BIG CYPRESS SEMINOLE INDIAN RESERVATION, Fla. (August 10, 2021) - The Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum will reopen Saturday, August 21, it was announced here today. The museum will be open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The reopening coincides with the museum’s 24th anniversary and the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s 64th anniversary of federal recognition.
With the health and safety of the Seminole community, staff, and visitors top priorities, masks will be required for entry to the museum and hand sanitizing stations are available throughout the campus.
The museum’s mile-long boardwalk will reopen to one-way traffic. Museum artisans will return to the Seminole Village and the Traditional Interpretation Coordinator returns to the Hunting Camp. Interactions with Seminole artists often become the highlight of any visit to the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum.
“We have been carefully preparing for the reopening of the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum, to ensure the safe return of our staff, visitors, and community,” said Director Kate Macuen. “We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the museum after 17 months of closure and offering a unique and safe place where our visitors can learn about and celebrate Seminole stories, history, and traditions.”
In addition to the museum’s permanent exhibits and the alligator wrestling exhibit that opened in the West Gallery in late 2019, visitors can experience two brand new exhibits:
Graffiti and Street Art: Expressions of Community Pride, 2021
Art ceases to be art without freedom of expression. Graffiti and street art provide a venue for this freedom. The current Mosaic Gallery exhibition celebrates this art form and the Tribal Members who produce it. At the beginning of the COVID lockdown, artist Alyssa Osceola used the abandoned Big Cypress Bingo Hall to make a statement about the resiliency of the Seminole people. She recovered her 11’x20’ mural during the destruction of the building. It now serves as an eye-catching centerpiece of this exhibition.
Also included is a program featuring artist Wilson Bowers. He has anonymously produced dozens of murals and iconic images at several locations on Big Cypress. His commentary now provides insight to the motivation, determination, and thoughtful messaging these pieces provide.
The Seminole artists featured in this exhibition produce thought invoking artwork. In many cases, it delivers a message; in others, it simply brings beauty and humor where it otherwise would have none. The visuals are a means to encourage, educate, and celebrate the history and culture of the Seminole people. The exhibition will run through November of 2021.
Two Worlds: Heenechatche, The Legacy of William Buffalo Tiger
This important and influential leader was not only paramount in the independence of the Miccosukee Tribe, but also an inspiration to the balance between progress and tradition. This upcoming exhibition will focus on his contributions to the sovereignty and education of native people and his lead in the fight to protect the Creator’s gifts. This exhibition will open in September and run through the spring of 2022.
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