First Americans Museum
Cultural
Coordinates35.4578°N 97.48123°W
Former nameAmerican Indian Cultural Center and Museum
Visitors200,000+ (2022)[1]
Executive directorDr. Kelli Mosteller
CuratorHeather Ahtone
Websitefamok.org

The First Americans Museum (FAM) is a museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. It was previously known as the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum. It officially opened on September 18, 2021.[2][3]

Background

The idea for a museum celebrating Oklahoma's Indigenous inhabitants arose from the state's 1989 celebration of the land run.[4] The center was initiated in the 1990s and previously was named the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum.[5] Construction began in 2006, was interrupted in 2012 when state funding ran out, but resumed in 2019, after the responsibility for the museum was transferred from the State of Oklahoma to Oklahoma City along with financial assistance from a Chickasaw Nation subsidiary, the American Indian Cultural Center Foundation, and numerous donors.[6][7][8][9]

Mission

The mission of First Americans Museum is, "To serve as a dynamic center promoting awareness and educating the broader public about the unique cultures, diversity, history, contributions, and resilience of the First American Nations in Oklahoma today."[10]

Staff

As of July 2024, Dr. Kelli Mosteller (Citizen Potawatomi Nation) is the new Executive Director and CEO, replacing James Pepper Henry (Kaw/Muscogee).[11] Deputy director is Shoshana Wasserman (Thlopthlocco Muscogee). Chief curator is heather ahtone (Choctaw/Chickasaw). Loretta Barrett Oden (Potawatomi) is a culinary architect in the museum's on-site Thirty Nine Restaurant. Greg Wadley (Choctaw Nation) is chair of the FAM Board of Directors.[11]

Building and campus

The 12,000 square foot museum was designed by Johnson Fain Architects and Hornbeek, Blatt Architects, Co-Prime, Edmond. Visitors are greeted by the Remembrance Gate consisting of two inclining 40-foot walls of Mesquabuck stone. The name of the Potawatomi Chief Mes'kwah-buk, "whose name signifies the color of the sky at sunrise and sunset" is inscribed into the stone face.[8] Visitors then enter The Hall of People, which takes inspiration from the traditional Wichita Grasshouse that were the original inhabitants of the area. The massive glass semi-dome is supported by ten columns of various stones. Each column represents the ten miles traveled each day by Indigenous people during forced removal to Indian Territory, while the variation in stone represents the distinction of tribal groups that came to the area. Behind the museum is a semi-circular earthen mound which pays tribute to the great mound-builder civilizations. The sunken area within the mound serves as an outdoor Festival Grounds.[8]

Permanent exhibits

FAM maintains two permanent galleries alongside a temporary exhibition space.

The first-floor gallery, OKLA HOMMA, chronicles the histories of the 39 federally recognized tribes of Oklahoma, beginning with creation stories to the violent removal of Natives by Europeans and the United States, to present day issues and life ways. The gallery makes use of animation, audio recordings, interactive technology, contemporary artworks, and artifact displays.

The second-floor gallery, WINIKO: Life of an Object, is the product of a two-year (2023-2025) project between FAM and the National Museum of the American Indian with the goal of repatriating objects to hundreds of descendent families and community members.[12][13] The resulting exhibit features 76 objects from the collections of 19th century archaeologist Mark R. Harrington on loan from the NMAI[14] alongside commissioned works of art. The exhibit was co-curated by Dr. heather ahtone (Senior Curator) and Welana Queton (Curatorial Specialist), with assistance by Hallie Winter (Collections Manager) and Erin Minnaugh (NMAI registration technician) and consultation from representatives from the 39 tribes and Knowledge Keepers.[15][16]

Awards and recognitions

See also

References

  1. ^ https://famok.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Forest-Friends-Club-Letter032423.pdf
  2. ^ "First Americans Museum set to open". Indian Country Today. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  3. ^ Billock, Jennifer. "A Brand-New Museum in Oklahoma Honors Indigenous People at Every Turn". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  4. ^ Rieger, A. (2022), "A New Museum for First Americans", retrieved 8 April 2025
  5. ^ Crum, William (December 13, 2019). "New name for cultural center: First Americans Museum". The Oklahoman. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  6. ^ "Construction resumes on American Indian Cultural Center and Museum". KFOR.com. April 2, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  7. ^ "American Indian Cultural Center and Museum | Hargreaves Jones". Archived March 3, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  8. ^ "FAQ". FAM. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  9. ^ Pollard, B. (2021), "The Life of an Object: NMAI Objects Reunite with Native Communities at the New First Americans Museum", retrieved 8 April 2025
  10. ^ "About Us: Our Mission". First Americans Museum. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  11. ^ "Newsroom". FAM. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  12. ^ ahtone, heather (2024). "The Animacy of Objects: Introduction". American Art. 38 (3): 2–4. The University of Chicago Press Chicago, IL. doi:10.1086/733255. ISSN 1073-9300
  13. ^ Pollard, B. (2021), "The Life of an Object: NMAI Objects Reunite with Native Communities at the New First Americans Museum", retrieved 8 April 2025
  14. ^ Fieldcamp, B. (2024), "FAM WINIKO reunion project connects modern families to their historic belongings", retrieved 8 April 2025
  15. ^ Bain, Aja (2022-08-01). "WINIKO: Life of an Object , First Americans Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma". The Public Historian. 44 (3): 164–168. doi:10.1525/tph.2022.44.3.164. ISSN 0272-3433
  16. ^ "WINIKO", retrieved 8 April 2025
  17. ^ "AAM Recognizes 13 Individuals and 10 Institutions for Exemplary Work in the Museum Field". American Alliance of Museums. 2024-03-19. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  18. ^ "The Good Design Awards". www.good-designawards.com. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  19. ^ oliviarichardson (2023-04-26). "First Americans Museum – ULI Americas Awards for Excellence Winner". ULI Americas. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  20. ^ "ONE AWARDS PAST WINNERS"
  21. ^ @admin (2023-06-16). "Announcing the AASLH 2023 Leadership in History Award Winners". AASLH. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  22. ^ "Best Government/Public Building: First American Museum | Engineering News-Record". www.enr.com. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  23. ^ Deaton, David (2022-06-15). "Oklahoma's Top Tourism Entities Honored During RedBud Awards - OKW News". Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  24. ^ "2022 Phoenix Award Winners". Brownfields 2025. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  25. ^ "Congratulations OMA Award Winners - Oklahoma Museums Association". 2022-07-19. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  26. ^ "Entry". Anthem Awards. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  27. ^ "Impact Awards - Americas". ULI Oklahoma. Retrieved 2025-04-11.