Where to Experience and Learn About Native American History in North Carolina

An archaeological dig, a recreated 18^th-century Cherokee village, 1,000-year-old artifacts and dramatic performances combine to make North Carolina a good place for introducing children to Native American culture. Look for these places and events when planning your family’s summer travel.

In the town of Cherokee, Oconaluftee Indian Village recreates an 18^th-century Cherokee community. Here, children can hear ancient stories told around a bonfire and watch skilled craftspeople weave intricate baskets or build a canoe.

To see more examples of artistry and buy meaningful souvenirs representing the rich cultural heritage of the Cherokee people, visit Islands Park Art Market, where you can meet artists, watch them work and learn about their artistic legacies.

At Cherokee Homestead Exhibit in Hayesville, you’ll see a summer house, winter house and food storage crib, as well as Cherokee quilts, carvings and baskets in the museum. Along with three other sites, the Homestead is on the 2-mile Quanassee Path, which starts at Cherokee Cultural Center.

Learn about the first habitants of Hatteras Island and find traditional crafts for sale at Frisco Native American Museum. Along with artifacts and cultural exhibits, this museum presents programs featuring subjects such as Abenaki storytelling, primitive tools and weaponry, and traditional Native American dances.

At Pettigrew State Park, near Creswell, you can see dugout canoes found in the lake; these were made thousands of years ago by Carolina Algonquian people. Homes, communal buildings and a burial hut dating 1,000 years ago have been uncovered at Town Creek Indian Mound archaeological dig, also open to visitors.

Dramatic performances bring history to life for kids, and one of the most popular reveals a historic mystery.  The Lost Colony in Manteo dramatizes the mysterious disappearance of 117 English colonists from Roanoke Island in 1590. Performed on a giant outdoor stage, the production features battles and Native American dances. Also on an outdoor stage, Unto These Hills tells the story of the Cherokee peoples from the arrival of the Spanish in 1540 to the present.