The objectives of the Indian Museum and the Lake County Chapter of the ASO are to discover, collect and preserve archeaological sites and material related to the history and antiquities of Native Americans of Lake County, the State of Ohio and the North American Continent; to maintain and museum and library; to extend knowledge through the above means and by educational meetings, publications and other proper means. Many interested residents of Northeastern Ohio have donated artifacts and crafts. Fourteen volunteers help keep the museum open seven days a week except for major holidays.
The Indian Museum is funded entirely through memberships and donations by individuals, families, organizations, businesses, corporations and foundations. The museum receives no county, state or federal funding. All donations are tax deductible. The Indian Museum is run by the Lake County Chapter of the Archaeological Society of Ohio. It is chartered by the State of Ohio as a non-profit corporation under IRS 501(c) (3). The museum’s goals have been to preserve materials important to the Native American history of Northeastern Ohio, all of Ohio and to exhibit art and crafts of today’s Native Americans throughout the North American Continent.
The museum occupies space in Mentor, Ohio with a collection of over 26,000 prehistoric artifacts from 10,000 B.C. to 1650 A.D. plus Native America crafts from 1800 to 2008. The museum is proud to have provided a museum to be enjoyed by all ages to Northeastern Ohio. The museum is “Handicapped Accessible.” The Indian Museum is supported entirely through membership of individuals and families, businesses, corporations and foundations, plus the small fees for admission and for tour/programs presented to nursery schools, home schools, public schools, youth groups and adults. The museum receives no state of federal funding. Over 25 years, nearly 100 volunteers have kept the museum open seven days a week, year round, closing only for major holiday weekends and school related breaks. The museum’s first objective was to save artifacts from local archaeological sites and from all of Ohio, and to teach visitors about the earliest people to live in this area, as well as to share information about Native American cultures throughout the North American continent though changing exhibits and publications written by the museum’s staff.
One to two hour programs are conducted for all nursery schools, home school groups, regular schools, youth groups, adult groups or just family groups on a mini-vacation. They learn in detail about the last group of Indians, the Whittlesey people, to live in this area before the arrival of the European. In addition, several hands-on activities are offered to visitors. The Indian Museum library of over 1,000 books and periodicals is used by students of all ages, from elementary to adults. The museum staff gladly assists students with their research. Special programs offered by the museum include Native American speakers and craftspeople. Speakers tell of different cultures and archaeological work. Workshops are offered for students, teachers and adults.