo people from all time periods, from the Paleo-Indian period to the present day. Permanent exhibits depict the Native American cultures of the Woodlands, Plains, Plateau, Southwest, Northwest Coast and Arctic. In the Woodlands Gallery, see the full-size birchbark canoe, the centerpiece of an exhibit that explores fishing, hunting and gathering among native peoples living east of the Mississippi River. Other interesting exhibits are Great Lakes ice fishing decoys, dolls from throughout North America, 19th and 20th century beadwork from the Northern Plains and Great Lakes regions, baskets from the Great Lakes, Southwest, California and Northwest Coast, Navajo weavings and Arctic stone, ivory and bone carvings.

4Annaline 5:00 PM Feb 2, 2020

It looks like nothing from outside
I was so glad I stopped by this place. I was just driving by it and I was intrigued by it, so I stopped in the back on a small parking lot. And I was so glad I did it. Collection inside was very impressive . It was very nicely organized into regions. Also I enjoyed reading all notes and footnotes. I which the gift shop was better and I wish the cleaning lady didn’t start vacuuming around 3:45pm ( museums actually closed at 5pm ... but I was chased out from the place much sooner by that lady who did not care that her laud vacuuming was unbearable for visitors. Even if I was there on my own I felt they should respect my ticket and my time there and should not employ “ heavy machinery” until I left that place. Just because of that cleaning habits my visit there was less pleasurable and my experience was tinted with annoyance and disrespect. And that is why I have it only 4 stars.