Paying homage to the cultures, traditions, and history of the 39 American Indian Nations headquartered in Oklahoma, the museum opened its doors on September 18.

 

The new museum is the first of its kind, and aims to educate about the unique cultures, diversity, history, and contributions of the First American nations.

Inside the museum, visitors will have a chance to explore artifacts, arts, and crafts from each of the 39 tribal nations featured in the museum, along with participating in demonstrations, special events, and even taste Native cuisine.

Some of the exhibit highlights include the Origins Theater, a 320-degree screen looping animation about creation stories from four tribes in Oklahoma; the Tribal Nations Gallery, highlighting tribal origin stories and historical accounts from a Native first-person perspective, and insights into Native culture, curated by members of tribes in Oklahoma today.

The signature restaurant, Thirty Nine, will feature an Indigenous menu that combines traditional foods with a contemporary take. The meals have been created with the help of award-winning Chef Loretta Barrett Oden (Citizen Potawatomi Nation).

Agents should focus on both the chance to get up close to indigenous history, along with the proximity to other nearby attractions, when selling, says Matt Bates, Destination Awareness Manager UK&NI and Republic of Ireland at Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department.

“Not only does FAM bring to life the interwoven stories of these American Indian nations, poignantly and vibrantly, the campus is also situated along the Oklahoma River, close to an eclectic mix of Oklahoma City's myriad attractions - such as the Boathouse District and Riversport complex; the 45-piece bronze Oklahoma Land Run Monument, and the vibrant downtown Bricktown entertainment district.

“When international travel restarts - hopefully very soon - Oklahoma and the new FAM First Americans Museum will be ready, with a warm welcome and a rich mix of experiences to offer.”