Current Exhibits

“2229″

The museum began this ambitious collection in 1999. These photograph copies are from the museum collection, the Frances Holding Collection, and individual photographs brought in by family members. The goal is to have a photograph of each of the 2,229 original allottees and have it safely stored, and yet, accessible to the Osage people. At this time, we’ve reached 60% of our goal (approximately 900 allottee photos are still needed to complete the set). The museum staff is always actively seeking images that are not yet in their collection. A couple of ways this will be done is to advertise and visit institutions and individuals with Osage photos.

The museum staff has continued to make copies of photographs for family members, which is a time-consuming process, and there is a small fee for this service. There will be a list of everyone in the collection so that it is easy for family members to see if there are photos available of their ancestors.

The 2006 Osage Constitution

(Click here for a free copy) The museum proudly keeps our Constitution in the center display room. For those of Osage descent, who did not get to sign their name back on May 6, 2006, and wish to sign it while you’re here, please ask any of the museum staff, and they will gladly oblige.

“The Osage Timeline”

The museum’s newest exhibit tells of our existence from at least 650 A.D. through today. As this is a living document, our goal is to show where we have been, and document as many years of the Osage history as possible. The museum staff began this project in Fall, 2004. As the new Strategic Planning department took shape, the history of our nation was discussed with many members of the tribe who came to the town hall meetings in late 2006 and early 2007. Once the official reports came back to the museum, the staff researched and confirmed the dates. As time goes by, so grows “The Osage Timeline”. This will be one of two traveling exhibits going to other museums across the United States.

Part of the “Timeline” photos are from our “By the Osage People” exhibit, which the museum began in Summer, 2006. This allows family members, who have taken photos of current or previous I’Lon-Schka dances, to share them with us and visitors from around the world.

The photographs (or copies of them) become the property of the Osage Tribal Museum, as a part of their permanent collection, and will display as many photos as possible.

Original Paintings

This, truly, is one of our most unique features of the museum, and that is the high quality of the oil paintings that are housed in this hallowed place. Some paintings are for sale, so we want you to come visit us to check them out closely and enjoy them. Many are of the past Osage leaders and of well-known members of the Osage Nation. Just some of the artists works featured for sale are by R. A. Red Corn, Gina Gray, Joe Don Brave and this one on the left by Yakita Fields, for whom we are truly grateful to share their gifts and talents with the world.

World War I Exhibit

The museum takes pride in all who serve our country, especially our members of the Osage Nation, including one who served in the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom many years ago. Here are the list of Osage members who served in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.

For now, the museum offers a section that proudly shows our veterans from World War I. Over 150 members of our Osage men chose to enlist and serve, even though they were not United States citizens. See the photos of those who proudly served, and the list of their names.

Past Osage Election Campaign Materials

After most elections, have you ever wondered what happens to all of the remaining election material for those who ran for all of the offices available? Of course, the Osage Tribal Museum has the answer for that.

The museum collected campaign literature from the 2006 and 2010 Congressional, Executive and Minerals Candidates election, and are now filed away. We continue to solicit your assistance in locating and donating any extra Osage political campaign literature, no matter how long ago it was. This is extremely important in the history of our tribe, to keep this material on file, as there is valuable family information.

The museum has most of the campaign materials since 1990, one 1974 campaign letter and one from the 1940s. Therefore, check your attic, basement or past files if you or any of your relatives or friends ran for any office, or if you saved campaign literature that was mailed to you over these many years. In most cases, one of each item would be terrific, and would love to have the original copy/copies, with permission.