The Great Native American Toolkit


Over 20,000 years ago, the first humans in North America began revolutionizing their cultures with specialized tools and weapons. Through trial and error, they became skilled hunters, tolerated harsh climates, and equipped themselves to travel vast distances to hunt and forage for foods.    

“The Great Native American Toolkit” tells the story of the creative genius of North America’s first peoples and their ability to survive and thrive using similar tools made from regional resources. This exhibit features prehistoric stone tools and pottery used by the ancient Mississippian (Mound Builder) Cultures, Northeastern Woodland (Lenape / Delaware / Iroquois), Southwestern Cultures (Anasazi / Pueblo) and ancient bone fishing tools carved by Alaskan Natives.