Marland’s Grand Home adding items from Wildlife Department

Marland’s Grand Home has created a new “American Indian Hide Preparation and Tool Exhibit” for the Patriarchal Native American Room.

This exhibit tells the story of how American Indians of the 1800s processed and prepared hides and other animal parts for daily use.  Wildlife Technician Emily Clark, from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife, donated several handmade relics representing the historic American Indian culture.

Bone needles, knives, thread, bow strings, leathers, furs, and bags were donated by Clark.  Hide scrapers in artifact storage at the site also were added.

“All parts of the animal were utilized; nothing was wasted.  Bones and antlers were turned into tools, hides to leather, and furs to clothing. Organs and other body parts were used to supplement,” said Jayne Detten, Marland Mansion and Marland’s Grand Home Assistant Director.

Samples of deer and buffalo skins were also donated by Clark for a new touch and feel interactive display related to the exhibit.  These furs and skins, along with bone and antlers samples, provide natural items for visitors to examine first hand.

“Interactive displays provide hands-on-learning, as the samples are very tactile and fun to feel,” Detten said. “We are excited about this new activity, because seeing is often the only sense used in a museum setting.”

Marland’s Grand Home has a number of American Indian historic artifacts on display from the late 1800s and early 1900s, representing tribes of the northwest, southwest, and central United States.  Future plans at the Marland’s Grand Home include creating other touch and feel interactive displays. A fabric and beadwork display will be added to the Matriarchal Native American Room in the near future.  Many early 1900s Osage clothing items donated by Lillie Morrell Burkhart will be placed in a related exhibit nearby as well.

Marland’s Grand Home, an historic house museum, is open on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  For more information about Marland’s Grand Home or to schedule a tour, call (580) 767-0427. Additional information can be found at marlandgrandhome.com.