Located in Washington, Connecticut, the Institute for American Indian Studies (IAIS)—formerly the American Indian Archaeological Institute (AIAI)—was incorporated in 1975 as an outgrowth of local efforts to recover New England’s then-largely-unknown indigenous history. Today, IAIS continues to be a 501(c)3 museum and research center dedicated to providing unique, informative and engaging experiences for its members and visitors alike. Click here for a video of a 60-minute tour given by Events Coordinator Ashley Reiske on September 8, 2024.

Ashley points out that the Research and Collections Department manages the museum’s material culture collections, which include some 6,000 ethnographic (post-European contact) items and over 300,000 archaeological artifacts. These cultural remains represent hundreds of Native American societies throughout the western Hemisphere. They range in age from over 12,000 years to the present day.

The artifacts that have been discovered and curated enhance IAIS’s exhibits and are the basis for many presentations and publications on Native American histories and cultures. (Above, right) Ashley stands next to a portrait of Edmund “Ned” Swigart who started the Institute in the 1970s.

The Museum includes a small outdoor Indigenous village that includes a wetu and a longhouse that can be entered. An indoor longhouse replica can also be seen online along with other contents of the Museum at https://www.iaismuseum.org/iais-online/virtual-tour/