The Iroquois Museum, which opened in its Howes Cave location in 1992, is built in the form of a traditional longhouse, important to Iroquois culture. These were used by extended families for their residences. Some longhouses were reserved for tribal councils and community meetings or ceremonies.[1] Once based in New York, most members of the Iroquois tribes now live on First Nations reserves in Quebec and Ontario, Canada; others live in New York, Wisconsin and Oklahoma.[1]
The museum was built at a cost of $1.3 million. It holds the largest collection of Iroquois art in the United States, and is designed to teach and interpret the culture of the Six Tribes of the Iroquois.[1]
Also located in the museum is the Iroquois Performing Arts Amphitheater, used for music and dance works based on traditional practices related to the Iroquois culture. Ancestors were in their territory for 10,000 years.[2][3] The museum's exhibits also embrace modern culture, such as one in 2008 that featured Native American baseball players.[4]
The Iroquois Museum has partnered with a number of other museums throughout the United States including:[5]
