What Is It?
Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum is devoted to preserving and celebrating the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s past, present and future. The museum holds permanent exhibits of historical items, features rotating galleries with art from tribal members and has a large outdoor area.
History
The museum opened in 1997 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of federal recognition of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. By 2004, the museum had expanded to fulfill its conservation needs, adding a second building containing a conversation lab and collections vault. The museum is home to nearly 200,000 items.
Exploring the Museum
The 5,000-square-foot space contains more than 40 life-size figures portraying the lives of the Seminole people in the 1890s. These are combined with dioramas, artifacts, text panels and audio effects, immersing visitors within the historical Seminole world.
Outdoors
The museum contains a 1-mile raised boardwalk on its grounds, passing through a 60-acre cypress canopy within the Big Cypress Reservation. Ceremonial grounds, a historical Seminole village and hunting camps can be toured while walking the boardwalk.
Library and Collections
The collections include items related to the Seminole Tribe of Florida and Native American populations of Southeastern United States. They feature manuscripts, baskets and a massive collection of Seminole oral history. The library and archives are open to the public Monday through Friday by appointment.
More Info
The museum is on Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation, 34725 West Boundary Road, Clewiston, FL 33440. It is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $7.50 for children and seniors. For more information, call 877-902-1113, email Museum@semtribe.com, or visit www.ahtahthiki.com.