Exploring the world of the American Indian

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LEWISTOWN — Dickson Mounds Museum, a branch of the Illinois State Museum and a National Historic Site, is one of the major on-site archaeological museums in the United States. It offers a unique opportunity to explore the world of the American Indian in an awe inspiring journey through 12,000 years of human experience in the Illinois River Valley.

Visitors to the museum, in west-central Illinois, encounter innovative interpretive exhibits; exciting hands-on activities; archaeological sites; and a variety of special events in a rural setting.

The museum has a variety of exhibitions including:

The River Valley Gallery — The River Valley Gallery explores the character of the Illinois River and traces the interaction between the river and the people who lived along it from the end of the Ice Age to the present day. The story is told through innovative displays and Legacy, a large-screen video production that captures the panorama of the past and leads one to a real-life view of the river valley today.

People of the Valley — People of the Valley portrays a sequence of cultures — from Ice-Age hunters to the tribal groups that left Illinois in the 19th century — through artifacts, murals, photographs, and exciting hands-on exhibits.

Reflections on Three Worlds — Reflections on Three Worlds reveals the world of Mississippian people whose 800-year-old sites surround the museum today. The exhibits depict the complex life and culture of these people, trace in detail the evidence of archaeology, and lead to a spectacular multimedia event that takes one through a kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, symbols, music and voices of the three worlds of Mississippian belief.

Eveland Village — The Museum Grounds - 230 acres that include a scenic picnic area and playground, and the Eveland Village, where the excavated remains of three early Indian buildings are preserved for viewing. The museum grounds are open to the public during daylight hours.

Illinois State Museum anthropology program — The museum’s anthropology collection consists of more than eight million archaeological specimens and ethnographic objects, and is among the most extensive in the U.S. It is housed at the Research and Collections Center in Springfield and the Dickson Mounds Museum in Lewistown. Prehistoric artifacts from more than 2,000 sites represent every period of Native American prehistory ranging in age from 12,000 years ago to about 300 years ago. Among the most important collections are those from Modoc Rock Shelter and Cahokia Mounds, which is one of only two U.S. sites on the prestigious United Nation’s World Heritage List. The collection includes outstanding examples of stone tools, pottery, bone, and shell tools and ornaments, and sculpted stone pipes. The Historic-era collections consist of Native American and French colonial and 19th and 20th-century Euro-American artifacts.

The 5,000-piece collection of ethnographic objects represents cultures from throughout the world. The largest holdings consist of late 19th to early 20th-century Native American baskets, textiles, ceramics and apparel from the American Southwest, Northwest Coast and Great Plains. Other major collections include the Frost Trade Bead Collection and the F. Louis Hoover African Collection from Illinois State University.

Besides the regular exhibits, Dickson Mounds has a variety of events for young and old alike:

Hickory Ridge Coffeehouse

Nov. 17 — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Bob Bovee and Gail Heil — One of Dickson Mounds most popular and distinguished acts returns with excellent renditions of both kinds of music; old time country and western! Bob and Gail charm their audiences with a well loved selection of songs and yodeling sure to bring a smile to your face and warm your heart. They perform on guitar, harmonica and fiddle and are not to be missed!

Dec. 15 — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Ben Bedford  — Singer-songwriter Ben Bedford hails from Springfield and is rapidly making a name for himself as a songwriter of quality who leans toward expressive, literary writing in the style of Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark. Along with songs from his first release “Lincoln’s Man,” he’ll be performing a few Christmas tunes as well. Join us for the festivities!

The third Saturday of each month at 7:30 p.m. Dickson Mounds Museum offers coffeehouse performances by noted folk musicians from the Midwest. The evening entertainment is hosted by singer-songwriter Chris Vallillo. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 or children, 6 to 12 years old.

Mountain Dulcimer workshop

Nov. 10 — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Morning and afternoon sessions for playing the mountain dulcimer will be offered to beginning and intermediate level learners. Taught by musician Mike Anderson of Jacksonville. Advance registration for the workshop is required. To register call Steven Endsley at (309) 668-2362. Workshop fee: $20.

Spruce Up for the Holidays

Dec. 2 — 1 to 4 p.m.

Children are invited to participate in an afternoon workshop making holiday crafts and enjoy refreshments and a holiday video. The workshop is free. Children under the age of 8 are required to have an adult accompany them.

FYI

The museum is open year-round, daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. There is no admission charge.

The address of the museum is 10956 North Dickson Mounds Road, Lewistown, IL 61542. It is located 60 miles northwest of Springfield on Routes 78/97.

For more information, call (309) 547-3721 or fax your questions to (309) 547-3189.