Indian Museums on East, West Coasts

Two museums focused on Native Americans have opened this summer: the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute in Oregon and the Mashantucket Pequot Museum in Connecticut.

The $18-million Oregon center, which opened July 31 on the Umatilla Indian Reservation, about four miles east of Pendleton, focuses on three Indian tribes, the Cayuse, Walla Walla and Umatilla. It includes historic tribal artifacts and contemporary artwork and narrates the Oregon Trail from the Indian point of view. The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; adult admission is $6. Information: tel. (541) 966-9748.

The $135-million Connecticut museum opened last week on the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation, about seven miles from Mystic. It has elaborate multimedia displays on the tribe’s history. Highlights include a diorama of a caribou hunt, a re-creation of a 16th-century Pequot village and a restaurant with Indian dishes. It is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily; adult admission is $10. Information: tel. (800) 411-9671.