Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum Re-Opens to the Public
Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation, Fla. (August 10, 2021) – The Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum is pleased to announce the highly anticipated re-opening date of August 21st, 2021. The Museum will be open 7 days a week, 9am-5pm. The re-opening coincides with the Museum’s 24th Anniversary and the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s 64th Anniversary of federal recognition. The health and safety of the Seminole community, staff, and visitors are top priorities as we once again welcome visitors to the Big Cypress Reservation. Masks are required for entry and hand sanitizing stations are available through campus.
In addition to our 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. Our 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. Alyssa 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. This exhibition will run through November 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 spring 2022.
The mile-long boardwalk will re-open to one-way traffic. Museum artisans will return to the Seminole Village and the Traditional Interpretation Coordinator returns to the Hunting Camp. Interactions with our Seminole artists often become the highlight of any visit to the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki.
“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 Museum 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.”
About the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum
The Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum opened in 1997 and is owned and operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Situated in the Everglades on a 66-acre cypress dome on the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation, the Museum offers more than 5,000 square feet of gallery space. Exhibits feature rare artifacts and lifelike dioramas that depict Seminole life at the turn of the century. In 2009, the Museum became the first tribally governed museum to be accredited by the American Association of Museums. For more information, visit www.ahtahthiki.com and follow the Museum on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
