Tomaquag Museum

Great museum with well organized exhibits, fascinating details and information, and knowledgeable staff. We got a 20 minute tour by a wonderful young lady that knew a lot about the artifacts in the museum and the history of the tribes in the area. They also had a gift shop with a great selection of books, art, and souvenirs. This museum is a little out of the way but if you are around and are looking for something to do it is definitely worth the trip! The level of care and planning for the exhibits made this a great morning trip for us!

Amazing experience. Loved to hear and learn about the museum and its mission. Also did a corn husk doll class and it was amazing!

Wonderfully appointed museum that made me feel right to home. The wonderful people I had the pleasure of speaking with showed us items from Maine that we believe my husbands people were from. The other visitors introduced themselves and suddenly we became friends! I can’t wait to go back. I bought a beautiful hand crafted bracelet.

Usually I don't leave reviews but for this I am leaving a review for a few different reasons: 1.) The museum may be one location but talks and education from researchers here has been done in a variety of locations. I started following the work they do after they came to educate and talk to us at the local colleges. 2.) The museum has a ton of classes and events that are offered.One that sticks out is The Book Club. I know a ton of people who have done it and loved it as well as recommended books they read as a part of this. This is the second Major thing that really got the Tomaquag museum 3.) It’s Important to have spaces to learn history especially the History that those in Power and Authority positions don’t want us to learn. Places like The Tomaquag Museum that tell the truth of a FULL. (Not just White or Settler History.) It’s needed we need the truth even the hard truths so we can do better and hopefully one day have real full history be required in schools. Many of us only learn settler history which unfortunately robs and erases figures ,events,stories,and people from before Colonialism. 4.) Really Glad this resource exists locally. Writing this hopefully to contribute in a small way to it’s continued future. The Important work & Education that is done at the Tomaquag Museum for the New England Area is Underrated and is a brilliant example of what having various viewpoints and records included in History as a whole helps us All learn a more accurate truth. Thankful to the people who work here and make learning more accessible. (Being Developmentally Disabled this is such a huge thing. As I’ve only been able to see it so far from the outreach and education work they do trying to get the word out.) So Thanks Tomaquag Museum for everything you have done and taught so far & in future. 🫂

Great little museum with many items to view. Knowledgeable staff with a quick guided tour. Provides excellent perspective.

A warm welcome by Loren Spears and her staff. Very small but full of photos, artifacts, resources to learn more

It's a very small native American museum with quite a few artifacts. The most interesting part was listening to the native American staff as they gave so many interesting facts. It's may be small but it was very nice. Only open 2 days Wed and Sat.

We had a wonderful visit. Lindsay was incredibly knowledgeable and insightful, providing passionate examples and stories. She answered our questions well. The exhibits were interesting. We thoroughly enjoyed this museum.

Had the luxury of spending part of an afternoon on this property. Learned everything from how crops outside were/are foraged to how different materials outfitted the Narragansett tribe, among others. A truly fascinating experience with indigenous-lead tours. The museum itself is small but mighty as it's packed with rich tribal history. It's a beautiful tribute to the land and it's ancestors. Highly recommended for those interested in learning about a portion of the rich indigenous history in Rhode Island.

The museum has a great display of Native American culture and history. There was also a nice amount of arts and crafts.

I visited the Tomaquag Museum on a rainy day in early April. The drive to the museum takes you through a beautiful forested landscape. The museum is small but full of fascinating artifacts. Wonderful experience.

So happy to have found this wonderful hidden gem Native American museum located in Exeter RI. It is a very small one room space but it is chock full of Narragansett Tribal written history, clothing, tools, everyday cooking and hunting implements as well paintings and decorative items. The man who works there is a veritable font of tribal history, culture, social and Narragansett sacred ceremonial traditions. If you have an interest in New England First Nation history this should be a priority visit.

The museum staff are clearly such good caretakers and curators of the space and the people whose stories are held here. We stopped by on a Saturday and Lynsea gave us a tour of the museum exhibits which was excellent. Lynsea gave an engaging, interactive, and thought provoking tour. Dont judge this museum by its small space- it has so much to offer, especially in terms of Indigenous primary sources and artwork by Narragansett artists telling their own histories and politics- I've never been to another museum like it!

Thank you so much for the tour Lynsea! I went in with little knowledge and came out with a full mind of information, very grateful and have learned so much

I very much enjoyed my visit to the Tomaquag Museum a few weeks ago. Definitely take the tour - the day I was there I was lucky to have Lynsea show me around and walk me through the collection. We had a great discussion and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing about the history of the artifacts and people affiliated with them. I do wish that there were more labels and descriptions on all the artifacts to provide more clarity about why each of them were chosen for exhibit. More clear stories told about these wonderful pieces would make the Tomaquag Museum even more special. Thanks to Lynsea for making my visit great and I look forward to coming again. I highly recommend taking a trip out for a visit!

Make sure you get a "tour" of this museum because it provides interesting context that is sadly missing from the poorly labeled artifacts. Hayley, the indigenous empowerment intern, did a great job.