Countdown
to forever!
Mashantucket Pequot Museum
about the museum
Tribally owned and operated since it opened on Aug. 11, 1998, the Museum brings to life the story of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. It serves as a major resource on the histories and cultures of Native Americans in the northeast and on the region's rich natural history. The Museum is a 308,000-square-foot complex, consisting of permanent exhibits, classrooms, a 320-seat auditorium, a restaurant, a museum shop, and administrative offices. The Research Center houses collections, archives, and archaeology and conservation laboratories where ongoing work from the field is evaluated and studied. Multi-sensory dioramas and exhibits introduce visitors to the history of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and the natural and cultural history of the eastern woodlands.
a feat of epic architecture
The design of the building celebrates the history of the Mashantucket Pequot nation. Inspired by the ecological and archeological value of the site, the building provides a visual, spatial, and textural link to the cultural heritage of the Pequot tribe. The circular plan of the original Mystic Fort, the site of the 1637 massacre, is a symbol for the Mashantucket Pequot nation and informs the overall geometry of the building. A 200-foot-tall tower to the east marks the entry and symbolizes the resurgence of the tribe.