Here are 8 of the best places to learn about North Carolina’s Native American heritage, offering museums, living history sites, art, and cultural experiences from across the state:
1. Museum of the Cherokee People (Cherokee)
Located in Cherokee, this acclaimed museum tells the story of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians with interactive exhibits, artifacts, programs, and a first-voice perspective. It is one of the longest operating tribal museums in the country and has recently undergone major renovations to further showcase Cherokee culture.
2. Town Creek Indian Mound (Mt. Gilead)
A well-studied archaeological site and prehistoric ceremonial center built by Pee Dee (South Appalachian Mississippian) people; features a reconstructed mound, village structures, museum, trails, and free or guided tours illuminating ancient traditions and trade.
3. Museum of the Southeast American Indian (Pembroke)
Located on the campus of UNC Pembroke, this museum displays artifacts from North Carolina’s eight state-recognized tribes—especially the Lumbee—and highlights their stories, culture, and continued influence in the state.
4. Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual (Cherokee)
Across from the Museum of the Cherokee People, this artist cooperative features authentic Cherokee baskets, pottery, jewelry, and crafts; visitors can meet artists, buy wares, and learn about Cherokee traditions through hands-on exhibits.
5. Oconaluftee Indian Village (Cherokee)
An outdoor living history site recreating an 18th-century Cherokee community, with interpreters demonstrating traditional crafts, cooking, hunting, and cultural customs for visitors of all ages.
6. Frisco Native American Museum & Natural History Center (Frisco, Outer Banks)
This museum on Hatteras Island houses one of the largest collections of Indigenous artifacts in the region, with exhibits and annotated trails exploring ancient Roanoke and Croatoan histories of coastal North Carolina.
7. Occaneechi Village Replica Site (Hillsborough)
This reconstructed 17th-century village on the Eno River is based on archaeological research into Occaneechi Town, offering insight into ancestral ways of life, farming, and social organization in the Piedmont region.
8. Dorothea Dix Park Inter-Tribal Pow Wow (Raleigh)
This large annual gathering at Dorothea Dix Park celebrates pan-tribal North Carolina Native American heritage with dance competitions, food, and public educational activities. It’s a vibrant way to engage firsthand with living culture and traditions.
Each site offers a meaningful opportunity to engage with North Carolina’s Native American history and present-day cultural richness through exhibits, events, and outreach.
Sources
(https://www.visitnc.com/story/i9fx/explore-north-carolina-from-a-native-americans-perspective)
(https://visitcherokeenc.com)
(https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/national-native-american-heritage-day)
(https://cardinalpine.com/2022/10/07/north-carolina-indigenous-history-culture/)
(https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/town-creek-indian-mound)
