Collections

Discover the collections of the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian.

Access to the Collections

The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian houses over 10,000 objects carefully stored and monitored. Many objects are on display but even more are in storage preserved for use in future exhibitions, programs and by researchers. Access to the collection is by appointment only with the museum’s curator during the museum’s regular hours of operation:

• Tuesday – Saturday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
• Thursday: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
• Sunday: noon – 4:00 pm
  

The museum’s original mission is to collect, preserve, and interpret American Indian culture from North America from the Paleo-Indian period to the present. We have since limited the geographic scope to north of Mexico. The collection contains a wide range of materials including basketry, pottery, lithics, clothing and regalia, paintings and drawings, jewelry, rugs, katsinas, dolls, games and sports, fetishes, beadwork, quillwork, shields, weapons, and carvings.

For more information about the collection or information about donating objects to the collection contact our Curator at 847-475-1030 or click here to email.

Adopt an Artifact

Help support the documentation, conservation, and storage of the Mitchell Museum's collection by selecting your favorite object and signing up for a one-year adoption. For more information, contact our Curator at 847-475-7030 or click here.

Donate an Artifact

The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian started as a donation of 3,000 objects in 1977 and has grown through the generosity of other donors to over 10,000 objects. The museum collects materials that support the museum’s mission. The Mitchell Museum’s mission is to promote and share a deeper understanding of Native American peoples through the collection, preservation, and interpretation of their traditional and contemporary art and material culture.

The museum’s collection includes archeological, ethnographic, and art objects of North American Indian and Inuit (Eskimo) people from all time periods, from the Paleo-Indian period through the present day. We have since limited the geographic scope to north of Mexico.

We review the materials and compare them to the existing collection and will accept materials that meet the museum’s mission, that are not duplicating artifacts already in the collection, that are in good condition, that the museum can properly care for and store, and that can be utilized in exhibits, programs, or through research.

If you have material that you would like to donate, please contact our Curator at 847-475-1030 or click here to email.

HOURS & ADMISSION
Tuesday – Saturday:
10am – 5pm
Thursday: 10am – 8pm
Sunday: 12pm – 4pm

Adults: $5.00
Children, students, teachers, seniors: $3.00 
Mitchell Members: FREE
Tribal Members: FREE

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