Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center

This museum was simply amazing. My wife and I visited while on vacation in the Mystic area. We came here on a Wednesday and it was super easy to walk in and no crowds. All of the exhibits were excellent. The village exhibit was awesome and the short film on the Pequot War was also very well done. This is not only one of the best native museums I’ve ever been to but in general one of the best museums I have been to. I highly recommend anyone visiting near by to stop by and learn about the local history of this area.

Incredible space for learning! What a beautiful museum! I learned so much about the history of native Americans in the north east. The village model has a self-guided tour. There were excellent exhibits! We only had a few hours and ran out of time; we'll definitely need to return for a deeper dive in the many rooms we missed. Lots of parking when we visited on a Saturday afternoon.

I was invited here for a wedding and it was one of my most memorable events. The venue itself has several halls like Atrium, Grand Hall & Grand Atrium. My hosts had used all as well as the Terrace. This was a fall wedding so the Terrace made good use of the fall colours & nice exterior. The Atrium well suited for snacks & guest mingling. The reception was held in the Grand Hall which has glass walls up to the ceiling. This was so well suited for fireworks that left the guest mesmerized. The music crescendo led to the grand finale and it was spectacular. The decor company did an excellent work as well as the caterer. The food was delicious too. I’ve fantastic memories from this place. Great place for hosting events besides enjoying the museum itself.

My husband and I visited the museum during our trip to Foxwoods on our honeymoon - HIGHLY RECOMMEND! We were blown away by how much we enjoyed this museum. The hidden gem experiences within the museum are immersive, interactive, and well done. Absolutely would recommend this to others! They could use some technology updating, but other than that, 10/10.

Had the pleasure of attending the amazing Powwow to honor Veterans. The Museum is incredible, the vendors offered a wide array of beautiful products, but the dancing & drumming was the highlight and just so incredibly beautiful!

Absolutely worth the trip. And to be perfectly honest, my husband and I went out of our way to come here because we went to the National Museum of the American Indian last year and felt like we wasted our time and learned absolutely nothing. I understand not wanting Native Americans and tribal cultures to only be viewed as an anthropological curiosity and/or being completely 'othered', but THIS is how you preserve and educate. The way the exhibits are set up along the timeline is memorable and unique, and really helps you understand the Mashantucket Pequot Nation. I also like how European traders and settlers are/were obviously part of the story, but are in no way the main focus here. The observation tower is a great place to end, so don't miss it!

They put a lot of money into this museum and it shows. There weren’t many people here though. It was almost empty except for me and a 4th grade field trip. I enjoyed my visit and recommend the movie about the Pequot War. Interesting history. The tower had a nice view also.

A fascinating museum with lots of information about the Pequot tribe. There are a few large dioramas and recreations of large animals. The massive village mockup is truly amazing. Kids were so happy running around and exploring the details. A couple of downsides, there aren't any specifically kid friendly interactive exhibits, which means parents need to be engaged with them at all times. Also the interactive video presentations are great, but the videos lack style and energy to match the visuals in front of you. They take an interesting subject and make it boring (and I love this stuff). We spent about 3.5 hours coming through all the details, the outdoor exhibits and the tower. You could probably do it reasonable well in 2 hours. Any less and you'll be missing a lot

This history museum was amazing. I recommend you spend a whole day to actually look at all the exhibits in addition to the movies that they provide I will be return to look at exhibits that I didn't get a chance to see for all the exhibits that they have to be free is amazing and a great experience I will be returning and I recommend.

Terrible signs. I felt trapped. I just wanted to leave!!!!!!!!!!!! Way too expensive. You'd think they would want people to learn about their culture. As $25 fee can be prohibitive to many people. *Terrible* design. Like an abandoned airport. More money than sense. Get a grip. Not recommended.

Amazing museum to visit and learn about local native history. Do not pass this one up as it is well worth the stop!

5/22/24: A Hidden Gem! Excellent museum with a great educational learning experience about the Native American Pequot Indians. We were fortunate to follow a middle school group led by a docent who was an ancestor of the Pequots. If I remember correctly, the guide was a grandson of a chief. The guide had a great way of speaking to the kids. Of course, there were a couple of smart aleck kids. The guide was very professional and didn't put up with any nonsense. Overall, the guide was very informative. Bravo to him! During our visit, we sat in a theatre and viewed, "The Witness". It's a half hour film that dramatizes the events of the Pequot War, 1636-38, including the massacre of approximately 600 Pequots at Mystic in 1637. "The Witness" is quite a riveting and important short film to watch, particularly in these times of hatred. We walked the through a Pequot Indian village. The highly detailed village was setup in a virtual like display. The entire museum is very visually detailed. In addition, there's a Hall of Fame room with photos of famous people who have native Pequot ancestry. There's so much to see. Admissions range from $13.00 to $22.00. The museum has a café, but it was closed. The Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center is located at 110 Pequot Trail. Mashantucket, CT. It's very close to the Foxwoods Casino. WiFi and even data usage for GPS is somewhat spotty in the outside surrounding area. You might want to check out directions ahead of time. A couple of large parking areas are available on the museum grounds.

This is probably the best museum I've been to in a while as far as content, presentation, and staff. The village was so well done that I felt like we were intruding. My 4 1/2 year old enjoyed it but I think it would have been helpful for him if there was a children's area. That would really be my only suggestion. The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable and seemed like they enjoyed what they do. My son had so many great questions as a result of this trip and it unlocked a whole new topic of interest for him. Cons: lots of walking. The entrance fee of $25 per adult might prevent someone from visiting. The staff member asked if any of us were military, first responders, etc. I'm a nurse and he applied a discount so that helped. The gift shop had a lot of empty shelves, unsure if they were in the process of restocking or not.

A beautiful October day to venture up a couple of hours to visit this amazing museum. It was highly recommended up in the woods of central CT. Enjoyed the multiple displays and the recreation of the Native American villages back in the day. Brianna was at main help desk and Ms Foster, the children's craft coordinator, were exceedingly friendly and informative to us as we tried to maneuver through this huge building to ensure we visited all important sites. At one point, a male member of staff saw we were unable to find a particular display and he personally guided us right to the floor/area. Happy we visited, entrance fee $25.

Back when I was a kid, my parents took me to the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and I remember thinking the place was so cool... now many many years later, I decided to visit again, and found it just as interesting! Here's the scoop on this awesome museum: The museum is located just a couple minutes away from Foxwoods Casino. There's a very large parking lot, though it is some distance away from the building. Admission tickets are $25 for adults, or cheaper for senior, students, and children. Once inside, you walk into a large open lobby (called the "Gathering Space") where they often host special events. This is "Level 3" on the map. There's a gift shop on this level, and a cafe upstairs, though the cafe was closed when I was there (their website says it's temporarily closed). There's also an 18-story observation tower that you can pay an extra fee to go up in, though it was also closed when I went, and so I'm not sure what the hours are for this or the cost (it's not listed on their website and I didn't bother to ask when I was there). To see the exhibits, you can take either the elevator or ramp down to Level 2, where you'll find a scale model of the Mashantucket Pequot reservation, as well as some small displays and photographs of modern-day tribal life. As you continue on, you'll take the escalator to Level 1 (the very lowest level), where you'll find displays of native art and creation stories. Next you'll enter "Life in a Cold Climate" where you'll see cool life-sized models of large animals that once roamed New England, like the mastodon, giant beaver, and dire wolves. There's also a life-size diorama showing an ancient caribou hunt. Further down the hall are exhibits about ancient tools. By far the coolest part of the museum is the Pequot Village! This village includes life-cast figures of Native American people wearing traditional clothing, and taking part in various tasks of daily life like cooking, talking, weaving, working, etc. You'll see an actual waterfall, trees, campfires, wigwams, and more! It truly feels like you're in a Pequot village! There are audioguide speakers available to narrate everything that you're seeing. As you finish up with the exhibits, you'll end by learning about what life on and off the reservation was like from the 1600's all the way up to the 1980's. It was eye opening to see how the government tried to take the tribal land from the Pequot's and created regulations that made it difficult for them to build homes on their own property. Overall, this museum gives you an amazing perspective of Native American history, and displays it in a way that people of all ages will enjoy. I would highly recommend checking it out!

Came here on a Wednesday and there was barely anyone there! Gave me the perfect chance to enjoy all the exhibits and informational history that is right here in our backyard. Great displays and depictions of what life would have looked like. Very primitive and realistic just like I remember when I visited as I child. The only downfall was the observation tower was broken, the escalator that brings you to the glacier exhibits was out of order and the store didn't have the white and purple replica wampum like I remember.

Everyone should absolutely come and visit this museum. Everyone. I have been to many, MANY museums. And this one is now by far one of the most impressive I've ever been to. The stream that runs through the exhibits on the first floor is incredible. Walking through the village replica is like being transported in time. I don't think I have enough words to even describe how in awe I was the whole time I visited here yesterday. Incredible. You will leave with a deep sense of understanding and respect. Life changing museum. Thank you.

A hidden gem in Connecticut! It's really a must-see. It's located right behind Foxwoods. Highlights of this place , aside from the lovely staff : - an 18 storey observation tower - a beautiful lobby with flags from native tribes all over North America - an interactive map of the land so you can see where everything on the property - an exhibit on the ice age and how that affected the land and the tribes There are also a couple of movie rooms but we did not get a chance to enjoy them. Our son has a short attention span :) My absolute favorite exhibit is the room Creation stories and art that goes with it!! You also learn about hunting and basket weaving. It's just so informative and wonderful. There's something for everyone! As an FYI they will be closed soon until the Spring. So be sure to keep this place in mind come March.

Beautiful, informative, interactive exhibits. Friendly and helpful staff. My 6 year old was enthralled with everything and had a great time in the interactive real life exhibit. We learned so much- about the deep indigenous roots that deserve a louder voice today! Highly recommend to educate ourselves about the past of this land and it's people. We also loved the view tower!

We arrived a little bit too late to be able to go through the museum at reasonable pace to see everything so we have to come back sometime in the future. My 99-year-old grandmother was with us so our pace would be slow. They stop selling tickets at 4:00 p.m. and close at 5:00 p.m. One of the Tips indicated that a guide could have walked us through in about an hour but the front desk did not offer that as an option to us so I'm assuming the guide was not available at the time we arrived. Nevertheless, we were allowed to see everything there was to see on the main level and also visit the gift shop without having to purchase tickets to the museum.

I've been to the museum three times. I can say that each time I have gone there, I am moved by the level of craftsmanship and creativity that was part of the creation of this location. Somewhat political in orientation, I still recognize its value for those who struggle to claim ancestral lands for themselves. You will absolutely be amazed at the realistic figurines and settings and the historical accuracy of how indigenous people struggled to survive. I do have one criticism that is keeping me at three stars, and that is something that I have never seen before. I heard some staff members try to blame the Covid pandemic, but I don't think that's as much the fault, as somebody has simply stopped minding the store. Even in a pandemic, the amount of money that has been amassed by the Pequots, since the inception of the casino, should have ample budgeted dollars, to keep the museum up and running in top condition for years to come. For the first time, during the visit there yesterday, I noticed information terminals at various exhibits that were non-functioning; I saw one movie room where the large screen was inoperative and a smaller screen was being used; and even something as simple as hand sanitizer canisters that were not usable any longer because they had run out of the sanitizer product. I also heard from the ladies who came with us yesterday, that the bathrooms were in sad condition. Yet in spite of these problems, I saw four or five staff are standing around and just chatting with each other. Nobody doing anything that I could see, of any consequence. This is one of those moments when I could easily find myself saying something like, "if I was in charge......" Personally, if I was indeed in charge, those types of problems would not go unfixed for any length of time. It shows a little bit of a lack of pride, which is 180° off of the message of the pride that the Pequots have for their people and their tribal lands. Just sayin....

GOSH... if you've been to the exhibit at Foxwoods come Back This place is AWSOME to say the least. We took several hours to complete our visit but well worth it It is a beautiful well laid out museum I have been to most of the museums in NYC and this is Right up there..or better really tells their story. the attached pictures do it no justice Some of the exhibits show Tribal Life and are So lifelike...

This is fairly easy to find and you do get a discount is you have a AAA card. Their site says most people spend about 3 1/2 hours here and although we didn't plan it, that is what my wife and I did, although there was a lot more to see, after that long we needed a break. The top floor starts with a display on the modern tribe and how they have progressed. You then go down to the 2nd level where you go through the ice age. The reconstructed animals were so lifelike looking that had a dire wolf turned to talk to me I wouldn't have been the least surprised. Down to the next level there is a huge area given over to a reconstructed village where you can walk around and using a hand held audio guide be told what you're looking at. Beyond that they go into the war that led do the decimation of the Pequots with an attempt to give a balanced view of the conflict. From here you could go on to learn about Pequots in 19th and 20th century America and...we didn't. 3 1/21 hours without sitting through any of the movies offered and we needed to get out, get a break it was too much to do in one go. Some reviewers here speak well of the cafeteria, I wouldn't know if looked closed when we were there, VERY closed and likewise the gift shop was a shambles. A sign said to excuse the appearance while they restock but there huge open space and even with areas cordoned off the room gave the feeling of too much space for too little action. The books were particularly disappointing as I expected or hoped for books on native imagery or folklore, the sort of things that would build on what I had learned in the museum already and instead there were some children's books and a few standards of Indian activism like "bury my heart at wounded knee." What this place needs more than anything is staff/guides/docents something. much of this you walk through on your own but if you have a question there's no one to ask anything of. As we walked down a long ramp to the 2nd floor my wife noticed a line of trash bins and wondered if the roof was leaking. There was someone at the bottom of the ramp to direct people and I asked if the roof leaked. "No those are for our visitors." "Oh we can drop our trash in there?" I said thinking of a few scraps I could be free of. "No." and there was no further explanation. The viewing tower is free but seems to highlight what I found most disheartening about the place. The windows outside the elevator going up were grimy in places and when you got to the top the view is, limited. Although the museum in on a slight rise it is still about dead center of the reservation and mostly in a bowl. I'm sure in fall the leaves are spectacular but you can't really see far and the elevator supports block a good part of the view. much of what you can see if the casino complex, a facility which looks like the love child of Walt Disney and a legomaniac and seems completely at odds with their ancestor's protection of the environment. This was interesting and it was educational but it was a bit much and too intense it is NOT a place for small children unless they have a guide. I was learning stuff at the village but even I was getting tired of walking around holding and audio guide to my head, a small child/ forget it.

Boston Friends took me to the incredible Pequot Indian Museum in Mashantucket, one hour away. One Friend was descended from the Native American Nation of the Nipmuc, indigenous to Central Massachusetts. I have never experienced anything like the intricate detailed history & the lifestyles portrayed in the elaborate exhibits. I found parts of the Pequot's journey to be difficult & sad, & the Pequot War & Massacre of 1636-38 to be most upsetting. Immersed in this fascinating experience for 4 hours, I was not ready to leave @ Closing time. I have shared the many photos I took with others who enjoyed them. The Museum is excellent for all ages. Please do not miss it.

Went here today had a great time. Some of the exhibits look beat from the ages. The attendance was low but I kind of liked it that way. I walked in $20 adult / $12 child. I see a sign for $5 per person guided tour. It was a 1 hour tour where they lead you room by rooms and bring the story of the people to life. Thank you tour-guide Chris, you made the day for me maybe not as much for the kid but certainly for me. We then took went up to the observation tower which I'm sure would be an even more amazing site once all the trees comes out. Then in an odd sort of progression we went through the whole tour a second time this time by ourselves. This allowed us to go in armed with the knowledge from Chris and read the signs on exhibits and stop for video screens and really bring it home. This was truly and educational day.

Pros: 1. The Dioramas are amazing. The depiction of the Indians/Natives are particularly life like. 2. There is a wealth of information dating back thousands of years. 3. The museum is spacious. Cons: 1. $20 admission fee. That is way too much. 2. When I went, the cafeteria was not operating because the chef called out sick? Really? One staff member calls out sick and the whole cafeteria shuts down? 3. The movie: the pamphlet given at the entrance stated that the movie about the Pequot War would run every 45 minutes. Then, when I went to go see the movie after 3pm, a notice outside the movie stated that the movie would only be shown three times, with 3 pm being the latest showing. I still caught a bit of the movie, but missed most of it. Further, much of the auditorium lighting was still on during the movie, thereby making an already poor experience worse. The museum should really update their pamphlet info so that visitors can update their visit accordingly. 4. The lack of knowledgeable guides. I asked one staff assistant how many Pequot are alive today, and he told me took look it up on the internet! Overall, this is a good museum if you are into Native American history, or American history, in general. However, for the amount of money charged, the museum really needs to improve their organization and management of the facility.

This was an amazing surprise! I am cat sitting in Connand decided to do some travelling on my free days. I visited the Mystic Aquarium and saw an advertisement for the Pequot Museum. I figured I would check it out. And wow what a hidden gem! This was a world class museum with amazing exhibits. I actually did not have enough time to enjoy the full museum because I had not planned to be there long. I encourage everyone to go this museum, especially schools! They had plenty of classrooms and open gathering areas for large groups. PLEASE GO HERE! I promise you will not be disappointed. I wish everyone knew about this unique history spot. I have never seen Native American history portrayed as well as here!

GREAT museum. Really a worthwhile afternoon spent, learning about the history of the Tribe(s) and European involvement... same story all around the world... East or West India Company arrives, issues with both the Dutch and the English, Europeans utilize inter-tribal conflicts, treats the original peoples as lesser, and comes close to killing them and ending their Name forever. (Very similar story to South Africa, tbh.) Thank you for preserving your heritage and history.

This museum, located near the Foxwoods Casino & Resort, is the best Native American museum I've visited. A Smithsonian affiliate, it's world-class in its presentation of a deep-dive into Pequot history and culture. Its recreation of a pre-Columbian Pequot village makes the visitor feel like s/he is stepping back in time. This is only about 15 minutes off I-95 for people making the New York - Boston drive. Enthusiastically recommended!

I am really stunned that there are no Yelp reviews for this museum. This is my FAVORITE museum. I first visited back in 1999 and returned again this past weekend for a second trip. What an experience! This museum tells the story of the Mashantucket Pequot tribe. It is huge, modern and absolutely beautiful. The exhibits are so interesting, especially the Pequot Village where you get to walk through a day in the life of various tribe members. You receive a phone-like apparatus that serves as an audio guide, explaining everything that you are viewing. The amount of time, effort and money that has been placed into this museum is very apparent. I enjoyed all of the exhibits, the artwork, the peacefulness I felt as I walked through the museum, but my faves were the Pequot Village, the 30 minute dramatic video of the Pequot War in 1637 and photos/stories of Pequot descendants today. It was an extremely personal, enlightening experience that gave me a greater appreciation, respect and admiration for this tribe and their way of life. The museum also has an Observation Tower. Ride the elevator all the way up and you will get an excellent view of the Pequot lands and Foxwoods. For $15, its definitely worth a trip if you are in the area. The staff at the entrance and also in the museum store were extremely warm and friendly. The website does caution against following a GPS to get there and they provide detailed directions, which worked well for us. Check it out for yourself. Trust me, you'll thank me later.

I was very impressed by all of the detail and architecture that went into this place. I love how it takes you through time, from the ice age to modern time. The only thing I would say in negative about this place is the outside, I feel like it could have used more information and structures. Over all 5 stars.

This place was more information packed than I imagined. There was so much to do there, we are going to have to make a 2nd trip. It starts with the tour that has a bunch of monitors with interactive videos and encyclopedia articles explaining the exhibits around them. As you progress, there is an entire village with free audio listening devices explaining each building display. Then you make your way into the theater. The witness is what played the day I was there and I highly recommend seeing it, but it can be a bit rough to watch and caution should be used with children viewing. After the theater, there is the final floor with the outdoor exhibit and a few huts and things close by with more history. I spent 4 hours there and could have easily spent a day. The price is highly justified for as much as you get. I highly recommend stopping by the Pequot Museum.

If you are panning to visit, you may want to consider this review. Overall this place represents Native culture in the same way a mall in suburban Arkansas represents US culture. It is not really a museum more than it is a series of staged historical scenes and somewhat interesting dioramas, including a nice caribou hunt scene and Pequot village. The figures and environments are done very well, but this is not a museum in that this place has very few (if any) historical artifacts, contemporary pieces, educational spaces, or art of any kind or from any era. The total collection of objects could fit in a suitcase, but it is housed in a space the size of an airport. In one small screening room there was a very well-done short film on traditional tool making, but you could have watched this on youtube and saved the "museum's" exorbitant $20 entrance fee. Structurally the space is also far too large. It seems like the developers had far too much money and far too much land on which to develop. So what they produced is a cross between a chain-hotel, a suburban event center, and an airport. The size of this place also means you have to walk long distances with very little to see along the way. The "cafe" and diner serves low quality fried food and mass-produced junk food. The coffee tasted like brown water (yes, brown does not have a flavor). I felt like I was sitting in a food court in some abandoned suburban mall or hotel in the middle of the country. The overlook tower is a tall piece of concrete with a tiny platform that is cramped and you have to wait to fill one tiny elevator to get back down. Also, most windows have a view of a garish giant casino that looks like a cross between an asylum and a mall built in the 1990s. The types of people who go to casinos are also incredible sad, which contributed to this visit being depressing in so many ways. I wanted to enjoy my visit here, but it was pointless and depressing. You might as well stay on the highway and head toward a museum in Providence or to any of the well-done museums in Boston, which is only an hour north of this sad location.

One of the best museums I've been to. Plan on spending at least 2 hours there. We paid $5 for a tour. Our guide George was well versed with the museum and gave us a general overview of the museum before we took our time going went through again. Anyway, I would highly recommend going to get an education on the native Americans.

Amazing surprise. Massive museum with interactive displays and informative guides. Definitely take the audio tour in the village (free) and eat at the cafe. The good is delicious and cheap-although it comes in paper cups and plates- and the setting is amazing. Check out the architecture. Attention to detail and a very telling history lesson on the impact of the Europeans on the native culture and the history of the pequot people-dating back 12,000 years We spent 2 hours here and didn't see everything. A walk up lantern hill before or after lunch is a good way to spend an hour too. It's only two minutes away.

The Mashantucket Pequot Museum provides a fantastic learning experience for all ages. The museum provides great insight on the history and culture of the Pequot people stretching back nearly 500 years. I really enjoyed my visit here and learned so much about Pequot society, customs and traditions. If you're visiting Foxwoods or simply in the general area, this shouldn't be missed.

The museum is really well done with a ton of detail. We spent about 3 hours there but you can easily spend more than that. There is an overwhelming amount of information so after awhile it can get hard to take it all in. They should let you come back the next day as some museums do. You would retain more information that way. Overall this is very nice museum. My only complaint is that if they are not going to let you bring drinks in, they need more water fountains around. I am someone who needs water with me all the time and ended up feeling very dehydrated during our time there. Most of the exhibits are on level 1 and the only fountain is all the way at the end, through the huge main exhibit, the Pequot village, the war room. This is pretty far and not practical to keep going back and forth. I understand not bringing in food or even juice, but there is no reason why people can't bring their water bottle in with them. There should be at least one fountain in the main exhibit area.

Nice museum. I don't understand why they have pan-Indian - Archy theory stuff but maybe to support their argument as legitimate descendants to people in that region. Most Native American people don't start history with the landbridge theory... its a swayed primer to history. The staff were rude, talked loud, and everything was expensive. I liked the Pequot village diorama and some of the other displays, but some were entirely out of place.

As someone who works at a highly rated museum, my expectations were set pretty high. I read reviews before coming here. I was not disappointed. This is a great museum, full of great exhibits and dioramas. My favorite part was the recreated Pequot village. I also recommend checking out the observation tower that gives you a great view of the surrounding forest and neighboring Foxwoods. I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn about Native Americans as well as people who are staying at Foxwoods. There's more to this resort than slots and blackjack!

I love this Museum! It's always a great time and I love going through the exhibits. I withheld 1 star this time because there was vomit on the grating as you walked through the ice age portion of the museum.

Great place to observe and experience the Native culture. The museum is widely spreadout on different floors with a very realistic artwork. There are many things to learn about the native culture here and they are very very well presented with good artwork and writings. A must visit if you are in the area and certainly a thing to do with the family and kids. Don't forget to take the elevator to the observatory tower from where you can get a vertical view of the museum and the sorrounding Foxwoods.

5 star museum/ fascinating. Mashantucket Pequot Museum in Mashantucket, CT is an open encyclopedia begging to be explored. A museum becomes "grand" when the visitor comes away from it learning in one day, more about the Pequot than they have about their entire family for the last thirty years. All cynicism aside, there are many great museums out there, but this one is a welcome addition to my "Top Five Museums of all Time" list... whenever that list will be made.

Totally underutilized resource to learn about the native peoples of the woods in Connecticut. There aren't likely going to be a lot of pictures posted here as they're not allowed inside the museum - just a taste of the import of visiting a culture that respects things in a sacred way. The museum clearly is well funded from the casino but that isn't the only thing to keep in mind as one ventures into this environment. The totally untouched natural environment except where the buildings are is amazing, truly well thought out planning and design! Kids need to be a bit older to appreciate this and the density of information is high so take your time to really see what there is to offer. Oh, PACK FOOD IN as it's horrid on location - think fast food...

A lot of information. Would have appreciated a guided visit but, they did not have guides on site.

Spend the time to truly appreciate it all it has to offer. What an amazing museum! This place is well mantained. The exhibits are very informative and the sequence is well thought out. The model village is truly superb. The accompanying audio is very helpful. I attended a conference here this weekend and the facilities were perfect. The service staff was attentive and courteous. I was truly impressed with every single staff member whether they worked at the reception, the library, the cafeteria or taking tickets entering the exhibits, they were all friendly and courteous. The movie "The Witness" was very moving. It was thought-provoking and definitely the type of movie that makes you think long after you leave. When I drove away and saw the two competing casinos, it made me reflect on the history of the Pequot and other Native peoples. I will definitely return and recommend to friends and colleagues. I will also recommend to my professional organization that they host our conference here again next year.

I didn't get a chance to really delve into the exhibits because I was chasing a toddler, but this seemed like a pretty rich, informative museum. The pequot village part was pretty cool. Less actual artifacts than I would expect, but that was apparently somewhat intentional. The photos of tribe members at the end were kind of surprising to me in their diversity. The snack bar should take a lesson from the national museum of the american indian and offer some more interesting snacks. When we showed up it was kind of lame.

Two stars purely for idea of presenting Native American food and for not actually poisoning us, although I suspect the latter was just luck. My wife and I took a work colleague visiting from Asia to an art show and sale at the museum and decided to try the cafeteria. It was frankly an embarrassment. It literally took 30 minutes standing there to get a couple of sandwiches made. Not the ones we ordered, of course. All the while, venison stew that was served earlier and tepid went from that to cold. And then to have to remind the staff that we ordered other items, only to be told they were actually not available. (Or in one case to be told that all but one of the vegetables that actually defined the cultural relevance of the sandwich weren't available.) Checkout wasn't much better. All in all 40 minutes before we took our trays to sit and eat, and then the food was really just not good at all. Please, to our friends running the museum, we want you to do well: so please please do make changes to the management and staff there if you haven't done so since late May of 2016.

This is one of the best places I have ever gone with my kids in a very long time. The museum itself is well kept and pretty routine but the village with the hand held tour was stunning! The real life Pequot displays are real life like it's almost scary. The explanations of village life using the hand held receivers were like having a private tour with an expert. My son @ 11 listened to every recording. (some stations have several more detailed extra recordings) You can walk through the rest but plan that you will not walk through this part. At the end please stop and watch the movie. Beware, it's graphic and was upsetting to my 10 year old and she left but it is a great ending of a tragic story. We were also luck enough to have a live demonstration on Pequot cooking. MMM tasty! Simply said, Go it's fabulous!

I've never been the to the museum (something I should fix soon!) but I was lucky enough to have a meal catered by Chef Sherry Pocknett, who runs the café here. Her food was OUTSTANDING: just delicious. I want to come visit just to try more of it!

Fantastic museum. Very immersive with lots of great info. Their recreation of a native village with palisade wall is stunning.

Connecticut may be the 3rd smallest state in the United States, however for a state this small it holds more than its shares of merits. It has the largest acre dedicated to maritime pertinence (Mystic Seaport), 2nd largest indoor casino (Foxwoods Casino), and the largest museum or facility dedicated to the culture of the Native Americans. This is the godmother of museums in the 21st century, it is very well simulated, and highly interactive. The initiation of the museum feels like a dark ride at a amusement park as you descend down a escalator and you see a wall that is totally replicated into massive amounts of snow portraying the ice age.As you enter into the museum you see a revolving globe of how the earth evolved through the millenniums. Because the museum is so enormous, at times didactic,along with so many artifacts, tools, and technology it is so hard to describe the museum as a whole in a yelp description. Also I don't want to give out too much information, I want all of you to come to this place with surprise and intrigue. Have fun and check this place out when you are in the area !

This is a really great museum near Foxwoods. My husband and I have been a couple of times, but this was our first visit with our kids, ages 6 and 8. We didn't know how into it they would be but they really loved it. The exhibits are really quite life-like, which I think really got them interested. They particularly loved A Pequot Village, which has several scenes of daily life; you learn about each of them by listening to stories on a cellphone-like device. We had to stop at each and every one of them. Definitely worth the visit, for adults and kids.

Very beautiful museum with so much history! We went with our 2 and 6 year old kids and their grandparents. We all enjoyed this museum. The movie at the end is definitely a must see!

A great Museum! Interactive exhibits. Everything Native American from thousands of years till now. They had a globe which showed the demise of glaciers through thousands of years. Multi-leveled and covered many attributes of the Native Americans. Pay the extra $5.00 for the guided tour.

I visited the Pequot Museum in June, and i was blown away. I am planning another trip in the near future. This museum is just awesome, you will leave with a different point of view. I love learning about different cultures, i just love how we are all different and unique.

Great time with family, educational and entertaining. I learned a lot, interesting history and wonderful exhibits. My kids said this was the best part of their trip Connecticut. After you pay and go down to the exhibit, did find the lady checking receipts a bit brash. No biggie/ we had a great time and enjoyed our afternoon.

Great museum. Bigger than I expected. I thought I'd be able to go through it in an afternoon and really had to rush at the end to get through it all. Not really interactive so young folks might need some guidance to stay engaged. Beautiful, well curated displays and exhibits. Good flow. Kept me interested all the way through the museum. I would visit again. I can't believe all there is to see for the price.