The Mohegan story can be told through the history of its remarkable people.
The Tantaquidgeon Museum is the oldest Native American-owned and -operated museum in the United States. The original stone structure, made of native granite, was built in 1931 at the height of the Great Depression by John Tantaquidgeon. Along with his children, Harold and Gladys, John founded the museum on the premise that it is harder to hate someone you know a lot about, so they built the museum to introduce visitors to the Mohegan people. The museum's mission is to share the Mohegan culture with the community and visitors who wish to experience and learn about the history of the Mohegan people from the Mohegan perspective.
The unique, three-room, stone structure sits upon a hill surrounded by a stockade fence where you will find a dugout canoe, garden mounds, and two bark-covered wigwams on land locally known as ‘Mohegan Hill’. Inside the museum are artifacts that date to the 17th century. These authentic treasures provide a visual narration of the Native people of New England. For generations, visitors have learned about the Mohegans and other New England Tribes through visual displays of native-made goods, a traditional village, and stories told by Mohegan Tribal members about our history.
Hours of Operation:
The Tantaquidgeon Museum, operated by the Mohegan Tribe, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm and offers free admission and tours conducted by Mohegan Tribal members. Groups of six or more are by appointment. For more info or to schedule a visit, call 860-235-8057 or email [email protected]. The museum’s parking address is 1 Church Lane, Uncasville, CT, and the museum is located just across the street.
