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Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Museums Hotels & Travel Tours Museums, Tours [Edit]
Big Cypress Indian RClewiston, FL 33440
(863) 902-1113
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
3 reviews for Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum
3 reviews in English
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Review from Jamie R.
Naples, FL
11/6/2011 1 photo
Professionally curated with artifcats, wall narratives, and film depicting the last 100 years of Seminole history. It's very well done, and is easily absorbed by children as well as adults.
Each November, the Museum sponsors the Indian Arts festival on the grounds in front of the museum. The 3 day event has the feel of a community fair with the Seminole community in patchwork clothes, feasting on fry bread and smoked meats, and lining the bleachers for the wild animal shows, Native American dance, modern music by indigenous artists, and some alligator wrestling that moved the tribe into early commercial success with tourists.
This is not Disney. It is a living culture which is open for sharing with visitors. You've not visited Florida until you've visited First Peoples. -
Review from michael s.
St Petersburg, FL
6/23/2010 3 photos
I have always been in awe of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, having faced the Spaniards and American invasions with a bravery which only indigenous people with their back to the wall can muster. Come on! They are the only tribe who have never signed a peace treaty with the U.S., even after the brutal 2nd Seminole War which left many of their people killed or relocated. It was the most costliest Indian war in U.S. history.
The Ah-tah-thi-ki museum has been opened for 12 years now and it IS like the Smithsonian of the Everglades. A beautiful collection of movies, artifacts and nature walks, you have to spend at least three hours here to grasp what this tribe is all about.
The tour starts with a film on a five-screen projector and then one of the
Seminole employees does a walking tour of the exhibitions, explaining the life of the Seminoles, their culture, traits, ceremonies and much more. The figures of the people are life-like and that's because they were molded and designed from real tribal people.
The nature walk back into the swamp is a must as it shows the different plants and how the tribe might use it medicinally.
There's a recreation of a Seminole camp and a center where they preserve artifacts. If you appreciate history and culture, you must visit here. -
Review from Daren N.
Pompano Beach, FL
7/13/2009
My wife and I have been going through a "get back in touch with the Everglades" phase lately and most recently decided to venture out to the Seminole Big Cypress Reserve this past weekend. Our destination was the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum on the reservation. It was a nice drive from Fort Lauderdale, only took around 45 minutes. It's very scenic as well. You get off on Snake Road from Alligator Alley and drive about 17 miles North. It felt like we truly got away from the city which was exactly what we were looking for. There are a few websites that list the museum incorrectly and the address is wrong. Just make sure when you look it up that you're looking at the one on Big Cypress Reservation between Naples and Fort Lauderdale. On to the museum...
When we arrived we found the parking lot was across the street from the museum. Since it looked like a long walk in the heat I dropped the family off in front of the museum and parked in the lot. I joined up with them and we proceeded inside. When we entered we were greeting by a couple staff members who asked us to sign the guestbook. We were told to go to the gift shop to get tickets. Let's just say I was pretty excited to say that it is free for Florida residents with ID. I believe the discount is available up until September, but I'd call ahead to varify. Otherwise it's $9 for adults. Kids under 4 are free. The gift shop is small but has many interesting items and some very nice jewelry. The museum itself was impressive. I felt like I was at a Smithsonian exhibit. Very well kept inside and the displays were beautiful. In the back of the museum there is a 1.5mile boardwalk that takes you through woods with different stops to visit. There are native Seminoles located throughout the trail doing arts and crafts and cooking traditional foods. There is also a wrap-around movie theater that plays a 17 minute movie about the Seminole Tribe. I would recommend watching the movie first before walking throug the exhibits. The movie gives you a better understanding of the items on display. All in all it was totally worth the visit and I learned a lot about the unconquered tribe. If you are looking for a day getaway and have been itching to visit the Everglades this place is totally worth the stop. My daughter (who is almost 3) even enjoyed the visit... especially the drive looking for Alligators in the canals along the way. There is no food allowed inside the museum however there are covered picnic areas in the parking lot across the street. Even better, 3 miles down the road from the museum is a swamp safari that takes you into the Everglades.
