The Museum of the Plains Indian in Blackfeet Country ~ NW Montana ~ Glacier Park

Welcome to Blackfeet Country!

Blackfeet Country Blackfeet Trail Tour Museum of the Plains Indian Rocky Mountain Front Sweet Grass Hills Bison Reserve
About Us Contact Us North American Indian Days Local Links Photos Blackfeet Encounter Lewis & Clark Sitemap

Remember your trip to Blackfeet Country on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana.

Museum of the Plains Indian

Museum of the Plains Indian in Browning Montana The Museum of the Plains Indian, founded in 1941, is administered by the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, an independent Federal agency located in the U.S. Department of the Interior, whose purpose is to promote the development of contemporary Native American arts of the United States.

The Museum of the Plains Indian exhibits the creative achievements of Native American artists and craftspeople of the United States. A permanent exhibit presents the rich diversity of historic arts of the tribal peoples of the Northern Plains, and two special exhibition galleries are devoted to changing presentations promoting the creative works of outstanding talented contemporary Native American artists and craftspeople.

Architectural decorations of the Museum building, all devoted to historic Indian cultural subjects, include two carved wood panels at the entrance by the noted Blackfeet sculptor, John Clarke, and a series of murals in the lobby by Victor Pepion, Blackfeet artist.

During the summer season visitors may also view a monument dedicated to a 1931 sign language conference attended by an intertribal group of experts in Plains Indian hand gesture language.

A permanent exhibition presents the diversity of historic arts created by tribal peoples of the Northern Plains, including the Blackfeet, Crow, Northern Cheyenne, Sioux, Assiniboine, Arapaho, Shoshone, Nez Perce, Flathead, Chippewa, and Cree. Highlighting the historic exhibits is a display of the varied traditional costumes of Northern Plains men, women, and children, presented in complete detail on life-size figures. Other historic displays are devoted to numerous art forms related to the social and ceremonial aspects of the tribal cultures of the region.

The Museum of the Plains Indian, administered by the Indian Arts and Crafts Board of the U.S. Department of the Interior, has an annual calendar of events that are posted regularly. Works of art for sale in the Museum galleries will include oil paintings, watercolors, sculptures, beadwork, and traditional crafts.

For permission to photograph in the galleries, inquire at the information desk, or call (406) 338-2230. Photography is prohibited in the craft shop operated by the Northern Plains Indian Crafts Association. In addition to the Museum of the Plains Indian, the Indian Arts and Crafts Board administers the Sioux Indian Museum in Rapid City, South Dakota, and the Southern Plains Indian Museum in Anadarko, Oklahoma.

Museum of the Plains Indian, Browning

The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990

Museum of the Plains Indian
Junction of US Highway 2 & Montana 89
Browning, Montana USA

Hours
June 1 - Sept. 30 (Summer - Admission charge)
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Oct. 1 - May 30 (Winter - Free admission but closed weekends)
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Craft Shop (same hours)

Phone: 406-338-2230
Open July 4th and Labor Day

The Museum of the Plains Indian is not a part of the National Park system and does not accept Golden Passports.

Join the Friends of the Museum of the Plains Indian, a unit of the Museum of the Plains Indian Artist Association, formed in 2004 to support and preserve Plains Indian culture and heritage through the arts.

We support individual artists and craftspeople by providing support for sales and promotion of their art work. We seek to educate the public about Plains Indian traditional and contemporary art work.

The Association was also formed because of our concern and consideration for the Museum of the Plains Indian, and the Friends help to keep the Museum open to the public.