Plains Indian Museum

The Plains Indian Museum tells the significant story of the lives of Plains Indian peoples, their cultures, traditions, values, and histories, as well as the contexts of their lives today.

In the words of Plains Indian Museum Advisory Board member and Crow tribal historian Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow, the Museum is “a living, breathing place where more than just Indian objects are on display.” Since 1979 the museum has been a leader in promoting public recognition of the importance of Plains Indian art due to its nationally significant collection. Curator Emerita Emma I. Hansen said, “Visitors to the Plains Indian Museum learn, not only about the beautiful objects made by Indian people, but the stories of the people behind the objects and the special contexts in which these objects were made and used in daily and ceremonial life.”

Plains Indian Map Project

This Plains Indian Map, created with generous funding from The Brown Foundation, Inc., of Houston, is a fusion of scholarship and educational interpretation. The map represents 230 years of movement on the Plains amongst more than 45 different Indian cultures. Territorial, treaty, reservation, and state boundaries flow in an animated timeline.

The innovative scholarship and interpretation showcased in this map is recommended for a broad audience, including K–12 teachers and students. Viewers can pause the online animation at any point to study a particular map.

The Buffalo Bill Center of the West offers educational activities and programs relating to the Plains Indian Museum for diverse audiences and interest levels. Our programs bring together scholars and groups from around the world to discuss topics relating to the cultures and art of Plains Indians, and aim to reach out to anyone who wants to explore the ideas and objects in our collections.