Last updated: 7/25/2016
Exeter, Rhode Island
Address
390 A Summit RoadExeter, RI 02822

Admissions

Adults: $5
Seniors: $4
Children : $3
Children under 5: Free

Museum Type(s)

Staff

Loren Spears
phone: 401-491-9063
Description
INDIGENOUS HISTORY, CULTURE, ARTS, AND MOTHER EARTH...

Rhode Island's only museum entirely dedicated to telling the story of the state's Indigenous Peoples. Tomaquag Museum has a unique collection of over 20,000 cultural objects along with hundreds of thousands of pieces of archival materials focusing on the Native peoples of New England and Rhode Island. The Museum is well-respected among Rhode Island's and New England's cultural museums and is visited each year by travelers from across the United States and throughout the world.

Mission

The Mission of Tomaquag Museum is to educate the public and promote thoughtful dialogue regarding Indigenous history, culture, arts, and Mother Earth and connect to Native issues of today.

History

Tomaquag Museum was established over 50 years ago by Eva Butler an anthropologist with the guidance of the late Princess Red Wing (Narragansett/ Wampanoag) and is Rhode Island's only museum entirely dedicated to telling the story of the state's Indigenous Peoples. Tomaquag, located in historic Arcadia Village in Exeter since the early 70?s, is also the only Rhode Island museum operated by Native people. It originated in Tomaquag Valley, a hamlet inside the village of Ashaway in the town of Hopkinton, RI.

Research Collections

We offer a video podcast on our website which researchers may find useful for some content. The videos can be watched directly on our website, or the podcast can be subscribed to (for free) using the podcast app on any apple iPhone or iPad or also via android tablet or phone.

Researchers may also contact us with their needs, and we can provide resources for Native American book authors and other information.

We also have content available for sale through our online store: http://www.tomaquagmuseum.org/store/

Educational Programs
CHILDREN'S HOUR

Children's Hour is our free, weekly program on Thursdays from 9am to 10am that will teach the history and culture of the Narragansett Tribal Nation through music, dance, and storytelling.

Children's Hour targets preschool and homeschoolers during the school year and the families during school vacation. It will be an intergenerational experience with parent, grandparents, or other caregivers participating with infants to middle schoolers in the mix.

Facilities

We feature one exhibit space, a small building for workshops and meetings, and outdoor yard for cultural programs and lectures. Please see our website for details, or call us at 401-491-9063

Governance
Tomaquag Museum's Core Values:

Tomaquag Museum's Core Values are rooted in our Indigenous beliefs. These beliefs drive our organization's strategy and decisions and contribute in a definitive manner to its success. The very culture of the organization is determined by our traditional values and philosophy. These values are the ideals and inspiration that guide the decisions and actions taken by Tomaquag Museum and by its individual employees. As our organization continues to grow and develop it is recognized that these values will guide us into the future.

Respect: Fostering trust, collaboration, appreciation, diversity, honor, spirit path

Leadership: Promoting integrity, initiative, high standards, self-motivation, inner journey

Knowledge: Promoting curiosity, discovery, teaching, life-long learning, empowerment. Encouraging creativity, rigorous inquiry, analysis, documentation, communication, and upholding ethical standards and Indigenous principles

Responsibility: Encouraging legal, ethical and fiscal responsibility; stewardship, accountability, organizational and cultural continuity

Publications

Tomaquag Museum does publish a monthly newsletter that is distributed by E-mail. To receive our free newsletter, please visit http://www.tomaquagmuseum.org, and sign up for our mailing list.

Services

We offer an on-site gift shop of Native American handmade crafts, books,

Group Tours & Specialty Programs, are by Appointment 6 Days A Week, we book year round!

Gift Shop
Online Gift Shop
Group Tours
ADA

Tomaquag Museum does comply with the ADA. We do have wheelchair ramp int our main entrance, and our exhibit space is all one floor. Exhibits are accessible by wheelchair or walker. If there are special needs, we suggest that you call in ahead to arrange for special accommodations.

Wheelchair Accessible
Restrooms
Exhibitions
Museum Events
DISCLAIMER
This information, including business hours, addresses and contact information is provided for general reference purposes only. No representation is made or warranty is given as to its content or the reliability thereof. User assumes all risk of use. Stories USA, Inc. and its content suppliers assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from such use. Please call ahead to verify the dates, the location and directions.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Museum Trustee Association Spring Forum 2024

April 10 - 14, 2024

Atlanta, Georgia

Texas Association of Museums 2024 Lubock Annual Conference

April 14 - 17, 2024

Lubbock, Texas

2024 Colorado-Wyoming ANNUAL MEETING

May 1 - 4, 2024

Worland, Wyoming

West Virginia Association of Museums 2024 Conference

June 6 - 8, 2024

Shepherdstown, West Virginia

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