Places in the US where you can experience Native American culture

There are so many places in the US where you can experience Native American culture, have a wonderful experience and not be fearful of cultural appropriation. It is after all, native to what is today America!

Disclaimer

There is a distinct difference between appreciating and exploiting a culture. It’s a hot topic these days but in my opinion, if you err on the side of respect, you cannot go wrong. Respect has to do with how we watch, listen, and learn. Observe quietly and be a well behaved guest as you enter someone else’s home and by home, I mean their space. It seems common sense but sometimes we all need reminders.

Bloggers Choices in Places to Experience Native American culture

Check out these perfect places to learn and experience Native American culture. With over 500 original nations on this land, there are oodles of diverse places to experience many different things.

These AWESOME travel bloggers chimed in to create this post of great places to visit nation wide! Having been to most, I can safely say these are all great experiences and I highly encourage you to check out their travel blogs as well!

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Let’s get to it! The places to experience Native American culture are all chosen by the bloggers and are loosely arranged in geographic proximity to each other.

The Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer, SD

The Crazy Horse Memorial was created to honor the memory of one of the greatest heroes of the Oglala Lakota people. Located just outside of Custer, SD, the memorial is something all visitors to the state should endeavor to see.

The monument was commissioned in 1939 and work began in 1948. Construction has been completely funded through private donations. Upon completion it will be the second tallest statue in the world. As of now, only the head and the face are complete.

On the memorial’s campus, visitors can fine the Indian Museum of North America. The museum contains artistic works and artifacts from over 300 Native American Nations. The Native American Cultural and Education Center helps visitors get a deeper understanding of Native cultures. Artists in residence deliver talks, tell stories, play music, dance and more.

~Jim Jones Travel Stories and Images

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History Colorado Centre, CO

If you’re spending a few days in Denver head to the History Colorado Centre and visit the ‘Written on the Land’ Ute exhibition. You’ll find over two hundred Ute artifacts from clothing, crafts and headresses to jewellery and tools. I spent a fascinating couple of hours watching films of first-hand accounts and stories from the Ute people. I explored their history and how they were moved on from the land and how they travelled and lived in the Rocky Mountains. One thing I loved the contrasting old and new photographs of the Ute but particularly liked the clothing and detailed beadwork. The exhibition is a fascinating insight into the Ute and their history. 
~Suzanne Jones  The Travel Bunny

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Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, Alberta, Canada

Disclaimer: This blog focuses on American stories right? Ah well, before the governments decided to make up imaginary lines that divided the land into countries, the original peoples of the area meandered back and forth in between what is now Canada and the US. And THIS is an important place for the original peoples of this area therefore it is included.

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site in Alberta, Canada. It is located a couple of hours’ drive south of Calgary. The site is representative of the communal bison hunting practised by First Nations in the centuries before mass hunting depleted the herds and the arrival of European settlers forced indigenous people to radically change their way of life.

A well-made short film shows how people of the tribe cooperated to drive a bison herd off a cliff. Though the name Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump may sound brutal, the hunt was undertaken only for human survival in otherwise frugal years. For participating humans it was also dangerous work. The entirety of the animal was used following the kill. Meat was preserved and stored so that it could be eaten over the winter.

The onsite museum conveys the significance of the bison to the First Nations’ peoples of the plains. Interpretative sessions are a way of interacting with the descendants of people who hunted at the site and hearing the stories of items such a s clothing, rattles and weapons produced from the animals. Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is a thought-provoking place to spend time and well worth going out of the way to visit.

~ Stuart Forster of Go Eat Do

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Taos Pueblo, NM

The UNESCO World Heritage site of Taos Pueblo is a fascinating and unique spot. Located in a remote area of northern New Mexico against the dramatic Sangre de Cristo mountains, the pueblo is an absolutely beautiful place, with large brown adobe houses built around a stream. Settled at some point between 1000 and 1400 AD, it’s generally considered to be the oldest continuously inhabited place in the continental United States. And the local culture here is still alive and well – there’s still around 500 residents in the pueblo and a few thousand in the wider area.

Guided tours are available hourly on most days and are run by local residents with fantastic information, showing you around the various points of interest – though of course many areas are completely off-limits to outsiders. Entry to the area is $16 per person, and it’s open 8:00-4:00 Mon-Sat, 8:30-4:00 on Sunday. Discounts are available for students, seniors, and large groups. Be sure to check the events calendar in advance, as the pueblo fully closes for religious and cultural festivals (and it can also close on short notice due to death in the community). But overall, as a place where you can really immerse yourself in American Indian culture, you can’t really do much better than Taos Pueblo.

~Joel Baldwin World Heritage Journey

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Inupiat Heritage Center, AK

The most striking thing about Utquiavik, Alaska is the harsh landscape and climate that its native people, the Iñupiats, adapted to. Utquiavik is perched on the Arctic Ocean, as north as you can get in the United States. It exists in a state of permafrost with very little vegetation, even in the very short summer. In the winter it is dark for most of the day. The food sources are few and the locals discovered how to catch huge bowhead whales off of the shore. 

When you are in Utquiavik be sure to visit the Iñupiat Heritage Center. This center is staffed by locals and is full of stories and culture of these industrious people. The locals are very friendly and excited to share with visitors. In the back of the building, you can find natives using local resources to make crafts, which are for sale.

~ Jamie Italiane The Daily Adventures of Me

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Morris Thompson Cultural Center, AK

The Morris Thompson Cultural Center is one of the focal places in Fairbanks, Alaska for tourists and locales alike to get their fill of the vibrant history and cultural heritage of Alaska Natives through arts and crafts. Every inch of the stunning exhibit hall features spectacular details of Interior Alaska way of life. Oh! Don’t forget to explore the grounds just outside the cultural center including the Antler Arch a few feet from the Chena River. 

~Louisa Moje La Passion Voutee

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The Fry Bread House, AZ

Traveling is a wonderful way to expand your worldview, your horizons, and your palate. We like to try to find places to eat when we are traveling that are not chains, are interesting, and that have something to add to our experience of the locale. We hit the nail on the head with The Fry Bread House. Personally, I had never heard of fry bread before.

We had a delicious meal, learned how to eat tamales and enjoyed some Native American Fry Bread tacos. We highly recommend you give it a shot but not before reading our full blog post on it below.

~ Kristin Quinn Just Get in the Car

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Hopi Reservation, AZ

A great way to experience Hopi culture is to take a private with a local Hopi.  The Hopi reservation is in Arizona and is actually completely surrounded by the Navajo reservation.  We took a tour with Gary Tso of Left-Handed Hunter Tours.  The tour started with a visit a local craftsperson.  We could choose between a jewelry maker and a kachina doll maker.  We then drove thorough the Hopi reservation and stopped off in one of the villages before heading to see incredible petroglyphs.  However, the main attraction was Gary himself.  He regaled us with personal stories and fascinating insight into Hopi culture.  Gary held nothing back and was very open to questions.

 Our guide talked about everything from the Hopi history, cultural beliefs, current life, insight into their clan system and matriarchal lineage, how their reservation’s government worked, and more.  It was also an insight into the life of a veteran.  Gary served in the marines during Desert Storm and was very open sharing his experience during and post his tour of duty.  If you have any interest in learning more about the Hopi culture and current reservation, I recommend spending a few hours with Gary.  The tour starts and ends at the Hopi Cultural Center in Second Mesa, where there is a motel, restaurant and shop selling local handicrafts. 

~James Ian Travel Collecting

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Smithsonian National Museum of American Indian, Washington DC

The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. is a wonderful place to learn about the history, experience the culture, and understand the spirit of the American Indian. Before even entering the museum, the architecture of the building and the landscaping around it evoke the themes of nature and life that are so important to Native communities and individuals. Once inside, there are 4 floors of exhibits and collections, plus a cafe that is considered one of the best in D.C., due to its delicious authentic cuisine. For even more immersion into American Indian culture, the museum hosts tribal performances every weekday and special events, such as tribe-specific festivals, throughout the year. When visiting Washington, D.C., the National Museum of the American Indian is a must-visit-destination.

~Jordan Cierra Bradford The Solo Life

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Heard Museum, AZ

When I was researching Native Indian destinations to include in my Arizona guide book, a Navajo tour guide recommended the Heard Museum in Phoenix. It quickly became one of my favorite museums in Phoenix. The museum is dedicated to the advancement of American Indian art, but it feels like so much more than an art museum. 12 exhibition galleries offer rotating features. When I visited, the Boarding School Exhibition moved me to tears as I was not aware of the brutal practice of placing children in “Indian schools.” Guided tours are offered each day at 12:00, 2:00 and 3:00 and they are free with your admission. I highly recommend starting your visit with a guided tour before setting off on your owl to explore. The museum also has a lovely gift shop, cafe and outdoor courtyards.

~Leigh Wilson Campfires & Concierges

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READ EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO ATTEND A POW WOW

Montezuma Castle National Monument, AZ

Arizona has the largest population of Native Americans in the United States.  You can find a rich Native American culture here along with ruins and artefacts.  One of the most interesting Indian Ruins in Arizona is the Montezuma Castle National Monument.  Montezuma Castle is located about 90 minutes from Phoenix.Montezuma Castle is one of the best preserved cliff dwellings in the area.  The establishment is located high in the limestone cliffs that surround the area.The dwelling was built by the Sinagua people who lived here over 400 years ago.

~Nicole LaBarge American Obsessed

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Cherokee Heritage Center, OK

The Cherokee Heritage Center is the premier cultural center for Cherokee tribal history, culture, and the arts, located in the heart of the Cherokee Nation in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. It was established in 1963 by the Board of Trustees of the Cherokee National Historical Society to preserve and promote the Cherokee culture while sponsoring dynamic educational programs, reconstructed historic villages, engaging exhibits, and scholarly research stimulating interest in the enduring legacy of the Cherokee people. (From the Cherokee Heritage Center Website)

If you have heard about The Trail of Tears, it’s worth going. If you haven’t heard of The Trail of Tears, you definitely should go as it encompasses a pivotal event in Native American history and an experience Native American culture that we should never forget.

~Jen Tousey This Family Blog

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The Autry, CA

The Autry is a museum dedicated to bringing together the stories of all peoples of the American West, connecting the past with the present to inspire our shared stories. We love it! It’s a very dynamic place, far from an ordinary museum, it’s home to many Native groups and organizations so a must to experience Native American culture. In addition to their stationary and ever evolving displays and exhibits, they play host to Native American Film Festivals, Art shows, and cultural festivals like Dia de los Muertos. Every year they put on a fabulous Native American Marketplace and Native play festival. It’s second to none and a must see for those interested in learning the diverse ways Native cultures are alive and well in our modern world.

~Jen Tousey This Family Blog

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Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki, FL

In the Seminole language, Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki means a place to learn, a place to remember. We invite you to come to the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation and learn about our exciting living history and culture!

OUR MISSION IS TO CELEBRATE, PRESERVE, AND INTERPRET SEMINOLE CULTURE AND HISTORY (from the ah-tah-thi-ki website)

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Tipton Pow Wow, IN

The Annual Tecumseh Lodge Pow Wow is held each year over Labor Day weekend in Tipton, Indiana. Around 300-400 dancers, 30-40 Native American craft vendors and several Native American food vendors celebrate the spirit of the powwow. Witness the beauty of traditional Native American dancing or join in yourself. Purchase traditional food and crafts celebrating the Native American culture that you won’t find anywhere else. This cultural event has been held each year since 1961 and is sponsored by the Tecumseh Lodge Educational Group, Inc. located in Indianapolis. Tecumseh Lodge is primarily a Native American hobbyist group made up primarily of non-Native American members who have a love and interest in preserving and promoting Native history, culture, dancing, and songs. Mark your calendars for Labor Day Weekend in 2020 and plan to attend the 60th Annual Techumseh Lodge Pow Wow!

~Tanya Shelburne TravelingTanya

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Nichols Pond, NY

Nichols Pond is a 45-acre Madison County Park located in the Town of Fenner, New York. The park sits on what was a main village site of the Oneida Indian Nation dating back to the 1400s. Across the street from the park there are still grain storage pits visible from when the Oneidas would store their food like dried corn.

The village site is positioned so the Oneidas could keep watch north across Oneida Lake in order to see if anyone was approaching from that direction.

~Indian Country Today

Polynisian Cultural Center, HI

From tours to live shows there are many ways to learn and experience Polynisian culture.

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Final Notes

North America is a pretty unique place. We have everything from rain forests to deserts and all landscapes in between. The original inhabitants of the continent are as diverse as their environments and there is SO MUCH to learn. Indigenous nations are alive and well and not dwelling in a dusty ol book on a library somewhere. Get out there and explore it!

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Where have you been? What did you learn? Tell us all about it in the comments below! The whole point of this blog is to get great ideas for adventures and experiences and share it so we can all grow.

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