Nanticoke Indian Museum: Preserving a Legacy

The Nanticoke Indian Museum offers a glimpse into the rich heritage of the Nanticoke people, who have inhabited the Delmarva Peninsula for over 14,000 years. The museum, housed in a former two-room schoolhouse on land donated by the Harmon family, showcases thousands of artifacts that illustrate the Nanticoke way of life, traditions, and craftsmanship. Exhibits feature stone tools dating back to 8000 B.C., pottery, beadwork, and traditional clothing, including deerskin garments adorned with intricate beadwork. A highlight is the rattlesnake necklace, crafted from the snake's vertebrae. Visitors can also view a dugout canoe, used for fishing and crabbing, and a diorama with taxidermied animals representing the region's wildlife. The museum also displays artwork from tribal members. The museum's mission is to educate visitors about the Nanticoke people, their history, and their ongoing presence in Delaware. It hosts guided tours, lectures, workshops, and demonstrations, and special events like powwows and cultural gatherings. These events offer opportunities to experience Nanticoke traditions firsthand. The museum also has a gift shop that sells authentic Nanticoke crafts, including jewelry and dreamcatchers.