Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center Reviews

I was so taken aback when I first entered the Pequot Museum. The amount of knowledge I gained about the Mashantucket Tribe was immense- the content- heavy. I laughed and I cried, I left in awe. The Native Village seemed so real, and the viewing tower is an experience in itself- you can see clear across the county! The whole thing is so incredible, well thought and executed- a must see while in SECT. A big thank you to the tribe for telling your story in such an interesting manner. I could visit again and again and learn something new every time! I recommend it to everyone!

Very well done museum. Very educational. This place is best for people wanting to learn about the native Americans. I don't think it is the best spot for young children or non-English speakers. It is a really solid educational experience.

Don't be in a rush when you visit this attraction, take your time and savour all there is too see. Follow the museum in sequence for a chronological adaption (from ice age to now) of the area then prepare to be blown away when you enter the Indian village. Arguably one of the best Museums I have ever been to - if you are interested in this sort of history then do not hesitate to visit.

I love this museum. The exhibits are beautiful, interesting, and educational. The mock village is life size and really life like. The artistic details are impressive. Every leaf, every twig, and rock is so realistic and placed perfectly that you will think that your actually in that setting. The wolves are so life like that you just can't help but want to pet its fur and at the same time your concerned that any minute now the wolf is going to leap on you. That is how real it looks. The outside landscape is gorgeous, peaceful, and super clean. I do wish they made more use of their outside grounds though. Only 3 spots were out there. One displaying the white settlers swords and one very small section displaying some Native American Arrows. They also had an area where they are carving a real canoe, But that was it. Grounds are large enough to have had more displays outside. They really should consider this and take advantage of the spring, summer, fall weather to do so. I would have also liked to seen some real Native Americans out there. The gift shop is super expensive. They really need to look into some Native American arts and crafts at a price everyone can afford. Other than the gift shop being super expensive and the I wish List; this museum is beautiful and worth a visit.

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.

I really enjoyed this stay in the beautiful suite. Foxwoods has so much to offer is not just casino. I love the Tanger outlets, the Scorpion Bar had very good food and drinks. My 3rd time staying in the Fox tower first in the directors suite I loved so clean , quiet and the views just amazing.

This place is amazing! There is so much to see! It's well organized with exhibits in chronological order. Lots and lots of accurate information-almost too much to take in at times. We enjoyed the various videos along the way (which also gave us a chance to sit and rest although there are lots of places to sit if you need to). We thought we would only be there 1-2 hours and ended up staying over 3 because we wanted to take our time and see very thing. The "must see" exhibits are the Pequot Village and Palisaded Fort. When we were there, there was an exhibit on "Our Moon" that was enchanting, but I don't think that's a permanent exhibit. Well worth the price of admission.

This was a family get together, young and old. It was the weekend after Thanksgiving so the area was quite busy. Initially we had decided to take the kids to Mystic Aquarium, but some of them had already been there, so we decided on the Mashantucket Pequot Museum instead and it turned out to be a great choice. This place is amazing!! Everyone in the group was fascinated with the exhibits and information here. They have an entire village replica that is so lifelike that I kept waiting for the figures to start moving and talking. You need at least 3 hours to go completely through all of the exhibits or even longer if you have the time. I will be going back again because I needed more time and the price was only more than fare.

I brought my 17 yr daughter & 4 yr son & both had a great time!! I was truly impressed by the quality, size, accuracy and overall presentation of this museum! I am very frugal but feel like this was a deal! It was educational & super fun!!!
You won't be disappointed!

I have always been interested in the life and ways of Native American from this part of the country. This museum gives great insight on how they lived their lives with excellent exhibits. You actually feel like you are walking through a Pequot Village from many years ago. Just amazing. I highly recommend this visit.

This is a very, very well thought out museum. Set aside plenty of time for this, 3 hours wasn't enough- you could easily spend 5 if you also wanted to eat there. The Pequot village is the best living history exhibit I've ever seen! I'm studying Native Americans with my homeschooled child and this helped him understand daily routines of the Eastern Woodlands tribes more than anything else I've done to explain them to him. These are the most lifelike mannequins I have EVER seen- I felt like I was looking at real people and they were striking. The film Witness was fantastic and helped me and my son better understand the history of the tribe (again more than any reading we've done), The film was extremely well made and worth the 30 minutes. The tower views were amazing and the cafe had some interesting and tasty food choices (we tried the fried Jerusalem artichokes). The gift shop had some great choices including Native American food products which I was glad to see. The Iroquois dried white corn is really tasty, I'm planning to use it for soups and was so happy to see products coming from different tribes so they can get some percentage on the sales. Check this place out, you will not be disappointed!

In the area on vacation, always wanted to see the Pequot Museum. Glad we did.
Rainy day and it worked out just fine, The Village is something to see, it was just
amazing. Very educational, makes you realize how lucky we are. Delightful gift shop,
with educational gifts that you can purchase. We really enjoyed it. When you go, make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to go through the museum, so many things to see, and hear, and touch. Its just amazing. Highly recommended. We shall return.
Also stopped by the casino, for lunch, and some entertainment.

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 ½ 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.

Very well done and an excellent place to visit if you are interested in the life of the Indians. The exhibits are life like and the tour or self tour is excellent. I did get a bit lost and the woman who is an Elder who greeted everyone yelled at me but other than that all was really nice.

Very nice displays and quite educational, for all ages.
Alot of Casino goers, pass up the chance to visit the Museum. They are missing out on a well run Museum and the amazing history of this Nation.

My family and I had a great time. Make sure you read the plaques, especially with the folklore. The village was the best part. There are several mini videos to watch. Beautiful view from the observation tower.

As an educator I found the exhibit fascinating and informative, but possibly not to entertaining for younger kids.

Went on a Wednesday with another couple. The Museum is ver informitive. We spent over two hours touring the museum.

This is a memorable establishment, full of interest for the whole family. As well as fascinating exhibits of historical and cultural value there is a gift shop and restaurants or cafes.

Wonderful exhibits, educational movies, knowledgeable staff and beautiful setting. Well worth the visit.

Being in a wheelchair doesn't always allow me to go many places e s. This museum is done so well and explains everything so that you can understand the history. It is completely wheelchair accessible.

I've been to several Native American museums throughout the Hemisphere and this is one that gives a history of the entire Native groups that lived in the area in what is now known as the United States. Highly recommended and we'll worth the detour if you have are not local.

My family and I have been there twice. In a while ago we went there with my friends, but unfortunately it was closed. Before you go there, make sure if the museum is open. You should also know visiting hours. I guess some day it is closed, too. It is near to Mystic Aquarium, CT, only 2 Exits away. It is also very close to Faxwoods Gasino, MA. Native American waxworks in that museum are amazing. All of figures look like real. Strongly recommended if you like History. I will definitely go there again.

This museum is a gem. A short 5 minute drive from the Foxwood hotel and casino. You literally walk through 18,000 of Eastern Native American experience. The half hour film on the Pequot War, a defining moment for this indigenous people, is a professionally produced moving experience. The cafe food is well prepared and generously portioned. The view from the observation tower is spectacular. The museum building itself is dramatic. So take a day off from the slots at Foxwood and pay this gem a visit.

Spectacular world class museum in Foxwood's backyard. Come, see the movies, walk through the full-size Indian village. Learn the past so the future is never repeated. Make sure to visit the observation tower!

A must visit if you are visiting or staying at Foxwoods Resort or anywhere nearby. We got a $10 discount by showing my hotel room key card. I learned so much about the Pequot natives and the historical educational experience was fascinating.

I was extremely impressed by the quality of the exhibits and depth of knowledge . My grandson is almost 9 and enjoyed it as well. The attention to detail as well as historical breadth should be valued by anyone interested in the Native American experience, or the human experience for that matter. Well worth a visit and the reasonable admission price. Check the hours- one suggestion is that the museum be open more often!

An amazing museum experience for everyone! The adults and children (9 & 7) all loved it. We started with the Mastodon exhibit and worked our way through to view an interesting, short film on native American tools, then walked through the Pequot Village. The "people" are so lifelike in their details! You pick up a phone like device and walk through the village at your own pace, punching in exhibit numbers to listen to the information. The kids loved it, and it was 100% beer than reading a bunch of placards on the wall. I would definitely go back! FYI- many online sources say that there is a restaurant to eat traditional native fare, but it closed in 2020 and they still haven't reopened it, so plan on lunching elsewhere.

This museum was exceptional, particularly for the price. On our visit to Mystic, I almost skipped it because the trains weren't add high as some of the other tourism places. It ended up being our favorite. Best native museum I have ever seen. Three village downstairs is exceptional- you feel like you are really there. The whole thing took us about 5 hours to complete.

I have only been once, however it was amazing and I have been wanting to go back again. With me being part Micmac Indian it was so wonderful to learn a little about my history.

This is a wonderful museum, we took a long tour around. The grounds are beautiful. It is a must see when you visit Foxwoods!

Beautiful museum rich in Pequot Indian history. The museum walks you through the Pequot’s history, way of life and their adaptation to Europeans coming to this continent.

The most impressive part is the exhibit is the life size recreation of how the Pequot’s farmed, hunted and lived. Very beautiful and life like.

There is also a tower you can go up via elevator to get a bird’s eye view of the reservation.

Well worth a visit!!! You can easily spend several hours viewing the entire exhibit.

Was amazed at how large the place was and all the most interesting exhibits to see. It was much more then I ever thought it was going to be. It was well worth the trip.

enjoyed all that the museum had to offer. nice break from gambling. was a special offer included with a stay at the casino. Was great that you could go at your own pace.

this was a very interesting museum. It was much larger than I expected it to be from the outside. It depicts the area from the ice age to the present. It definitely portrays a rather one sided view of the Pequot war but that is to be expected given the ownership of the museum. We spent longer there than I had anticipated. The dioramas if the Peqout village were very interesting if one takes the time to listen to the audio tour. It would have been nice if there had been a live native American village, but it was still a very good take if you are into the history of the area. I would definitely recommend a visit if you are in the area.

Visited the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and was very impressed. The museum is clean and well maintained. All the exhibits are well marked and the trip into the "village" was great. Be sure to take the self-guided audio tour. It is a must if you want to understand what is going on since there are no information cards on the displays. It took us 2 hour to go thru the museum and still didn't see everything. This is a must for anyone who is interested in American Indian history. Great for adults and children.

Most sites were saying you needed two hours here, that would be incorrect. Closer to 3-4 hours to do it justice. The museum itself is mostly made up of recreations on a large scale with a free audio tour guiding through the museum. Also there is a large gathering area, restaurant and observation tower on premises. Might be worth checking their calendar for events at the gathering area. Great for kids.

Be sure to check out the high production film on the Pequot War.

I love, love, love, this museum. It's the largest Native American museum in the world. Literally, even the Smithsonian's Native American branch in the National Mall doesn't have half as much stuff. I've been to both, so that's not from an ad or anything.They had to close for the winter due to financial issues, but they're opening up again in May. I'm not sure if they made other budget cuts, but when I went there, they had events for all ages every month, they have a beautiful life-size replica of a Pequot village with a complementary audio tour, and rooms full of exhibits that trace their history from the Pequots in the ice age to the Pequot tribe today. Most tribes lost their culture when the settlers came, so I highly recommend this museum. I'd be crushed if it closed.

Try visiting the museum during the summer. There are less people and school groups visiting therefore you will have plenty of time and quiet to read and enjoy the visit. The entrance is impressive and the view tower is great. There are new exhibits and plenty of new information.
There is a cafeteria with great choices and a nice open dining room. The gift shop is limited.
After you are done with the museum, you can stay around and visit the casino. Parking is free.

I saw a lot in my visit to the Norwich area. This was by far the highlight of my trip. I actually went 2 days in a row in order to see everything. All displays are life size, so you really feel like you are a part of it. As you begin your journey, you see 2 large dugout canoes filled with life size people. Impressive. Then you go back to the Ice Age and see how the land around us was formed. You continue through time through prehistoric times. You'll see a life size caribou hunt. I was surprised to see that children played a part. You'll also roam through a life size idyllic Pequot Village. Life was good and the Peqout Tribe controlled the money in the area. A hand held device narrates the journey. Then come the Europeans. Life changes. Trading. New alliances. War. Pequots suffer the great loss and survivors are split up. Life once again changes so much. All of this is documented and portrayed. Disturbing. The amazing comeback of this tribe is amazing. This musem is one of the most amazing places I have visited.

I have visited the museum a number of times over the years with the family. My kids loved the life-sized and interactive self guided tours. The historical aspect is extremely important to experience and absorb.

Group tours are available, too, for schools and large parties. The Museum Cafe was nice, but we usually bring a picnic and enjoy the outdoors. After the Museum plan to stop-by the Foxwoods Casino and stroll through the immense Concourse.

We had two hours which was simply not enough. You could easily spend the whole day. This is the largest Native American Museum in the world, set in the beautiful woods of the Pequot Reservation. They had several large rooms of life sized diorama's showing Native American life in different eras, including one whole village. The Pequots have spared no expense. This museum is great for kids of all ages! I can't recommend it enough. You really have to see it to believe it!

Loved the museum. There is so much history. Could spend hours touring. So much to see. Staff super friendly and informative. Well worth admission price.

Very realistic and historically accurate ,wonderful place to visit for young and old. It has listening devices that going to more detail about the scene you are viewing. Would definitely visit again .

You can spend all day looking at the exhibits. You can get individual recordings so you can move at your own pace.

I take my students to the Mashantucket Pequot Museum every fall. It is an amazing experience for all of them. The exhibits are so well done. My favorite is the Pequot Village. It is very realistic in its sights and sounds. Every time I go, I learn something new. The Ice Age is another wonderful exhibit with the caribou hunt. Seeing the mastadon and dire wolves is quite an experience. I highly recommend this museum to anyone over the age of 8!

I have been to Foxwood's numerous times and never bothered to drive past the casino and visit the Pequot museum while in Mashantucket but recently went to the museum as part of a group and realized that I'd been missing out! It's really very good with a lot of interesting exhibits, short films and displays.

There is so much to see and do here, including:

An area with life-size mannequins in displays showing various aspects of daily life for the Mashantucket Pequots which is really well done. There are a lot of great details and it's well maintained.

Short films that you can sit and watch which will tell you about their history, including one about the Pequot War which split the original tribe and another about how the Mashantucket Pequot managed to survive as a nation.

There are artifacts and displays to check out and interactive exhibits to explore.

I had no idea what a gem this museum is and plan to go back when I have more time to explore it fully!

We have been here twice now, 1st chaperoning my son's field trip and now with more time to see the whole museum. The 1st visit made a great impression that made us want to come back. This museum is very good. Lot's of information about the Pequot's is presented. The reproduction village is incredible as are all the life size displays. Lot's of movies are shown giving information on many aspects of history. Even the cafe was excellent. The National Museum of the American Indian in Washington DC should visit here to see how it should be done. This is a must see of you are in the area.

We stopped by this museum a while ago late in the afternoon and at that time the person behind the counter told us we might not have enough time to see the exhibits before the museum closed, so we decided to return another time. Are we glad we waited as we definitely needed more than an hour to see the museum. This place is huge and, while the setup is different, it reminded us of a kiva and the layout overview looks like the head of an animal, though we didn't check this out with anyone. We found it very informative about the Mashantucket Pequot tribal history as well as general education about Native American culture and history. We particularly enjoyed the engaging, audio-directed Indian village experience. You walk around the exhibit and see three dimensional replicas of Native American people engaged in activities such as hunting, gardening, socializing, visiting a medicine man, fishing from a canoe, and building a wigwam. The designers put a tremendous amount of work, thought, and research into the exhibits. Many archeological artifacts are on display, including ancient artifacts unearthed just feet away from where Foxwoods Casino now stands. The accounts of the interactions between the Native Americans and European colonists were interesting and also disturbing. They give a true appreciation for what the Native American people had to endure. There is an outdoor area of an old homestead re-creation that looked interesting but we chose not to visit due to the cold weather. To complete the experience, we wished the restaurant served traditional Native American cuisine. Staff was helpful and friendly, grounds well maintained and integrated with the surrounding natural setting. We highly recommend this to both adults and children.

Such a beautiful site and venue. I was just amazed by all of the sculptures and history. I would definitely recommend this to all age groups.

Even though my daughter and I spend a few days in Mystic together every year, this was the first time we visited this museum, and we will definitely be back! The grounds themselves are stunning, absolutely gorgeous. They do an excellent job of maintaining the outside AND inside. There was not a piece of trash anywhere inside or out that I could see. We were there for about 4 hours, and we visited every exhibit. They have a huge replica of a village, and everything is life-size. As you walk through, you have the option of listening to audio descriptions of each exhibit using a special device. Although the device was easy enough to use, if you have any hearing problems, you will find it difficult to hear exactly what they are saying, as the audio is not very clear, and both mine and my daughter's made loud, crackling sounds. After the first couple of exhibits, I opted to discontinue using mine, and made my way through on my own. One of our favorite spots there is the Observatory; the elevator takes you up 175 feet (about 18 floors), and you walk out in to a small room surrounded by glass; stunning views! There are also two, $.25 binoculars that you can use, which is great, although we found that you get very little time before your quarter runs out; much less time than others I have used. Still, it's worth it to pop in that extra quarter and enjoy the beautiful view! We opted to eat in their cafe, and even though we found it to be a bit pricy, the food was delicious. We both enjoyed salmon burgers with a lemon aioli, and their fried zucchini on the side. Every employee that we encountered there was friendly and helpful, and we learned so much about the Native Americans' early life. We will definitely be back for another visit.

The realistic, lifelike exhibits were incredible! The audio tour very well done! We spent most of the day there, and enjoyed learning much about the local native culture. I would give the museum exhibits an excellent rating and would recommend it to others.
However. be prepared for a surprisingly unwelcoming experience at the admissions desk. It is unfortunate that they have staff stationed there (an older female and a younger male,) who are supposed to make a good "first impression" but they don't greet, smile or seem at all interested in answering your questions. They seemed bothered by visitors or maybe were just "having a bad day." But anyway, they simply took our money and sent us out to wonder. Fortunately, we ran into a young lady (that apparently served on the janitorial staff,) that was very pleasant and helpful, answered our questions, and even provided a map to lead us through exhibits. I would suggest they move her to the check in desk!
All that being said, we would still definitely recommend the museum to anyone visiting the area.

This is one of my favorite museums.

It's set up nicely to encourage one to walk as a journey through time (but go through it however you like). The exhibits and artifacts are very interesting an accompanied by educational information that captures the attention. The recreated village is a marvel! I walked through it many times and kept finding additional details on each tour.

The museum has a nice mix of visually appealing objects, interactive display (like the cabin), movie/sound, and presentations, with indoor and outdoor areas. The spaces feel large and to me have a nice flow as one passes through.

I only spoke with a couple of the employees/volunteers but those I did interact with were engaging and informative.

I even thought the cafeteria's food was above average, with fair prices.

I've been a couple times and did not find it crowded. This made the viewings comfortable but also was a sad experience because a museum as powerful and effective as this one ought to be widely known and enjoyed. It has a lot of important information to share.

We are not big on museums. That said we spent over 4 hours visiting the museum itself, that does not include the time we spent in the café, gift shop or going up in the observation tower. There is plenty of the typical displays with information describing the artifact or providing historical information. There is a large diorama depicting an elk hunt that is very well done. For us the highlight is a the Indian village. This is almost as well done as something done by Disney. Upon entering the village you receive an audio device, when you get to one of about 25 designated spots you enter a number on the device and it plays some information on what is before you. If you desire even more info you can enter an additional number. We had that the café had a new menu that was based on native American doorways, I had venison stew, to me it didn't taste of venison and appeared to have sat in the steam table too long. The gift shop was a major disappointment, shelves were half empty, sections were totally empty and the book selection was a disgrace. After visiting the museum I was interested in picking up a book or two for additional education but the books selection was so limited and poorly displayed that I didn't even bother. All the same the museum is worth a special trip, it is not just something to do when you go to the casino.

This was my first time at this museum and I was blown away that something like this exist way out in the middle of nowhere. It is huge! The exhibits are very informative about the history of the Pequot tribe. I really feel like I learned a lot while here. My favorite part, however was the village exhibit. The artistry and talent that went into making it what it is really deserves a lot more attention.

This museum is extremely interesting and well planned out. The history of the native Americans indigenous to the area is fascinating and well told through two short films and exhibits. But the biggest surprise came when we saw the nearly football sized lifelike village portraying their daily life. It was amazing. Initially none of the three others in our group wanted to visit this museum. In the end, we all loved it and spent nearly two hours here. Go!

Drove over an hour with a toddler to get to the museum only to find out that they were closed when they should have been open. No signs on the doors, no message when you call them. We called Foxwoods main number and the woman we talked to was very unfriendly and couldn’t understand why they were closed herself. She put us on hold and talked to someone else and came back and said they decided an hour before they were not opening but wouldn’t give us any information nor a discount for a later visit. She just said thank you for visiting Foxwoods and hung up on us. Very unprofessional all around. Will not return.

My friend suggested this museum on our day off, I'd not heard about it but I'm always up for a museum.

I love learning about history, shame I didn't at school but hey ho better late than never.

It's a very nice building with a huge atrium, very impressive, there is also a little exhibit in the atrium of some native Indians in a hand carved kayak.

It flows nicely throughout with lots of interactive stuff & interesting artifacts. The little village with the audio tour is fab, my 2 friends didn't bother with the audio but I would definitely recommend it.

The restaurant & gift shop are also fab, I had the corn chowder soup with fried butternut squash bread & it was out of this world Mmmm.

My 4 yr old really enjoyed the dioramas here, mainly the caribou hunt and village life scene. The wolves, giant beaver and mastodon was also appreciated. The museum has a lot to see, but those are the big highlights for the pre-school set. They also have an observation tower that was kind of fun for a pre-schooler but I don't know why they bothered with it, as it just overlooks some scrubby CT countryside of no note. I have to take a star off b/c the admission price for an adult was $20 (hey, maybe skip the useless observation tower and charge less for admission), there was no bathroom on the first floor where you enter (major design flaw) and the dining facilities were closed when we visited. Instead we popped over to the Foxwoods Casino for a bite. The Casino facility itself is dated and worn, and unfortunately has the sad and depressed air of a lot of these type of casinos. I didn't want to take my small children there but there weren't many other options close by.

My husband and I spent 2 nights at the end of May at Foxwoods. We enjoyed Foxwoods but the real gem was the museum. Beside the wonderful exhibits and videos of the ways of Pequots, there is a re-creation of a village with life-like models of the Native Americans involved in their everyday activities. This is a massive village that seems to cover about an acre of area. The model people are so real, they seem to be watching you! We spent 2 hours at the museum and could have spent more if we hadn't needed lunch. Don't miss it!

You might never think that going to a museum would be the highlight of visiting a casino, but that would be because you have never visited this museum. Actually, there is no reason that one has to go to the casino to see the museum. If you are along the Connecticut shore and want to take the kids (or yourself) somewhere for a few hours, this would be the place. A very informative audiotour is the centerpiece of the museum experience, but don't miss the videos as well. We spent much more time here than we had planned to, but no one noticed the time.

everyone should go there now! it is great place to learn about the Pequot people! you get to see the village, how they make weapons, what they wore, what they ate and SO much more!

We closed the place at 5:15, having arrived just before noon. In that amount of time, with a break for lunch on the cafeteria, we did not yet watch the main 1/2 hour movie or climb the Lookout Tower. There is additional info available to listen to via the handheld in the Village which we did not complete. The Special Exhibit on Bison was informative, but it will be gone by the time we go again, and we have interest in future Special Exhibits as well. So we will return. Might even checkout Foxwoods! But that really isn't our thing.
While the building is attractive and dramatic, the location of elevators and restrooms was inconvenient. We are hikers but did not want to spend as much time on navigating the basic guest facilities; while I appreciate the no frills approach to the decor and the menu, it could use some tweaking. Cafeteria is open til 4, but at 2:30 there was no one to be found for quite a few minutes, and then it still took some time, and precious viewing time was lost. They do encourage school children bringing their own brown bag into a separate dining area, which is great, so perhaps we should do that next time.

Attending a conference as an accompanying guest is often unexciting unless there are diversions in place.
The Foxwood Casino Resort is not inclined to assist any guests as they have little or no competition in the way of accommodation or interesting places to visit. The staff generally have no idea of what if any attractions are available or any transport options or indeed any of the usual services offered by a concierge - even collection or delivery of laundry. The attitude is if you want to have laundry done bring it down yourself! No such thing as service to the guests.
On the other hand the Pequot museum is an impressive building containing very interesting history of the local indigenous people. The staff are welcoming and knowledgeable and the exhibits are well described and displayed. The resort is in the middle of the reserve - very isolated and unimpressive unless you want to do nothing but gamble and smoke cigarettes!

Wonderful museum for everyone! We were a group of seniors, young adult and young children and we all thought this was one of the best museums we have ever toured. Very high quality. Highly recommend.

well designed museum with realistic sets depicting Life of ancient Indians.Various aspects of their life are well depicted, with realistic setups. it shows evolution spread over 8000 years. You get a real glimpse of ancient American history.

Plan to spend a full day to do this place justice. There is a wealth of information presented in a variety of ways. Along the route there are four mini-theaters, each with a different theme: creation myths, making stone tools and bowls, making wampum, and the Pequot War. Each one is informative while providing a chance to sit for a while. There are interactive touch screens at several of the exhibits. Two outstanding exhibits are the caribou hunt and the native village. Each one is a life-size diorama with realistic figures and amazing attention to detail. The hunt is viewed from a 360 degree walkway, while you can meander through the village and peer into the huts.

Now for the negative. The building is huge and the layout is confusing. There is a LOT of walking. Except for the person taking our ticket and the woman at the entry to the village, there were no docents to answer questions about the exhibits or to help you find your way. Rest rooms are few and far between. They could do a lot more with their gift shop. There were a few quality pieces, but it was mostly devoted to t-shirts, bumper stickers and craft supplies. If you simply want an inexpensive reminder of your visit, you'll be satisfied. Our biggest disappointment was with the restaurant. The selection was limited and, while our food tasted okay, it was overpriced. We had three cheeseburger specials, three orders of fries and three cokes and it cost us $51.00 for lunch.

Despite the negatives, this place is well worth a visit.

I've visited the museum last year with my mom. We were so impressed that we took my nephews who are 12 and 14 with my brother. In order to properly see entire museum you really do need 2 days. The kids loved it ! There's a restaurant with great views. You must have the fish tacos. The taco shells are made to order and well as the fish, you won't want to share is tasty dish.
The price for my mom was $15, kids 6-17 $12, adults $20, kids under 6 free.
We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn, its about a mile away. Don't stay in the casinos they're very expensive.

Life like, intriguing and informational, kids loved it, they learned alot. Comfortable atmosphere for a museum

Took a free shuttle
Bus from Foxwoods hotel to visit this museum.
Not only was it large, full of information, but was beautifully curated. It was so unexpected and a real treasure.

Takes a bit of navigating to get there. Once you arrive the building is very impressive and imposing. Problems start almost immediately with a not so friendly ticket selling staff. Its a challenge to figure out where you are and what order you should see things in. The staff is almost non-existent in the rest of the building, except for security. Finding someone to ask a question is a challenge. The space inside is amazing. Issue here is that its almost too much of a good thing. Lots of walking between some of the exhibits. Some of the buttons you push for information don't work so you lose what the setting is about. The 30 minute movie is worth seeing if for no other reason than to help you understand to poor treatment native americans have received at the hands...and firearms..and diseases.. from the europeans.
Best exhibit is the Pequot village. In fact its a must see.
Tower, well save your time for better things. You go up, look around, see trees and leave. There is no explanation of what you are looking at or its significance.
This would only be a three star stop but for the village. They have a ways to go to make this a must see stop on any vacation.

Wow! What a gem of a visit. When you walk in, it is so vast! But when you start to explore the exhibits, you understand the size of it all! The details in the exhibits are so detailed, and the indigenous statues look lifelike. The museum is rich in history, the automated talking tour was enlightening. This is a hidden gem in the woods. A must visit!

My son was studying the Pequot War, so we thought it would be great to visit this museum. I have to say it is quite impressive with the many exhibits, short films, archaeological finds, information displays, etc. There is also an area that you can go outside and hike a short trail to get a glimpse of native life. One large exhibit area, you can walk through and see life-size natives reconstructed doing their everyday chores, from fishing to hunting to one being tended to by a healer. Unfortunately, the lookout tower was closed. Was looking forward to checking out the view!

Average Rating Due To Service Desk - Great Museum -Staff Needs a Refresher
We did try to visit the first time 1hr before closing. At the front desk we were (1 adult , 2 kids) greeted by..."sorry we just shut down our system so we cannot take payments..". ok..so I figured she would let us walk around as a freebie or start up the system... instead "you will have to come back another day..." ok? Do I live next door and want to come all the way back? I explained this and we were visiting from far away (Europe) and she said "sorry.." and walked away. As she walked away...we were told we could enjoy the tower (elevator) and shop. We did but left us with a bad taste in our mouth. Tip- either fire up the system or let the client in for free. I know the Casinos are struggling... well every dollar counts.

Educational
All ages able to enjoy this experience I would recommend this museum a must see when in the area

My husband and I spent 3 of the best hours today in total awe of the museum dedicated to our indigenous people. What a tribute to the pequot tribe which they certainly deserved. The displays were beautiful and lifelike. The film was educational.the only downside was we didn’t allow enough time as we could have spent longer!
Another plus was the helpful staff and delicious lunch in the cafe!!
We will definitely return for another visit!

Although the flow of the galleries can be confusing for the first time visitor, many of them offer beautifully displayed artifacts and explanatory panels and even life-size 3D exhibits recreating their living conditions. There are also videos and also an audio device enabling visitors to key in codes for spiels offering additional content on the key exhibits. Many of the staff are tribe members and it was fun to chat with them. the food service was amateurish in the cafeteria however, slow in coming.The gift shop closes at 5pm sharp when the museum closes. Best to plan on at least 3 hours to see the exhibits, to eat and to go up the observation tower atop the museum. The great entrance hall is stunningly beautiful because it showcases the surrounding forest. It also has 2 life-size canoes each with half a dozen or so Indians paddling.

We really didn't know what to expect of this museum. The website certainly does not do it justice, although the TripAdvisor reviews gave us a better idea.
We did have a great afternoon at the museum and really felt that we learned a lot. The history of the Pequot tribe is carefully and well laid out for the museum visitor and an excellent story is told. The museum building itself is truly awesome, its huge! We thought the museum suffered a little bit from this though. Because the building is so cavernous, it made the experience rather impersonal and although clearly a lot of effort has been put into marks and additional signage the layout for the museum is rather odd and not at all intuitive. There are NO staff around the place to highlight interesting exhibits or facts which is a great shame and despite there being a member of staff close to the entrance of the Pequot village, we still almost missed it because of the curious layout of the building.
All that said, the Pequot village is amazing, a truly immersive experience and we thoroughly enjoyed the village and rooms containing exhibits associated with the village and explaining certain aspects in more detail.
There was nothing to induce us to try the café. Nothing was said about it when we bought our tickets and there was noting anywhere to tell us that it was anything different or special. We have subsequently learned that it serves native style food. We did visit the gift shop which again was absolutely vast...too big it seems as half of it was empty. The observation tower could very easily be missed. Its certainly worth going up, but something up there to tell visitors what they are looking back would have made it better.

Overall though, we would recommend this museum to those with any interest in the history of America's Native Americans. This museum has obviously made a huge investment to tell its story which is a tremendous one. It provides a very well done and solid learning experience.

We took a day trip during spring break. We tried to get here on Election Day but they have limited hours. This was my third visit. I visited it upon opening in '99 and again about five years ago. My oldest grandson asked to go back again which surprised me but seeing that we could learn something more about the history, I was glad to oblige. His ten year old sister was dragging her heels not wanting to go but starting a unit in school about Indian reservations was enough to convince her that this would really help with her studies. Eureka, she was thrilled with the museum. It is not for toddlers - not enough for little minds. Perfect for school age kids. Three hours is the minimum time to visit, but that isn't enough time to do it properly.
Bonus: Today there was a presentation with birds of prey, Wingmasters featured two wildlife rehabilitators who brought six birds to display and discuss.
I must say there are few things that troubled me. They have very limited hours, Wednesday thru Saturday 9-5. The admission is outrageous, go to Groupon and save 50%. Some of the displays are getting a bit dusty in the village area especially. There are no ushers or attendants available. If you are lost or have lost a child, take a fall or need help good luck getting assistance...there is one lady stamping hands, one guard and one cleaning lady. I saw no telephones and poor markings. Put your walking shoes on, ramps are very, very long, escalators and elevators are not easy to find and rest rooms are like playing hide & seek. This is the architect's vision, certainly not good for the over 50 crowd.
Lunch at Pequot Cafe was good, not too badly priced and the food was good. It is cafeteria style, not too many choices but certainly enough for lunch. I am taking away one star for it's shortcomings--for the money made at the casino, this place shouldn't be on the short end of the receiving.

This impressive museum is one of the largest in the world that tells you the beginning of Native American journey till the present time. Personally, I find the Pequot Museum the most fascinating museum in the world. I could definitely recommend visiting it since it is not only a place where you can go sightseeing, but it is also one of the most famous centers of research in the world. It was my second time there and this time I took my mom who was very impressed. Its definitely a must see!

first let me tell you that everything is all in the museum, there is no recreated indiam village with people dressed up as indians, the way you have it in some colonial museum villages. There is an indian village create in the museum but its all wax objects, still huge fun to walk through the village and see the various activities in the village. There was a lot of history, the museum is actually in an indian reservation

Second time to the museum - first time was about 10 years ago! It is a spectacular museum, with more to see than time allows! The replica village is amazing! We spent a great deal of time in this area! I would highly recommend taking by the time to visit this museum!

This is a must stop if you like Museums. Make sure you have enough time when you visit, there is a lot to see.

Took my grandkids here recently for the special 'bug' exhibit. Our first time. This place is amazing. If you like history and first class exhibits this is a ''don't miss" destination....highly recommended.

We had a free day to fill while visiting our daughter at Uconn and decided to check out this museum. So glad we did. It has so much to offer that you have to pick and choose. Almost wish I had skipped the ice age because there were so many exhibits and films that had to miss a couple of the films but the films we did see were very informative and well done. Loved the life size village. It's wonderful that it had a delicious cafeteria for lunch that just adds to the overall feeling.

Awesome Museum..prepare to be blown away! The figures are so real. The village is absolutely great. Very educational, movies included, 3 floors of exhibits, food on 4th and an observational tower that goes higher than the falcons fly. Staff is so nice and museum is very clean. Native Americans have so much tradition and had a unique way to live. This is one museum everyone should make absolutely sure they visit, you won't be disappointed.

Excellent interactive exhibits with life size 3D dioramas and artifacts about the Pequot people on the past and continuing through today. The life size village is simply incredible.

My husband and I visited this museum after seeing the images in a tourist attraction map. The entire facility is top-notch. The building is modern and well laid out, the displays and audio tours are fantastic. Definitely see the 45 minute movie which gives an overview and history of the Pequot tribe. Don't miss taking the ride up to the top of the Tower before you leave. Well worth it?

I love the Mashantucket Pequot Museum. I find the history of the Pequot Nation truly amazing. This place is a great teaching tool for all ages. And the food is also amazing.

Large museum with a great audio guide of the diorama of village life (ALL the faces on the models are of real people in the tribe). Good diorama of "the hunt" too, with helpful video stations giving more information as one walks around the diorama. A helpful insight into life and ingenuity of the people, their skills and culture and how they lived from just after the Ice Age to just before the European settlers arrived. The misunderstandings that led to the Pequot Wars, and the near genocide of the tribe, should not be lost on us, but sadly we all fail to learn from history. Interesting to learn that the Pequot realised that challenging land injustices through using the European legal system worked well. And because the reservation is not under federal control they can open casinos - so centuries after being "forced into reservations" and losing their traditional lands, they have reaped the rewards as the casino profits help fund the museum and research centre. The museum is spread over 3 floors and can be a little confusing - one can easily get disorientated/lost. A whole day visit is needed and, even then, we did not cover everything.

I am Pequot by heritage, although not a member of the tribe. I enjoyed seeing the exhibits, and the audio tour was awesome. It was hot and humid, so we stayed inside, not taking the trail. Definitely worth the trip!

A well designed and admirable tribute to the Pequot people. It captures the lifestyle, history, and culture of the indigenous tribes in a way that is both tasteful and accurate. Even if you’re not super interested in the history, it’s and interesting place to visit visually.

This Museum and research center is housed in a beautiful modern building with an observation tower attached to it.
It gives a great overview of Native American life in the Connecticut River area.
Taken from the point of view of Native Americans, it tells the story from the early Ice age thru to modern times. Realistic exhibits of natural artifacts and true to life figures and environments expertly handcrafted by Native American artisans paints an amazing picture of the rich culture and traditions these people still pass on from their ancestors.
Located on a beautiful piece of tribal land seen from the tower, there are walking trails dotted with
art, sculptures and natural beauty. It will take at least a day to appreciate it but 1 1/2 hr tours are given for a great overview whic will leave you wanting to come back and explore.

This museum is really amazing. They have created entire villages with life like Native Indians in almost realistic settings. You can actually walk through a village and also learn about their history. I highly recommend it.

This is a "can't miss" destination if you are travelling in the New London or Mystic area of Connecticut. The architecture of the building itself is exceptional and the grounds around it are beautiful and peaceful. The displays are impressive and the interiors of the building set them off perfectly. The history and learning you gain are priceless and the staff working at the desk are very friendly and welcoming.

This was my main destination in southeastern Connecticut. A pleasant drive from Mystic, I got there early and stayed all day.

This has to be one of the finest Native American museums in the nation! It gives the history of the Pequot tribe from the Native American perspective, and contrary to the reports of the white European invaders (of which I am a descendant), the tribe was not rendered extinct by the Pequot War.

The "village" area has tons of stops where you can see life-sized figures engaged in dozens of typical activities of the day (early 1600s). There is an excellent audio program which guides you from numbered stop to numbered stop to explain exactly what you are seeing.

There are also various video presentations which are honest and informative.

One simply fantastically well done museum. A MUST for any history buff.

I would like to say i was not disappointed. I have enjoyed the museum throughly. I was not able to see everything in one day. I will be going back to see the rest. There is so much information to look at and read. Kids were completely entertained. Definitely must see, for the look back and the land to today's use of the land.

Went to this location and it was interesting. The history of the tribe is mind blowing. It gives you a true view of their past and future.

We have visited this museum several times and find it wonderful. It looks like no expense was spared to create such good exhibits and presentations. There is something for all ages to see and experience. We actually saw a great Indian pow wow dance being held with great drumming and native dancers.
Highly recommend.

great place to learn about native American history and culture, in a beautiful $200,000,000 complex. great cafeteria with native dishes as well

I really enjoyed this museum,I just wish the observatory was open.They also have a great gift shop!!

This museum was spectacular. Extremely well done. Much history, great exhibits and the village was a true highlight of our time here. The recorded tour for the village allowed you to go at your own pace and was well narrated. Perfect for any age group. Beautiful gift shop and nice cafe. Outiside area also very nice. Would consider renting the great hall for function or wedding. Will return again.

Loved the museum. The movies were really moving.
Would visit again. Very moving experience. You may need some
tissues.
Out in the back area was a reinactment.
They were awesome

As a cultural experience this was worth the effort. However, the attraction is so big that its a bit overwhelming and does start to repeat itself.

So well done except one gory one sided biased movie.
Diorama of animals and a whole lower floor life size diorama of an Indian village. But closes all winter when you most need activities during the day at Foxwoods.

This is a fantastic museum and takes a full day to do it justice . Very well researched and organised with lots of useful background information. Gives a different perspective to how you think about the whole area of New England and how badly the Pequot people were treated over many periods of history. The story of Wampum was especially interesting and the village is wonderful.

Wonderful family friendly museum to learn the history of native people of the area. You'll also hear about the treatment they received from the English and other native tribes. Spent several hours with family exploring and having fun. Can be expensive, so check for discounts on line and or use a local library pass to save. NOT worth full regular price, but certainly worth a discounted one. ALL in ALL a A+ day full of educational opportunity!

Visited March 2014

This museum gives a great history. There is a lot of Native art to appreciate and to help understand their history. There are also oral histories given. Then there is a part of the museum that shows tool of the unit and the animals which would be hunted. There is a life size village for children to explore as well as life size models of how housing would have changed for native people over the centuries. It is education and interactive. There are different aspects of the museum to appeal to the interests of everybody in a family.

Well done exhibits in a beautiful building. We spent too much time in the prehistoric area and village recreation so did not have enough time to learn about the contemporary tribe. We lost a lot of time going to the casino to find lunch as the museum cafeteria is closed, even there many places were not open on a weekday.

WOW!
Mid October day trip to Mystic specifically for this museum.
The building is impressive, situated on wooded acres north of Mystic, CT and south of Foxwoods Resorts.
The staff, Ms. Foster, children’s coordinator inside entrance and Bri, front desk manager, was engaging and informative.
So, after her direction to start the self tour, we were off and in a few steps, another young man, security personnel, instructed us to take the steps and go to lowest level first for the interactive village. So detailed and interesting.
After three hours, reading and studying the displays, we took the elevator to the overlook and then exited the facility.

There some outstanding exhibits within the Pequot Museum’s eye-catching building. And the food in their caf

This is so much better than I had expected. It is very big and you can spend hours here! They had some live exhibits with people and native americans making items as they did in the past. The regular exhibits are a wealth of history and information. Its great for kids.

After some initial confusion as to where to park or where the main entrance is due to a lack of signs we were impressed by this well presented museum. We had to leave after 3 hours to make a ferry back to NY so leave yourself time to enjoy this museum. You could spend much of the day here and not be bored because there are some great exhibits and life size figures and animal displays including a whole village you can walk through with a given audio guide to use. This recreated village is a must see There are also some short movies and an observation tower. The only thing they need are more staff to offer direction.

Fantastic museum with a unique message which everyone should see and hear. Went with a couple of friends on a Wednesday. Museum exhibits are beautiful, plentiful and life like. Especially enjoyed village where a complimentary audio tour was available to completely explain each section of the village. When you go. check times for movies as they are not shown every hour and try to make at least one. Museum needed a little refreshening as some areas seemed dated and worn. But do not let that deter you from a most unique explanation and importance of this indian tribe in the development of the US!

This trip was great. We had our children 5,9 and 15 with us. It wasn't over priced and we had a coupon which made it even cheaper. The museum was appealing to everyone. Also the hiking trails were fantastic!! This took up almost our entire day because we took advantage of the trails also. If we hadn't of done the trails. You could cover the museum in 2-4hrs.

This museum is LARGE and has extremely interesting (if sometimes disjointed) exhibits.
It is a research affiliate of the Smithsonian.
Entrance fee tops at $20, but there are discounts for seniors, etc. It is a good value...it could easily take a 10-hour day to read all the exhibit descriptions and appreciate the many artifacts. The several movies are very informative.
The Pequots of colonial times were known to be war-like toward other tribes and the English settlers.
The Mohegans, whose casino is a few minutes from the Pequot's Foxwoods Casino and judging from the depiction of the Mohegans by the Pequots, the two tribes seem to still be enemies.
The museum is, for the most part, handicap accessible, athough the door to the restroom is too narrow for a wheelchair. And, speaking of wheelchairs, they can be rented. But given the layout of the building, pushing one aŕound would be a daunting chore. Having electric scooters would make more sense.
Most employees were helpful anf friendly, save the ticket taker/hand stamper, who was somewhat bossy and rude.
If you are a true museun fanatic, you should probably visit over the course of 2 or 3 separate visits to enjoy the total experience.

World class museum..very underutilized. The mashentucket Pequot tribes history is an integral part of the development of the region, but the museum has so much more than that to offer. One of my favorite displays is the little slice of woodland that you think nothing of until you hit the buttons to show what bark or plant is medicinal etc. The full scale Indian village is the show stopper.

This is perhaps the best Native American museum in America. I have visited similar museums in Washington D.C. and Oklahoma. The Mashantucket Pequot Native American Museum is a must see attraction in the Mystic area. Excellent historical displays presented with interest for children and adults. Don't miss the 185 foot observation tower. Fabulous view of the surrounding area.

Exhibits and way of telling history keeps your attention and interest the entire time. The tower has the most breathtaking views of the Pequot Reservation.

Visited the Museum last week with my daughter and two grandkids. The experience was informative and very moving. We enjoyed everything but special mention goes to the recreated village that you can walk through and individually hold a telephone-like unit to your ear that explains what is going on in the scene, as much or as little as you want to hear. Well done, as was the movie that portrayed the complicated war between the Pequots and the English.
Also a beautifully designed building and grounds. There is an observation tower attached which offered a stunning view.

More to see than we expected, loved the recreated village and the audio tour. Make sure you go up in the observation tower.there is a nature trail you can walk from the resort to the museum, a very easy hike.

This place is huge. You could easily spend 2 - 3 hours here or more as lots of exhibits plus interactive bits as well. Loved the model bits where you guide yourself through with a telephone. You can listen to what you want to and move through at your own pace. Lots for children as well. Cafe food was reasonable and prices fairly good too.

We loved reading the history of the Mashantucket Indians. There were a lot of exhibits to see. Definately a place to visit.

Wonderful museum. Huge, lovely, informative and vastly underutilized. I doubt there will ever be enough people to make proper use of this over designed and over built and over expensive facility. Someone had an expansive vision. Hope the Pequot can afford to keep it going.

We though that we would spend an hour at the museum. We were wrong. We were there over 3 hours and could have stayed longer. It was informative, educational and fun. There was a village complete with wax figures, various well done movies and a lot of information. They also have an elevator that takes you to a elevated observation tower that provides breathtaking views of the area. A nice snack bar provided lunch for a nominal fee. Well worth the admission price.

This museum is by far the best I have ever seen. The story of early America is extremely interesting a must see

I loved the museum but had a hard time finding my way around. I went on a Thursday and not may people there but not a lot of staff for sure. The staff I saw were with school groups. I spent too much time trying to get to where I wanted to go instead of enjoying the museum. The map they gave was good but not enough signs to let you know where you were.

Not to be missed! This museum is incredibly interesting, informative, fun, and comfortable. Many areas are under construction, but you can walk through and see most everything. Life-size dioramas are fantastic. The people and animals look quite real! The museum takes you through the tribe's history, different eras, different seasons. It is modern and easy to get around. The high tech exhibits are great, and the short films are fascinating. You will learn so much, but you will also enjoy the "hands on" of some of the exhibits. Please don't miss out on this experience. You will definitely need at least 2 hours, probably more to see and do everything. So happy we spent the afternoon there. There is a self guided area outside, as well. Since it was very cold we did not go out there, but would try to on another visit.

Very well done exhibits. We have had a membership to this museum for several years. We bring our grandchildren and our visitors there. It's very much worth multiple visits.

Some museums can be boring, over rated, or low quality but this one is special. I spent hours here learning the sad but fascinating Pequot story. The exhibits are first class and very well done. Make sure you watch all the films and go to the top of the observation tower. Someone spent millions of dollars on this place and it was well worth it.

Museum was closed but the trail was even better!!! It’s a great hike for all ages with special caution. If you’re scared of heights just don’t get too close to the edge. Some spots are rocky and have to Go off the path to see some of the best views. Definitely worth it!

Definitely worth a visit. Very interesting. Can see in a couple of hours but really need a good 1/2 day to visit. Very nicely done museum of high quality and substance. Great for all ages! Highly recommend if you are in this area.

This stunning, informative museum traces the history of Native American peoples in New England. There's an incredibly realistic, life-sized recreation of a Pequot village, as well as an observation tower to look over the surrounding lands and gorgeous artwork. The histories exhibits trace back to the Ice Ages and is also incredibly well-researched. This entire museum is amazing, and I learn something new every time I come here.

Very disappointed. Not worth the money.
Should have been free or less than 10.00. Probably the most disappointing museum we've been to. Advertised that it had a children's area/library and it's been closed for a long time. We were in and out in a half hour and 80.00 or so poorer

This museum is much more than a collection of artifacts or art - it is a trip back in time that tells the rich history of a people who are still here - alive and well - and the museum shows you why.

This museum is amazing. You will find yourself spending hours there without even realizing it. The tower is a worthwhile trip up - the view is breathtaking. This museum is set up so that you go from room to room in chronological order. It is well done on every level. Truly worth more than the price of admission. The wax figures in the beginning are SO realistic, you almost sense they come alive at night, like Night in the Museum! lol

This museum is both beautiful and contains a lot of very great information. Ranging from the ice age through modern times, this museum gives a lot of insight into the lives and lifestyles of the Pequot Native Americans as well as information on the natural history of the area. There are many high-tech displays explaining their tools, food, medicine and art as well as dioramas. In particular, there is a Pequot village with an audio tour, dioramas of hunting, and dioramas of ice age life.

Not to be missed are the Pequot War movie, the Pequot village, the absolutely beautiful Ice Age section, and the exhibit about the Pequots today. Also be sure to visit the restaurant, with many unique Native American dishes. My family had the succotash, the bison burger, and the venison burger.

This is a very large museum and will take an entire day. Most of the employees are Pequots themselves and willing to share stories. The only disappointment was that the observation tower was closed when we were there. Overall, excellent visit.

We could not believe the size of the museum! We arrived about 2 hours before closing, and definitely could have spent a lot more time here! There is so much to see here, and a beautiful job was done creating the displays. One word of caution regarding the hotel shuttle- the sign in front of the building states where to wait for the "continuous loop" shuttle. We found out the hard way that it doesn't go to the museum without a call from someone at the front desk (after waiting for 20 minutes).

Nice museum lots to see, covers all aspects using a multitude of methods to keep everyone engaged.
The building is stunning architecturally, however it does give a little bit of a confusing layout.
The viewing tower is a must.
General engagement by the staff is a bit lackin.
The potentially delicious meal at the cafe was expensive, tool an age to arrive and was nearly inedible - bison burger burnt and grey succotash with seemingly canned corn.

as soon as we walked in the door we felt comfortable.. the exhibits were so life like ... the price was good... the employees all were very knowledgeable... we were able to see how they control a fire burn out a piece of wood to make a 10 person canoe.. the movie that was shown, was very emotional to realize how bad the native americans were treated many years ago....we are so glad we took the time to see the past

Our daughter moved from the Southwest to Connecticut (her hubby has a great job there). When we visit them we get to visit the northeastern area of America which we truly enjoy. This trip we took off to do some exploring and found the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center. We have done a lot of exploring of Indian ruins here in the west and southwest (some of which very few people have found) so we were pleased to find it. The Museum itself is very well done and the displays are interesting and educational. There are three levels: Level One has two theaters, a palisaded fort and a Pequot Village--all interesting and well done. There is also a cafeteria so we decided to have lunch there. The food was good, however, the young man who waited on us was boardline rude! He could have cared less, in fact, we left the museum with a negative feeling. Our recommendation is enjoy the great exhibits but skip the cafeteria!!!!!

A great museum, you can discover the Pequot culture and the challenges that they has to live with . The exhibit are impressive, and very real, you feel like than any moment the figures are going to say "hi" . To enjoy the whole museum, you have to dedicate about 5 hours. Great place I will be back,

Visited just with my husband, but great experience for all ages. Very informative and well setup. Went Ina Friday - not crowded - mostly school children - we enjoyed it!

We really enjoyed the museum---beautifully done---and learning about the tribe's history. Appreciated the senior discount, discount for Foxwoods room card, and free trolley to the facility---$10 off each admission. The museum is very user friendly, audio tour recorder free. Self guided but give yourself lots of time---much to see!

This is an enormous museum that is absolutely fascinating. I left having learned a great deal. Good for all ages.

So much to see in this museum. It was wonderfully displayed and brought the native Mashantucket Pequot way of life back to life.The most impressive section has to be the village scene. Don’t miss out on the observation tower with its spectacular views over the Pequot reserve.

I found the village and audio tour excellent, mannequins are very life like. Museum is informative, very spacious and laid out in a logical order.

Disappointed by the shop, did not feel compelled to buy anything, and many shelves were empty.

Disappointed by the observation tower, not much to see, no plan up there that pointed anything out, like so many other attractions/viewpoints do. Only the Foxwoods casino complex to see up there.

Food was very good in the canteen which was nice and clean.

There is so much to see and do. Be sure to check online for the days and times they are open. The Pequot Cafe serves delicious food and includes some traditional Native-American dishes. If you can make it to the summer encampment it is definitely worth the trip. Native crafts, teepees, weapons, traditional dress, etc. Just a terrific opportunity to see our ancestors.

On our last day in Mystic we were looking for something to do. We saw this and took the 20 minute drive. We arrived at 12:00 and there were only a few people there. I will say the tickets are very pricey. We saved $2 by showing our Mystic multi pass we had used for the the aquarium and village. $56 for a family of four was sort of expensive, however the exhibits are amazing. So much wonderful history, artwork, dioramas, etc. There is a lot to read so you want to take your time.
The best part was the "living village" . They give you a recorder so you can press the number of the scene and you can learn about the history. The one thing that was disappointing was from the website we thought it was a living museum where people were dressed in costumes like in Williamsburg but there was none. We asked and they said sometimes on the field they'll have things going on. Wasn't sure about the gift shop, walked in to a horrible smell of rotten eggs, and walked right out. Also, ac was broken in the tower ruining the view as it was at least 100 degrees up there.
Overall a great visit and way to spend some time and learn a little more about the fascinating culture of the Pequot indians.

Growing up, my mom took us kids to a lot of museums, which is probably the reason for my love of history. I was expecting this museum to be similar to most others with exhibits behind glass, lots of text to read and, while informative, generally nothing to shout about.

Not the Mashantucket Pequot Museum. This was the most immersive experience I’ve ever encountered at a museum. You can tell a lot of time, effort and money was put into the creation and execution to tell their story. Most of all, you get a real understanding of the enormous pride they have of their culture and willingness to share it with the world.

The museum is on the reservation. According to their website, some GPS have difficulty locating the museum but Google Maps had no problem whatsoever. The museum is only 20-25 away from Mystic seaport. Admission is $20 adult/$15 seniors/$12 youth/free for children under 6. The museum is sizable so where comfortable shoes. There is a café in the reception area. We didn’t eat there so I can’t comment on the offerings there.

If you take the elevator up to the watchtower (approx. 14 stories high) you can see the Foxwoods Casino along with miles of green. It did my heart good to see so many trees and untouched land. In the reception hall, there is a display of two dugout canoes, which are made from a hollowed out tree trunks. The waxworks are so lifelike and the attention to detail on their costumes is simply incredible.
From there, you go down a long ramp to enter the exhibit area. The first official exhibit is about tribal life nowadays and all of the things they have accomplished to keep their tribe together (their own EMS services, water supply, housing, etc). After that, you go back in time to the glacial period. This is where the experience starts becoming immersive because you descend down the escalator surrounded by blue glaciers, waterfalls and a slight chill in the air (although that part may have been my imagination). The realism only builds from there with films showing how tools were made, the multi-stage diorama of an elk hunt, and anatomy of a forest showing what the tribe used for food, tools and medicine. But the hallmark of this museum is the large village diorama with over 35 exhibits complete with audio tour. This is where I felt like I was part of the exhibit and could really feel what tribal life was like back then. You walk amongst the exhibits and, again, the detail is remarkable. The trees look real, the commentary is well done and the waxworks are uncannily lifelike. At one point, I thought the man who was sick in one of the exhibits was going to open his eyes!

The final exhibit shows how they overcame obstacles with the state government to stay on their land. This sacrifices they made in order to keep it is commendable. I can’t say enough about this museum. Plan to spend at least 3 hours if you go.

One more thing…I could tell they are proud of what they have created even down to the maintenance staff. While we were walking through the museum, I saw several employees polishing glass or cleaning the floors making sure the presentation was top notch. The museum is gorgeous and they do their absolute best to keep it that way. Highly recommend if you’re in the area!

I had no expectations going in except to learn more and I did. The exhibits were very enriching. I got to meet some Native American artisans as well. That was really neat!!

After years of thinking I really ought to visit this place, I finally made it there yesterday, accompanied by a friend and six boys (ages 15, 14, 14, 13, 12, and 9). We were there for over four hours and everyone was interested and engaged throughout the entire visit. Had I been alone, I would have spent more time and gone more slowly, but even at our somewhat brisker-than-I-desired pace, we were not able to see everything during our visit.

We spent the most time in the replica village part of the museum, which is amazing and included hand-held audio tours. Those were a great idea for conveying good information about the scenes without cluttering the realistic look of the village with informational signs.

Overall, everyone came away with much greater knowledge about the Pequots specifically and the Native people of New England in general. I'm so happy this museum exists as a resource, and so glad that we made the trip down. Thank you!

In an instant you're transported back in time! It was so life like and breathtaking!! I learned so much and enjoyed every minute of it!!

This museum tells the history of the native people of America and of the United States, but not the story most of us have read in textbooks. It has fabulous dioramas and interactive exhibits. I have been several times, and should have remembered that it is not a museum to be rushed. My teen likes to read everything. I should have made it an all day outing. The information is heavy and often difficult to hear (serious white-person's guilt). So, plan for some discussion time afterwards. This museum is great for people who love history, art, nature (plants and animals), stories told by native speakers, life-size dioramas, culture, and science.

Visited in Washington DC the National Museum of the American Indian ( which was very disappointing) and Plimouth Plantation ( was very interesting and shows the way of life in this age). But this Museum was the best of all of them. You can spend 1/2 a day better a whole day to see and hear everything. They have wonderful diaramas which show the life of this people times ago. If we would have more time we would like to here more stories and facts about this people at the audioguidetour in the peqout village (it doesn't cost extra bugs). Also the movies about making tools and so on and the war theatre with the 30 min. movie about the Pequot War (I was very sad about after the movie!) are very interesting too. We can recommend this place to everyone who is interested in history of Native Americans.

I was taken copleatly surprise,to expereance the culture of the Mashantucket Pequot American tribes. In the CT. And the North Eastern tribes.how they made canoes from whole trees. How they protected their land.and their family's. And how they cultivated,thier land and grow many crops.they really put a great Museum together. With so real statues. Well worth the price of admission.

So many world populations have been decimated by germs, bacteria and viruses brought in by foreign explorers, and the indigenous people here in Connecticut met the same fate. Turf battles and religion and colonial pursuits only add to the misery.

This is a great museum and research center honoring the legacy of great people.

My husband and I took our five and 2 1/2-year-old daughters to visit the museum. It was not advertised on any websites listing activities for children, but it was a wonderful family experience. It presents history and geology in a very child accessible way. There is quite a lot of nudity of statues but as long as that is not a turn off for your family, this is a great spot to visit. It kept our girls' attention as well as any museum we have ever visited with them. There is also a nice cafe serving foods not usually found on museum menus, though be prepared that the process of getting food takes a while as they custom cook each order. A few more bathrooms would have been good but aside from that, really terrific.

This was by far, an experience to remember. There were several tribes represented at the event and each did their own tribal dance. I learned so much about the Pequot Tribe and the food was EXCELLENT - did not disappoint. Will definitely be looking to attend the next event in August!

I have accompanied my second grade classes there over the years. The reconstructed village is a wonderful recreation of early Native American life. There is information and displays for students and visitors of all ages. The place is well run and very organized in handling school groups. The problem is that the admission has gotten very pricey and with the rising cost of transportation it makes this place imposable for future class visits. It is one field trip I will miss.

This is an excellent museum to visit. It is very well done. Very eye opening and thought provoking experience. I’m very glad I went and was educated by the experience there. Highly recommend going and experiencing the museum for yourself. You just may be surprised at how much you learn.

Ledyard, CN - There’s a hilarious episode of the Sopranos where Tony’s crew take on Native American protestors over a Columbus Day Parade. The message of the episode is simple: we are the sum total of our personal decisions. We do not succeed or fail because of where we come from.

Tony tries to impart this lesson on his crew following a visit to an Indian casino in the countryside. At the casino, he meets with the Chief of the Mohunk tribe who is a regular white guy. Sopranos' underboss Silvio Dante is especially dubious of the chief’s claim to Native American ancestry. Hello Elizabeth Warren!

Sopranos creator David Chase was clearly mocking the Mashantucket Pequots and its former Chairman Skip Hayward. The debate on whether the existing tribal members are authentic Pequot Indians has been the subject of three books and a 60 Minutes segment. Hayward, who self-identified as a white man on government documents like marriage licenses until his late twenties, decided to do something about the controversy. Armed with buckets of cash from the tribe’s Foxwoods casino, he built the 308,000 square foot Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center.  Hayward wanted to make a good first impression on visitors.  So he hired an architecture firm that specializes in designing museums.  The same firm Bill Clinton used for his presidential library.

During the school year, buses loaded with children from across New England come here to learn the Pequots’ history.  Talk about controlling the message. I love museums of all types. This one had some interesting twists and turns. You see there’s a lot of uhmm . . . diversity in this tribe. Let’s just say this: Gary Cooper never faced off against the Pequots in a Hollywood movie.

The highlight of the museum for most folks is a recreated 16th-century Pequot village. In this exhibit you walk among the trees, wigwams, and people who are cooking, talking, weaving, and working. Not actual living and breathing people but rather impressive replicas. There’s even some natural sounds and aromas of the woodlands and campfires. The other highlight, at least for me, was the gift shop. Hard to believe because I rarely buy souvenirs at museums. But the Pequots have partnered with a couple of indigenous arts and crafts groups. Authentic pieces are for sale right at that museum. There was also a woman making sweetgrass baskets on site. This is something I know a little bit about because my mother collected them. So I was able to have a lively discussion with her until it became apparent I wasn’t going to buy anything.

Hayward had the museum curators take on the authenticity controversy. Census records are displayed to support genealogy claims of Pequot ancestry. And a short film runs about the tribe’s more modern history. Keep in mind the Pequots were nearly wiped out in a battle with the British in 1636. Yep, a long time ago.

The last 40 years is the most fascinating part of the tribe’s history for me. There were important legal victories and the Pequots just being in the right place (northeast Connecticut) at the right time. Whether or not you believe Skip Hayward’s claims of being a Pequot, you will probably reach the same conclusion I did after visiting the museum. This time the Indians won.

For more info on my review contact me at: MattTravel9314@gmail.com

We visited here last month with our daughter's family, which included two near-adolscent boys. We all were amazed! It is an enormous museum, but very well laid out, and very well documented. There are multiple levels, which are easily navigated. The most impressive exhibit was the village replica (pictured on the website). The figures are very realistic, the dwellings are sturdily constructed, many being accessible to see inside. One of us thought one of the figures was a live actor! We easily spent 90 minutes there; we would have explored further but had another engagement. It was very interesting for both the boys and the adults. The ride up the 15(?) story tower is worth the view. Highly recommend a visit!

A great engaging museum. We started with a coupon from Groupon. I researched the reviews and took the recommendation to have a one hour tour. The tour price was reasonable and we would have missed out on all the nuances of the museum. There is a lot of thought, care and symbolism that went into this museum. The tour guide took care of most of that. I have been to different Native American museums and this was the best. My children told me that this museum was superior to the Natural History museum in NYC. Different subject matter but more engaging. I also read that you don't have enough hours to see it all. We made sure to come in the morning and spend the whole day. We ate in the cafeteria and although the menu was limited, the prices were average and the portion size was decent. I didn't even bother with the casino food ( another recommendation) as I knew that I needed lots of time to view this museum and didn't want to waste time. As I predicted we stayed until the last call to close. We did not even watch any of the movies on offer. We will save that for next time. My family definitely wants to go back and I would like to see the dancing(Pow Wow) competition this year. When I do go back I will book another tour so I can get more in depth information. If it wasn't for the tour and my child telling me where to go I would have been lost. That's because it is shaped in a circle. Referencing the Cycle of Life. I think for someone to say that they did not get anything out of it probably got lost in there and missed out on things. But once you have an idea and try to methodically see it all, this museum kicks butt.

My wife and I rented a cabin on a pond in Ledyard, CT, near the Pequot Indian reservation. She read a review elsewhere indicating that this would be an interesting museum to visit. How true that review was!

My wife, my youngest son, and I went to the museum, not knowing what to expect. We ended up spending more than 5 hours poring over the very high-quality exhibits. The displays are top-notch, and do a wonderful job of depicting the lifestyle of the Pequot tribe. There is a mockup of a Pequot village with an integrated audio tour that was highly informative. Especially striking was the 30-minute video presentation that told the story of the Pequot Indians before and during the Colonial era in eastern Connecticut, culminating in what became known as the Pequot War, with a short preview set of videos presenting the views of three sides of the conflict -- The Dutch fur traders, the English settlers, and the Pequot Sachem.

We could have spent more time, but the museum closed before we could finish absorbing everything.

Touts itself as the largest Native American museum and that's probably true. It takes at least 4 hours to go through without seeing the theatre presentations. I remember being here at least 15 years ago when it opened and it had since undergone renovations, but it's basically the same, plus the observation tower.

Exhibits consist of dioramas from prehistory to The Pequot Village, large dioramas which you walk among, utilizing an audio guide (comes with admission). There are numerous scenes in the village to check out and every one comes with additional info if you wish ("For more information on the necklace, push 12 plus 1; for information on turkey hunting then and now, press 12 plus 2"). From there one enters the European Arrivals galleries (no dioramas here, basically maps and illustrations) and the wampum-and-war area (maps, artifacts, several films). This takes you to more modern times, with much briefer galleries showing how the Pequot lived in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries: there's an outdoor farmstead to navigate, more artifacts and films, and the unbelieveable story of how three lone women left living on the reservation in the 60s managed to bring tribal members back to keep the reservation from reverting to the state on their deaths. From that little migration (and small businesses ranging from lettuce raising to maple syruping and Mr. Pizza) the world's largest casino emerged within 30 years.

There is a good sized cafeteria and a large gift shop. The shop carries a wide variety of items (and seemingly has room for many more, but because most are native-made, they probably can't find as much inventory as they'd like).

We went to this place on a Sunday in May. Already the surrounding nature is worth a visit, I can imagine how colorful it can be in fall... The museum is huge, there is a lot to see, to read, to learn, to experience. So plan at least half a day for this museum. There are plenty of interesting rooms, like Native artist's artwork, geology, the 4 seasons from the point of view of the Natives, history "lessons", etc. You can also visit a Native village, see the residents in different situations. There is something for all your senses. You can learn about the Native Americans' social life, their beliefs, and also their language. There are also films presented in which native speakers tell stories. It is amazing. Our daughter (2,5y) enjoyed the museum very much, but I think that it might be an awesome attraction mostly for 7-10 years old. After we had visited the Pequot museum the next weekend visited Old Sturbridge Village. Here we learned how the residents of the town described the Natives and what kind of interactions they had with each other. That made the whole story more interesting.
The museum is absolutely worth a visit, although it is not cheap if you go there with the whole family. It was also not really clear to me whether it is about the Pequot or rather about Native Americans in general. There is a restaurant too, that promises you Native Maerican flavors. However, during our visit they were just preparing for a wedding so the options for a meal were just poor (french fries, burger, chicken fingers). The food was good, but not outstanding and also not cheap. There is arts and craft every Saturday but it costs 5 usd extra.

We visited the Museum during a Pow Wow Festival. The museum itself is wonderful, full of information and interesting displays. There is a recreated Pequot Village where you have an audio tour, and it is free, and very informative. There is a film called Witness which describes the Pequot War - not good for young children - but a very sobering recounting of the brutality of man. The Pow Wow Festival was amazing. Beautiful native american costumes, wonderful dance and music, simply a joyous day. Take a break from gambling, and visit the Pequot Museum. You wont' be disappointed. PS, Senior Citizens get a discount! And there is a shuttle that will take you from the Casino to the Museum, so leave your car at the Casino.

Cant believe how fantastic this place is, I rave about this to my family back in Scotland, I have taken my special needs foster sons here several times, they love it and don't even play games on their phones for two whole hours more if I time it right, truly worth a visit, the detail the history and the villagers almost come alive as you soak up this experience, I honestly cant believe this place is not marketed more as its stunning.

My wife and I went as a diversion while visiting Foxwoods. We were not expecting to really like it. Were we wrong. This is not your typical museum with artifacts behind glass enclosed showcases. This museum is extremely well thought out and documented with the history of th Pequot Indians. What we both really liked were the life sized Indians portrayed in the hunting scenes and the village. It reminded me of visiting Disneyland. A visit to the observation tower was a fitting close to the day.

First, this is a large and beautiful museum and research center. What struck me second was the quality of the displays; it was peopled by, not stock manikins, but by life-like and beautiful "portraits." I felt like I wanted to get to know each one! There are multimedia presentations of the Native American history, interaction with Europeans, daily life and culture: films, the recreation of a 16th-century village with audio tours, artifact galleries, etc. There is a spacious and light-filled cafe with a varied menu, special exhibit space (currently with a bison exhibit), and a photo portrait gallery of tribal members along with contemporary artwork. The staff were very helpful, and happy to interact with visitors. All this on the grounds of the Foxwood Resort and Casino, but tucked away in the peaceful woods, with its own short trails.

Nice to bring the kids ages 7&10, with life like images of Native Indians and very artistic display of historic setting, it's very clean and educational ..the observation tower was not working at that time.

This place was awesome to see - something that I never expected. So much history about the Pequot Indians, and displayed exceptionally well. Plan to spend a couple of hours here and stroll through starting in the Ice Age. Be sure to take the elevator to the top. The displays are spread out over 3 floors and all are handicap accessible, although the parking lot is quite a distance. I suggested spending 2-3 hours there, but I could have spent more time. I would definitely go again.

Very nice Museum. It gives you a lot of history about the indian and how they live. Lots of things to read. We had a nice visit.

Loved the museum and everything in it. Looking at maybe taking my kids soon. I think there demonstrations and videos were very good.

The museum provides great insight into the history and lives of the native Americans and their interactions with the early white settlers in the 16th, 17th, 18th and later centuries.

This Museum, located near Foxwoods, is a must see. It showcases the history of the Pequot Native American Tribe. The highlight of the Museum, is the faux village. It shows what a real Pequot village would look like. At the end of the Museum, is a 18 story observation tower, it has some amazing views from the top.

There were so many things to see and read about that you need the entire day to spend at the museum. It was great to see the tribe clothing for POW WOW. It was just introduced at the wrong time. Maybe it should have been after visiting the village.
It was great to learn about the glaciers and the start of everything. I didn't expect to learn about that. I like how there was a sample of the caribou so we could feel how soft and warm it actually is.
It would have been nice if there was a sign to know how tall the tower went up to.
The price is on the expensive side. $20 adults $12 children

Conference attendees were treated to an evening at this museum and I'm so happy I went. The museum was wonderful, the tour inside was quite informative.

I learned so much coming here. My grandfather is half Algonquin and I never knew they were related until coming here. I plan on bringing my mother because it is her father and she will love to learn about her history. Looking forward to spending the day here.

I just went to scope the place out so that I could recommend it to other people and to take my own grandchildren. Absolutely outstanding can’t wait to do it

This place is a well designed museum. It shares the history of the reagion and the Mashantucket Pequot people. The descriptions given via the hand held guide are very informative. The life-size diorama is GREAT.
My 13 yr old granddaughter was totally involved through out the whole museum. She listened to all the primary descriptions of the diorama scenes.
Near the final exhibit was a 3 board display that discussed the 3 different people groups trying to cohabitant the area. Unfortunately this interaction lead to a war between these groups. I was very impressed how each group was depicted and the description of the miscommunication and misinformation that each group had on the others.
We plan on going back next time we are in the area.

My son went to this museum a few years ago and has been asking to come back ever since. We brought him (age 12) and my daughter (age 10) during Spring Break here in CT. The museum is very interesting and both kids loved it. Obviously, while we were there we were focused on the people who lived on the area which is now the reservation and casino grounds, but living in a city that was purchased from the Paugussets in 1639, it was amazing to realize that I was looking at a way of life that probably existed in my town as well.

My daughter was taken with the Pequot Village re-enactment, which gave background on the Pequot way of life via self-guided audio tour. Because it was spring break, the museum hosted a special program called "Wingmasters", presented by a raptor rehabilitator, which was entertaining and educational. The temporary exhibit, running through May 17, is called "Backyard Monsters" (about bugs and insects) and is targeted to younger children.

This would be a five-star attraction except for several things that really bothered me considering the admission fee is so steep ($20 for adults, $12 for kids): Many glass display cases were covered in smudges and fingerprints; there are no tour guides, docents, or volunteers available to help interpret the exhibits or help you if you get lost -- and it's quite easy to do so, because the building is a confusing maze of dead ends, tunnels, ramps, and hairpin turns; rest rooms are few and far between (and hidden from view -- use 'em when you see 'em); the maps are not easy to interpret; the Pequot Village smells like dusty silk flowers; the cafe menu isn't very diverse; and the gift shop looks like they are going out of business.

The museum is definitely worth a visit, and I would recommend a first-time visitor plan to spend the entire day. We were there for four hours, and we didn't watch the movie (30 minutes) or visit the "Pequot War" or "Arrival of the Europeans & Prelude to War" exhibits.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to this very informative museum near the casino and hotel. We took the trip back in time and learned the history of this tribe.

They tell you it will take at least 2 hours and they are not kidding. This place is big and full of info. Almost too much. By the end my daughter and I were exhausted and a bit overwhelmed. Certainly a wealth of information. Suggest you don't plan to eat here as it is very expensive.

I was surprised at what an interesting and exciting museum this is. It brings to life the culture and history of this important Indian tribe. It also brings to life the atrocities that the Native Americans suffered.

We took our grand daughter here recently. The entire experience was well worth the admission price. Lots of interesting displays, educational, and awe inspiring. The village exhibit was particularly interesting. It made for a great day trip.

Just visited today on its opening day and the centre is fantastic we were disappointed that the high viewing platform was out of commission until possibly May and how sparsely stocked the souvenir area was.
The view from the platform would have been quite beautiful I imagine as it is higher than the tree lines.
The centre itself is deceptive from the outside by the vastness of the exhibition inside which is spread over 3 levels.

Allow a good half day to learn about this Native American tribe and how they lived in harmony with nature until the British and the Dutch arrived in America.

The centre follows the history of the Pequot tribe from birth to today with a beautiful portrait and art gallery at the end of the tour

An amazing museum which captivated the whole family (kids aged 8, 10, 13, 17, 19 and 22). We spent three hours here but would have liked to have stayed longer. There is so much to see and explore. Whilst the museum is closed during winter, we were able to visit on a Wednesday during December when the museum was open for members. Entry is via the group entrance. Not cheap but worth every cent!

My daughter's school took her here on a trip, and she loved it. So when we decided to spend a weekend in Mystic, we came to the museum too. I am so glad we did. The museum is very engaging. The life size dioramas were fascinating and give you an up close and in person feel. I also loved the exhibit on current members of the Pequot people. Also there were a lot of places to sit down, which my feet really appreciated.

There is a cafeteria on the fourth floor, but it had a rather lean selection. We went to the casino nearby to eat, which had a lot of choices.

This is a museum you will want to visit more than one time. The main attraction, located on the lowest level is a life size model of an Native American Village. A self guided recorded tour is available and it is possible to go through the exhibit at your own pace. If one section is crowded you can move on to another one, just push the number on your player that matches the number in front of the scene you are viewing. The rest of the museum has other worthwhile exhibits as well, including a large animated model which shows the how movement of the glaciers formed this coastal area. Just writing about it makes me want to go back to see it again...

My husband and I took our 10 year old grandson here and I have to say, I'm so happy we did! My favorite part of the museum is the expansive life like village, which is so detailed, I was amazed! The audio tour walks you through the various exhibits, detailing what they depict of what life was like. Our grandson was completely immersed in the experience! It was so nice to see him walking through, thoughtfully taking it all in...

Fantastic experience had by all!

Bought my ten year old granddaughter. One of the best going on!! The room with the everyday life is the best. Been there twice before. Had to bring the granddaughter. She enjoyed it as well.

This museum is amazing! How realistic they made all the little Native Indian villages is just mind blowing. Very educational and entertaining.

This is by far the BEST Native American Museum in the world!!!! They're created a life-size village and it's completely authentic. I took three children, and they were completely enthralled... as were all of the adults! You're given a "phone" and you punch in numbers in front of each exhibit, where you then hear about the exhibit. This tour is for EVERYONE... all ages will be amazed!

it bring you back to the time how the Indian live.it reminds us how the Indian live off the land and taken care of the land. how every part of an animal was use.

This rates with the best of them! Extensive - we spent three hours and could have happily stayed longer. Fascinating- lots of information and beautifully displayed. We will absolutely return and recommend.

If you live in Connecticut or are just visiting, you must visit the Pequot and learn the history of their people and the land.

We stayed here over two hours but it would take two days to really see and read everything. The exhibits were so lifelike and the "village" was just fantastic. If you enjoy early american history, this would be worth a special trip. Small children would not enjoy this.

Awesome place! Everything looks so life like.. There's a lot of history here, also plenty to see when you visit.

Incredible museum. Multiple floors and amazing artifacts. Its a must do. The observation tower has great views all around. Tickets are reasonably priced. Great way to spend the day.

I live in Arizona and New Mexico and there's NOTHING in terms of Native American historical museums that even come close to what they have done here! Just a wealth of information and the great efforts they put forth to display the content was remarkable.

We toured the museum while staying at the Fox Tower Hotel There is plenty to see/learn about the Pequot Indians Highly recommend Also suggest that you plan on three hours

Easy to get to (we used shuttle from the Fox Tower) and easy to get back - just tell them at the front desk you need a shuttle and one shows up! The Museum is beautiful and kept in excellent condition. We have visited at least 4 or 5 times over the years and are impressed with the amount and depth of the information available. A two hour visit was (once again) NOT long enough. But as a senior citizen 2 hours is long enough. Did not see it all in the depth it deserves but will go back again to visit areas that were lightly done this tine, We WILL be back!

Great place and museum for kids and young as weep.
Inside show and village good for summer and winter.
2-4 hours showing local tribe traditiona and history

Our children had previously been here on school trips but it was great to take in fuller story of the Pequot and native American peoples. It is a mix of the very small and personal and broader sweep of 20000+ years of prehistory.

Admission for family of four was a bit on higher side... look for joint passes with mystic for slightly reduced fees.

Being a volunteer guide at Festival Park, Manteo, North Carolina Indiantown, I was very interested in visiting this museum. I never imagined how great this experience would be!! Everything in the facility was top-drawer; the guides and staff were well-trained, cordial, helpful, and very knowledgeable. The Indian figures were astoundingly lifelike and seeing them in their daily life pursuits was fascinating. Of special note, the half-hour film "The Witness" was easily the best written-directed-and-produced film of its kind I've ever seen. I was disappointed to find that the film isn't available on DVD. The Pequot people can be justifiably proud of this Center. If you have the time and interest, three hours is the minimum time to allot. All day is better.

Loved seeing everything they had. Great learning experience. Suitable for children and adults of all ages.

I've been here several times. I always learn something new. From the beginning of the ice age to now it gives you the rich history of the Native People in the Connecticut Area. They have a library which contains excellent accurate resources about Native People of all parts of the United States. a great place for field trips.

This museum takes you on a tour beginning when the indigenous people populated North America until today. The life size diorama is incredible, depicting the way of life before the Europeans arrived. I would suggest third grade and up for this trip. As a teacher from Michigan, I wish we had something a similar museum closer to home!

Native American history has always fascinated me, so I try to visit as many museums about the First People as I can, and this is the nicest, most well put together museum in New England.

The building's exterior is very deceptive; the exhibit is much larger than the outside might lead guests to believe (the tour encompasses three levels of the center). The dioramas were among the best I've ever seen; notably, the Pequot village was particularly impressive...the details on the sculptures were so intricate that the human figures looked real!

The tour leads through several exhibits, which offer wonderful history about the region and the people who lived here. Guests also learn about the Pequots' relations with the Dutch and English colonists, which includes details about a couple of wars. There are also amphitheaters throughout the exhibit that describe various aspects about Pequot life. One show I particularly enjoyed was the first one on the tour; it is a series of five-minute sessions about different creation stories from First Peoples across the United States. I enjoyed hearing the stories told in the native languages! Of course, the story is also told in English for guests to understand.

This museum was absolutely wonderful! I wish we had more time there...we had to breeze through a few portions in order to see everything. Definitely allot a good four or five hours to take in everything this museum has to offer!

A must see in your visit to New York. There are not enough words to express how impressed I’m . There is so much love, pride and sense of being treated unfairly in the construction of this museum that I become a Pequot myself in my spirit. I just want to learn more about this people because there were free, noble and prosecuted by the greed of the settlers. I bought a book and I’m planning to build a canoe in the Pequot way. I have visited most of the museums in NY but this is more than a collection is a Tribute and an art exposition made with great love and respect for their ancestors.

this is a must see! Large museum and very cheap for what you get. there is food available and also the tower you can go up in and see the whole area for free

The exhibits focused on the history of the Pequot tribe from their encounter with the English settlers in the 17th Century up till today. In turn fascinating, heart-rendering, galling, tragic, and finally hopeful, the museum charts the narrative of how this group of people survived the many trials and tribulations thrown at them by history and circumstance. And yet, they are still here to tell their story, and what a great story it is. Highly recommended.

I took my three kids (12,9,7) here on a VERY quiet Saturday afternoon in late April. Seriously, I couldn't believe how few people were at this beautiful, spacious place. Must be a really popular field trip destination and that's why on a Saturday it was empty? Well, we had the place practically to ourselves and made our way leisurely through the exhibits, stopping to linger at the life-like village reproductions the longest. TONS of information to digest if you have the time (and lack of young kids) to spend reading the plaques along the way. We were given a numbered guide to help us find our way through the museum, which was helpful given that the museum is split among three floors and can be confusing to navigate otherwise. The museum is stunningly beautiful---so much money went into building and designing it, obviously. The movies brought it all to life and were a very memorable part of the experience. Very violent, though--my seven year old was scared and ended up crawling into my lap during "The Witness". There was plenty to hold the attention of my kids and lots of move-around space, so they never got squirrely. The gift shop was not fully stocked--hopefully they are building that up. It seems like a great place to sell handmade products from the actual people living there on the reservation, but there didn't seem to be much of that, unfortunately. It is not cheap to get in, either, though I thought it worth the $45 or so that it cost me and my three kids to get in.

Oh! And just to warn you, there are topless manequins of Pequot women everywhere. Give your kids the heads up first. Mine seemed embarassed when they first noticed it, but I am glad the museum chose to represent the women naturally and authentically.

This was so interesting and educational although sad due to the mistreatment of the native Americans.
The village is absolutely awesome!

Visiting from the UK we came with a very limited knowledge of the history of America and its indigenous people. The wonderful displays at the center take you on a journey form the ice age to the modern day. There's a fabulous mixture of film, artifacts and great modal dioramas of hunting scenes and a Pequot village. We really enjoyed the tribes origin stories told in their own language and how they made their tools. We also loved the Pequot village, clothing and learning about how the reservation is now. The building is huge so we didn't see a lot of other people visiting we spend a good 4 hours here and loved every minute!

Second time here. Incredible exhibits. Great for the kids. Observation tower has wonderful views especially in the fall with the foliage. Must see if you are in the area. Plan on spending a lot of time. Discounts for seniors, active military, and coupon attached to the brochure for $8.00 off.

We went during one of the festivals they were having inside. Walking distance to the casino, but prefer driving as it can get tiring. Lots of information and exhibits to learn from. The tower gives a breathtaking view of the area.

I wish they would move this museum to the Smithsonian in downtown DC. This museum's lifelike village takes you through all aspects of Indian village life. A detailed self guided tour makes it at your own pace. When I asked who sculpted these lifelike models, the staff simply answered, "I am not sure, but all I know is that nobody likes to go down after the museum is closed to turn off the lights." An excellent family experience, lots of picnic space on the green roof.

This is an amazingly well done museum. There is so much to see and learn plan to spend several hours. History about the area from Ice Age to current times. Beautiful displays about the land, the people, and animals. Well presented and balanced history. Don’t miss out on the modern history of the tribal nation as well-how they rebuilt their community in the later part of the 20th century.

We spent the morning visiting the museum. The setup of the museum is excellently designed and arranged. Specifically, we enjoyed the caribou hunt and the recreated Pequot village. We especially enjoyed learning about recent history of the Mashantucket Pequot tribe. This is must see when visiting SE Connecticut.

What a well done museum. The highlights, for me, were definitely the village and the many languages interactive area. Definitely opt for the price-included phone/guide.

The elevator to the top of the museum is, overlooking the tribal lands, is a beautiful view into the past and an all encompassing view of the present.

We went to the museum on a day when there were no school groups and had a wonderful experience. The Pequot "village" seemed to be a good representation. There were enough explanation placards, videos, dioramas and movies to make it interesting without being overwhelming. It was too hot to explore the surroundings, but I think there were short trails to explore.

Very interesting! you can spend an entire day there! all 3-d figures very good! also saw the bug exhibit pretty neat!

First off, this museum is huge and it is easy to underestimate the time needed to experience it. The section on the last glacial age was a particular favorite for our children. The village reconstruction was amazing to walk through. Make sure to pick up one of the audio tour devices, they are a must and filled with literally hours of information. My only complaint (if it is one) is that the excellent film on the Pequot War is only shown at certain times and is after all other exhibits leaving planning to see it difficult. All in all, a great experience.

I'd been to the museum a few years ago for a relatively brief, work-related visit and always wanted to go back and see the whole thing properly. I brought my sons, ages 5 and 8, on a day off from school, expecting that we'd stay for about 2 hours. Four hours later, we had finally seen enough to satisfy them - but still didn't see everything! The layout of the museum is not at all confusing as some other reviewers have suggested; the only thing to know is that it is designed to tell a linear story, so it's hard to double back - it literally leads you, with paths and signage, through the entirety of the narrative from the Ice Age to the present day. Just go where the design takes you and you'll be fine. The life-sized mannequins are amazingly realistic; my 2nd-grader kept saying "I feel like that one's going to move/talk to me/come over here!" The village is absolutely a highlight and feels just like you're stepping back in time. Everything here is immersive and highly detailed. My kindergartener particularly loved the model of the Earth showing patterns of glacial migration over time (way more interesting than it sounds) and the opportunity to look at a scale model of a Native American fort, then use an interactive touch screen to explore the real thing with a combination of CGI and archaeological footage. 2nd grader was really moved by the exhibits about the Pequot War and the description of the lead-up to the events that's delivered as a narrative at one of the displays. We had to skip the film on the subject as it's clearly marked as inappropriate for kids under age 12, but the displays captured his imagination nonetheless. Yes, it's a little pricey, but it's worth it. The cafe and gift shop are both fairly mediocre but not worth complaining about; if the food and the swag are that important to you, you're there for the wrong reasons.

On that Monday before leaving we visited the museum. We saw a lot of ancient artifacts that the Indians used to cook and to live the simple life that they lead.

We visited the museum on a Saturday afternoon.
The museum was not crowded and there were no large group tours which was better for us. We were able to enjoy the museum waiting for other groups.
We ate in the cafeteria . The food was a little different than the usual museum cafe. Reasonably priced and tasty. The view of the cedar tree forest from the cafe was wonderful. We started the visit at the tower with great views of the area. Then we took a tour with Matt, a docent. Matt give a a complete and indepth 2 hour tour. His heritage is Native American and he provided personal insights into the history and current lifestyles of the Pequot Indian life. The life size village and reproductions of the Native American life were so life like you expected them that move. This was a great choice for our visit.

I read some people did not like this place. If you are breathing and have an interest in early living you will not want to miss this. The high light is the Pequot village with the listening devices you carry with you as you visit at your own pace. Well worth 20 dollars for the addmission.

Amazing and great museum in Connecticut. This is a great museum with so many things to do from seeing a Native American carabou hunt, to catching a film on the tribe, to walking through an acre large indoor village replica. This museum has everything, you can spend a week there reading up on all the facts and catching all the shows and demonstrations. I would defiantly return and I highly recommend this museum if your visiting Connecticut.

Most of New England's history museums are overrated and dull.... If you want to see a really good museum, go to the Pequot Museum. It's especially helpful if you're interested in Native Americans, but this museum is state-of-the-art and it's a model for every community. Take notes, if you're a state or a local historian.... You'll see the Pequot in the context of their natural environment. The tribe's social history is carefully explained.... With most New England museums, history "stops" at some point in the 1800s. With the Pequots, the story continues to the present moment. You'll learn about the tribe's recent accomplishments.... Also, it should be noted, "This place is fascinating. It's lively. It's worth visiting."

The Mashantucket Pequot Museum is outstanding and highly recommended; however, the Pequot Museum Cafe, on site, leaves much to be desired. In fact, the food is barely edible. Eat before or after you drive to the reservation, and give yourself at least three hours to enjoy the museum. If time available is ample, you could easily enjoy a full day at the museum. Both Senior Citizen and Military discounts are concurrently available. My wife and I plus a grandson were admitted for a total of $38.00 (Sr. Citizen $15, Military discount $4, Youth $12. The Pequot Village with audio (provided by personal wand) is not to be missed. Also, the movie of the Pequot Indian
War is both historic and graphically presented. Be aware, the movie is not suitable for young children due to the violence.

One of the best displays with good descriptions of the past. The models looked real. Pick up the audio that goes with each display. Could have stayed there for hours.

the museum was truly historical and we enjoyed the mock indian village downstairs--the development of the tribe and other indian nations was super great for all ages--many exhibits

This museum is grandiose; too much so, in our opinion. It is said to be the largest Indian museum in the US, and we don't doubt it. It certainly has the most spacious gift shop of any museum of any type that we have ever been in (and we've been in a lot).

The museum features information about the history and life of the Pequot tribe, which was almost wiped out in the seventeenth century by the English in conjunction with several neighboring tribes. A video tells the history of the Pequot War that accomplished this.

The museum contains relatively few Pequot items. We were told that these are only brought out on special occasions but my guess is that there are very few such artifacts owing to the fact that the tribe almost disappeared.

The museum's layout is strange. One has to go up, down and around to follow he sequence of exhibits.

We do not consider visiting it a valuable experience.

This is a must see. There is so much to see that you may want to go two days so you can take you time and enjoy everything.

If you love history, you can't help but love this place. We walked the first floor and didn't realize there were more floors. We paid $20 each. When we first bought the tickets, I asked if there was a discount for seniors, she said no, but as we were leaving asking about a Membership, we found out there was a discount. The woman we spoke to apologized for the other woman not giving us the discount and she gave us a free ticket for our next visit. The museum nicely depicted that time period with much detail, we're taking our nephews next month. It's close to Foxwoods, if that's your thing. You need 3 days to see the entire museum. There is a restaurant in the museum. Be careful if you or your kids are fussy about food, we weren't. The menu had such foods as frog legs, peanut butter and strawberry sandwich, bison and venison burgers. We had the fish tacos, which was different than we ever had before, the taco wasn't a hard shell, it was a deep fried piece of dough with a lovely texture with just a hint of sweetness, and I mean a hint. The fish was freshly made. You've got to order this.
I love people history museums and visit them around the world, this would be up in the top 5. Be patient and take your time, if not you won't enjoy the details.

Foxwoods itself is bland and industrial -- but this little museum is a gem -- and should be a mandatory stop for anyone that goes to the casino.

The Mashantucket Pequot have put together a worthy museum of their heritage and history -- and though it rightly blames the English for their downfall -- it's not overly preachy -- rather it gives a solid footing for how this group has come back from the edge of extinction.

Self guided tour was right in line with our needs. Lots of places to sit and see. The Native American village is AWESOME in itself! Did not try the food but have in the past and found it on par with similar venues.

This museum was a fantastic surprise. We are so very glad we went. It's definitely worth the trip. There were so many video rooms informing and entertaining. The history lessons were astonishing. The contributions of the Pequot tribe were phenomenal. How they lived for centuries and raised there families was inspiring. Their 1638 downfall through European and jealous other tribes was so sad. The Pequots were finally divided into two separate tribes. There is a reconstruction of a village and self guiding audio tour through the village. There is so very much to see in this ultra modern facility, you can spend at least 4 hours and still not cover it all. We also took the elevator to the top of the tower to overlook the area, including Seeing Foxwoods. This museum was the highlight of our Connecticut vacation.

Have grown up in Eastern Connecticut, it was very enjoyable to see the historical background of this area's peoples and experiences.

Excellent Museum. Too bad it is on the way out. Staff and opening hours are drastically cut. I wish this was connected directly to the Casino to generate traffic. Some very well presented artifacts. If you have kids, if you are a history buff, if you have any interest in the world around you please visit. You will not be disappointed- as good as any of the Smithsonian Museums- just smaller

This is probably one of the best Museums you can visit. Despite having a family with a really negative view on the native people given the affects of the Abenaki Slave trade and grandparents that think the raid on Groton just happened yesterday To get their approval is no small task. Personally I enjoy the great details among the exhibits as well as some of the Colonial perspectives such as the french and Dutch. We were not able to eat at the Cafe on site but it smelled really good. My only complaint is that it really is not open long enough and would really benefit from longer hours.

Great place to visit. I have been wanting to go for a long time. I was so happy when I walked downstairs and saw the Village. I was amazed at the authenticity of each member of the tribe, the tools, the canoes, the clothing, the face paint.

We went on a non-holiday Friday and it was very quiet. One tiny school group and maybe two other visitors. The dioramas are amazingly detailed, but also uncanny, so it can weird kids out, especially the medicine man in the village within the fort. We tried some of the Native American-inspired food. I was glad to have the option, but the rice/squash dish was very bland and it was like minute rice with some squash and wild rice mixed in. Spouse got the venison burger and said it was more of a meatloaf. Our child liked the corn fritters; light and sweet. Native American beverages would have been a nice option (sassafras tea?). The grounds were lovely and we took a little hike in the woods. The lookout is very cool.

This might be one of the best museum's in the CT area. Between the observation tower and the actual museum you could spend a half of a day learning about the Native Americans and their journey. They also have an outdoors exhibit which is nice in the summer time. Their gift shop seems to be overpriced and very dismal. Never been to the cafe. The only real suggestion/complaint that I have is when staying over at Foxwoods, they should offer their guests free admission to the museum. $20 a person is a little on the pricey side for a museum. Also, getting there when staying at a hotel can be rough. The shuttle is unpredictable and is never on time.

This museum starts at the beginning of the Pequot People and ends with current times. We spent 3 hours enjoying the place. There is much to see. The escalator down into the ice age is the starting point. You can feel the cold of the ice. The Indian Village is amazing. I heard that many of the Indians are casts of actual Pequot Indians. There are tape machines that explain everything that you are seeing, hearing and smelling in the village. It is very well done. We visited with a relative who had just toured museums in Europe. She said this was the best museum she had seen. It is part of the Smithsonian so you know it is an experience not to missed. Check for hours as they vary throughout the year. Entry fees listed in this year's AAA tour book are wrong. There are no toilet facilities in the actual facility. Go before you enter the ice age.

I have worked on many reservations and have not seen a more exciting museum than the one built by the Pequots in the middle of the woods they fought to regain from the State of Connecticut in the 1980's. From this modern battle this Tribe regained the land and the culture it lost in the 1600's and share it now with the public by using many different techniques. The museum uses two main dioramas. One shows family life in the age of the glaciers 10,000 years ago, while another depicts a hunting scene and village life following European colonization. This short paragraph cannot possibly list all of the depictions, but rest assured, there is more than enough quality information about Native American families to help others understand how it is that we can retain our culture even as the world continually attempts to minimize the importance of Native American traditions as part of United States history. Also be sure to enjoy the walking trails in the area. The museum is located in the entertainment complex which includes Foxwoods Casino and Hotel.

My wife and I visited the Pequot museum as part of a trip to Foxwoods for a show. Some friends had given it good reviews so we stopped by. My first impressions were blah. The parking lot had weeds and, bizarrely, the staff lot is closer to the entrance, than the visitor lot. The entrance area was cavernous and staffed by three people sitting in a darkish area. That being said, when we walked down into the exhibit area itself we found it quite well done, balanced and informative. There is a full size replica village with free audio that we enjoyed. We took in a 30 minute film called The Witness. It is a video history of the Pequot Massacre. As it is the Pequot museum, the film has a point of view but is well done and informative. It may be a bit graphic for younger viewers.

Overall, a great museum but the entrance could be more engaging.

We have always passed by the signs for this museum and never had the time to stop. So glad we did finally visit. My kids and I spent over three hours looking over exhibits and learning a valuable history lesson at the same time.

We have been meaning to get to the Mashantucket Pequot Museum for years. I am sorry we waited so long! It was fantastic and even on a rainy day when we could not do the nature trail or go up the observation tower (we would have seen nothing) we could fill the entire day. The building has beautiful spaces. What impressed us most was the diversity in presentation of displays. There were dioramas with interactive touch screen displays to provide information, an art exhibit, a great film on Native American creation stories, a 15th century Pequot museum with audio guide and more. Everything was clean and not tired and well presented. The variety of exhibits kept our 12 and 8 year olds engaged. We also had really good food at the on site cafe, which had a more extensive menu than most Museum restaurants. Although they had a number of items that were not standard fare (like the venison burrito and the blueberry soda) there were options for picky or more mainstream fare. Do heed the warning on the film The Witness for ages 12 and above - that is appropriate guidance. For those with trouble walking the parking is a little ways from the museum but the spaces in the museum were quite accessible and there were elevators. Highly recommend this museum if you are in the area.

It traces the past of this part of America from the last ice-age to now through the life of the tribe.

From the glacial ice age - descend into a frozen landscape; the arrival of the people - creation stories; hunters and prey in the winter; the changing environment - 6,000 years of adaptation; the Pequot village - daily life in the 16th century; Europeans and conflict; the Pequot war; life on the reservation; and the resurgence of the tribe today.

The building interacts with its environment, it embraces the tree line and is nestled into the landscape with two levels below ground. A 185ft stone-and-glass lookout towers over the circular, glass-and-steel Gathering Space.

Most startling is a model of a one-mile-high glacier of 20,000 years ago which stood on this spot. They have a scale model of the tower in the bottom corner to illustrate how high the ice would have been.

This is a little-known gem located just a couple of miles from the Foxwoods Casino.......Pay this museum and research center a visit and you won't be disappointed !!! Our visit was simply an afterthought, but we would return here again in a heartbeat...we spent almost 4 hours and still could have stayed longer. The 17-story glass observation tower was thrilling experience, and the museum exhibits were absolutely superb in every way. Multi-media exhibits, theaters, displays, and artifacts made this museum one of the best we have visited in a while.

I did not visit this museum on my last trip through Connecticut, but I did visit here about a year ago. I stopped by on a week day in October 2016 and there were not many people visiting that day. The statues were very life like and I enjoyed walking through the museum and learning about the tribes. If you are in the area or visiting Foxwoods casino, this place is definitely worth visiting and I think kids would love too.

There is a wealth of information and visual displays here. The story of the "almost" annihilation of this people up to and until the early 1950's is unnerving. The two black marks against the Museum is the parking is way to far away but more importantly is the layout of the Museum, which is full of dead ends and seems to lack a good flow pattern. This was almost tragic because if we hadn't turned the corner at the end of a non discript hall we would have totally missed the involvement of the Connecticut State Government to exterminate this people.

The disney of Native American museums. So much to see and do and jam packed with information. You can easily spend 3-4 hours there and not see it all.

The Pequot Museum in Mashantucket CT. is located in the ground close to the Foxwoods Resort & Casino. The museum is great with lots of information about the history of the native American Indians that lived there and New England. They have various rooms where you can watch videos, lots of interactive displays fun for kids. If you really want to see it all take your time don't rush very interesting. They have a tower that has a view that you don't want to miss you can see well beyond the forest and the grounds of Foxwoods Resort. The Hotel has a buy one get one free and also a shuttle that take you there. If you want to get away from the casinos and all that is the place to visit. After your done with your exhibit don't forget to go to the gift shop very neat items

We visited the Pequot museum because my daughter's fourth-grade class spent an entire semester learning about Native American history. The museum is beautiful. There is a life-size village that you walk through using hand-held devices which explain each display in the village. It truly brought everything that my daughter learned about to life (e.g. longhouses, sachems, council members, the three sisters, wampum, English settlers, etc). If you're not afraid of heights, visit the observatory tower on your way out. I think every school should visit this museum...it is one of a kind.

This was our second visit to this amazing museum. The first thing I need to warn readers of is: do not plan on stopping by for an hour or two--you'll need a lot more time! This is truly an all-day museum, if you want to really take advantage of all it has to offer. (Our first visit, two years ago, began in mid-afternoon, and we definitely could not see everything before closing!)

The museum, the largest Native American museum in the world, has got to be seen in person to appreciate what it offers. It really does make the Mashantucket Pequot nation come to life--in the most engaging and educational ways possible, but without making you feel like they're trying to teach you. In the end, you will marvel at the tenacity of the Pequot people and gain respect for their history and culture.

There is also an elevator that takes you up a tower, the highest part of the building, from which you can see all the neighboring areas. The location of the museum is simply beautiful: quiet New England woods, with a huge parking lot.

If you are in the area, or even if you need to drive a while to get here, be sure to visit--and do plan on spending your whole day here. You will still want to visit again soon!

We ended up spending the entire day at the Museum. Unfortunately I couldn't get my wife up in the observation tower, that was really cool.

Spent a little over 2 hours at the museum. I would recommend between 2 and 3 & 1/2 hours. It has both exhibits and several different movies on two floors. There was also an observation tower. I thought it was well done overall and worth a visit if you are in the area. Not at all tacky. There is also a cafe on prem. The service at the cafe was running a little slow and we did not get to try anything. They gave us a small AAA discount.

Highly recommended! The layout is very nice, starting with a stroll through the glass ceiling gathering place and continuing to expansive exhibit areas that don’t feel dense or overwhelming but are packed with historical information. Of special note is the Pequot Village section which uses the most realistic mannequins we’ve ever seen in a museum setting. The detail is astounding which , along with the realistic settings and materials used in the displays, added significantly to our ability to absorb the plethora of information and to enjoy the exhibit. The entire museum is extremely well done. Recommended time is about 4 hours+ to take it all in.

The museum is located adjacent to the Foxwood Casino within easy driving distance. The entrance to the museum is massive and has lifelike Indian canoers as the center piece. We were a little disappointed at the first few displays, but the displays got better as we walked along. The highlight of the displays for us was the Indian village. We did not see it all in the two hours we were there. We skipped the European influence and the war movie as we are not happy with the way we Europeans treated the Indians and still do today. Make sure you stop in the restaurant upstairs for the Indian Taco and split it with your partner.

I wanted to feel this museum in my heart, but it's without soul. There is nothing that makes your heart sing or feel sad. It just is. While the initial exhibit is stunning in its' simplicity and feeling, the rest of the museum feels like a lot of money was spent on beautiful exhibits that forgot to tell a story. Very large building that gives the same sense of claustrophobia that you can get in an IKEA. Most importantly, it seems that administration forgot to spend funding for staff, especially anyone that knows or cares about the museum. We saw only one staff member at the entrance and one in the area before the village exhibit. No staff members or docents were available to answer questions or bring the exhibits to life for us. We actually asked the front desk staff member if the museum location was the site of the Mystic Massacre. We got a "deer in the headlights" look back and a mumbled "I think so." Wow. While there are some interesting displays, such as the life sized village and an original canoe that had been excavated, we walked away disappointed. Great potential and story that just needs someone to help tell it to visitors.

Well worth a visit. If you have a chance..go!!
Love the village that is set up inside of how the Indian people lived. You walk through it. Everything life size.
Great exhibits.
Would love to go back soon and spend more time here.

Went there on Saturday. What an excellent visit! Spent more than 5 hours there. There is so much to see and do. Had lunch at the cafe which is located on the 4th level. A good variety with native american fare. We had the 3 sisters taco which was excellent along with the indian taco which was also delicious. Would highly recommend this place for lunch. Menu is pretty extensive.

The museum is excellent--starts with the ice age and goes on from there. The dioramas are first class--kudos to the artisans and artists. There are many side galleries that you can visit with short movies (stories, tools, wampum, etc.)--don't miss them. There are also side galleries with static exhibits--also not to be missed. The main village (audio tour at your own pace) is superb! There was one place that I have to mention--the diorama that included a number of the native species of that area of CT (white pine, squirrel, etc. that you could zoom in on from a console and the information would come up what could be done with those things (medicinal, tools, etc.) really was interesting. Their main movie (Witness) lasts 30 minutes and runs continuously throughout the day every 45 minutes. Also not to be missed. There is an art gallery, an outdoor farmstead tour (your own pace) and exhibits about life on the reservation. All of them are first class. Then there is the tower where your can overlook the entire area.

So, if you want to have an activity filled day with lots to do and see, this is the place for you! Truly a memorable experience!

We like the casinos, and the large selection of restaurants, and the outlets. Large selection of slot machines, and gaming tables.

After reading all the positive reviews I had high hopes for this museum. What a let down. We paid 20.00 a piece and we both agreed it was a waste of money. I do have to say the facility is really amazing, then it all went down hill. I have been to a wide variety of museums and this one just doesn't come close to others we have visited. We both felt we didn't learn anything about this tribe, nor any tribe. I guess this just was not for us. Really disappointing.

Interesting history of the Pequot tribe and their interaction with English troops guarding early colonists. Includes information on how the gaming industry brought needed investment to the tribe. The museum is a bit confusing to navigate, even with the provided map. We spent over five hours here, including the audio tour of the 1600's village and the movie.

Excellent museum - tells the story of the area and the Pequot Indians who have lived here from the Ice Age until today.
Don't miss the small theatre presentations. Press the green "closed caption" button to start the shows. Very well done short movies explaining the origin of man according to several different tribes, making tools, and the Pequot's struggle to regain their land to name a few.
We were looking for something to do on a rainy day (everything is inside) and ended up spending five hours.

This museum is a little off the beaten path, but once you see it, it is magnificent. It looms over the surrounding landscape and beckons you forward. Once inside the exhibits are spectacular and showcase the amazing culture and spirituality of the Northern Woodland Indians. There are many life sized dioramas that depict the home life and hunting practices of these talented people, who revered Nature and respected, not only all living things but all of creation. That they suffered as they did at the hands of the English is beyond tragic. Modern people could learn some valuable lessons from studying the Indigenous People of North America. There are also some exhibits that revolve around the Native Americans of the western United States. This museum is a must-see for any student of the history of the United States as this segment of the population is often given sort shrift in traditional studies of history. They deserve much more, and here they are showcased. Don't miss the short film of the Pequot Wars, disturbing, but vital to understanding, all facets of the Native American experience.

What a fabulous experience I had with my friend. I want to thank tour guide, Matthew Pina. He was so passionate about presenting insight and educating about his own ancestry while connecting past to present with the Pequot Nation. Happy 25th Anniversary to the museum and all those who continue to honor history and keep it alive.

I most enjoyed the design of the museum and how nature is woven into every twist and turn. The new exhibit they are hosting, which highlights the 13 moons, is a must see. Kudos to guide Matthew as he not only is a fabulous representative, but a skilled artist as well. His art work, in the new exhibit, is a must see! My take away left me feeling more connected to our Mother Earth and educated on how skilled indigenous ancestors are. I also have a new appreciation learning how wampum is crafted and how long it takes to make just one bead. I think all ages would benefit from visiting the museum. Looking forward to going back again soon, so much more to see. I know they are working to make updates, my only constructive criticism would be to update TV monitors. Best, Stacy

One of the best museums I've visited! The museum is a must-see if you are interested in learning about Native cultures and history. The village is amazing and gives you a better understanding of the Pequots before exposure to European culture. The audio descriptions of the scenes and additional segments are very interesting.

Listen, I will admit I am not your typical traveler that when we arrive in the city I am looking for the closest museum. I mean, science and any interactive museum, sure. But, I am ashamed to admit, to just stare at the works of great artists, yeah, not my favorite.

That said, we traveled to the Pequot Museum, well, because I wanted to call myself ‘Super Mom’ for the day and guess what? I liked it! Any place that makes me feel smarter by the time I walk out the door is going to get a compliment from me. My favorite area of the museum was definitely their life like village, I felt like Jedediah Smith in Night at the Museum, walking around a diorama. Remember the cowboy, played by Owen Wilson? That analogy just made me laugh!

The museum takes to a journey of Native American life from beginning to present time. I had a great time. It's worth it. I visited the museum several times.

We went here for the first time on our recent trip to Foxwoods. We were all very impressed with the size and scope of the museum. The exhibits were all top quality, and the recreated village is spectacular. I would definitely recommend spending a few hours here if you are in the area.

A true celebration of thanksgiving the native way! A combination of great food and history lessons ( never revealed in school!) plus having the opportunity to meet new friends and chat for hours! Smoked striped bass and salmon, perfectly prepared venison, succotash, turnips, you name it! If it was present in 1621, it was being served. Hare, quail, lobster, shrimp, clams and oysters on the half shell. Topped off by incredible desserts of pies, cobblers, strawberries, blueberries, coconut cream pie!
We dined like royalty and were treated as such. Raffles with 100% going to Standing Rock!True Americans! Met the staff and the wonderful woman (Chef) that brought it all together!
A definite for anyone with a palate for palatial provisions!!

This is a very well done museum. I'm surprised more people don't take advantage of it. Very interesting and well laid out with a nice mix of short movies and exhibits.

this museum is well worth the time and effort to visit. the rich history and the artifacts and exhibits make this one of the best museums to experience. please do not miss this gem and very important part of American history before it was settled by the Europeans.

The history the indigenous people in Connecticut experienced is sad and it is carefully detailed in this museum. The exhibits are world-class and the tour guide did an excellent job in summarizing the history of these native people of Connecticut. I was part of a private group attending a conference in the area and we also had an opportunity to see a dance performed by children at the museum. It is definitely an amazing place to visit.

Though we had been staying near this museum for years, it somehow slipped under our radars. What a mistake! This museum is one of the finest museums of any type that I have ever been to. It is quite evident that many years of planning and much attention to detail went into this museum, whose creation was clearly a labor of love. The museum focuses on the history and culture of the Pequot nation of Native Americans. I didn't know what to expect before entering this huge museum, but the exhibits were so varied and engaging that my only regret was giving ourselves only 3 and a half hours to explore. Many reviews say you should give this museum 3 hours, but I have to disagree! This museum is a full-day experience, if you want to be able to really appreciate the exhibits rather than rush through them. There are tons of videos and interactive displays. The recreated Pequot village was breathtaking.

I encourage anyone who is remotely near this museum to check it out. Even if you think that Native American history is not of interest to you, you'll be pleasantly surprised by this amazing museum. It is a beautiful tribute to the Pequot nation who, though violently persecuted by the European colonists, managed to survive and preserve their culture. Just don't make my mistake of visiting this museum midday: come in the morning and plan on staying all day!

Well worth going . Lots of information in an easy and interesting format. Not crowded huge building. The Indian village was amazing

We have visited museums all over the country (including most of the Smithsonian) and many overseas, and found this to be among the best. It is well thought out and executed.

The facility is larger inside than it looks from the outside and is on multiple levels. We made a mistake thinking we could see it all in an afternoon, and we were wrong. We spent 5 hours, and it was not nearly enough for the full experience inside, and we never got to the exhibits outside. While there make sure you include time to see the movie about the Pequot war - it is shown several times during the day, and like the rest of the place it is well done.

Awesome place! 4year old. Loved it! Beautiful building interesting learning! Great real life presentations, observation tower is a must!

Spent an afternoon at the museum and I thought it was really interesting. They had a Hawaiian dancing show - ouch that hurt because it was a cold day in December! I really enjoyed seeing the current Native American artifacts that artists are working on. They are so beautiful - the pots are amazing. I also enjoyed learning the history of the area. The only reason I didn't get it 5 stars is because I had a hard time finding a shuttle to the museum and also a hard time getting one on the way back. I don't know if they were having an off day or what.

This is a nicely constructed representation of life as a Pequot Indian when they first settled in the US. This is not a fun park for children, but an educational experience for those who are interested in the tribal history.

Very well done. You think some of the statues are real. It's a great replication of the past days for the Indians.

Films and displays were very informative. Excellent historical lesson on the Native American culture of the area.

Peoqu Indians history lots of interesting artifacts. Good place for children to learn about American history. They do have a small cafeteria.

We brought our grandchildren here recently and they loved it! From walking through the Glacial Crevasse, to spending time at the Pequot Village (you can easily spend an hour in this one exhibit) to watching the excellent documentary/movie about the Pequot tribe, there was so much to see the kids did not want to leave. Truthfully, my wife and I felt the same way.

I highly recommend that if you do visit the museum, plan to stay for a good portion of the day. If you only have a couple of hours, it would be best to start with the Pequot Village. (btw. . I saw an earlier review while posting my review, and I seriously do wonder if those women went to the right museum.)

Very special museum which takes a visitor through the history of the Pequot Tribe and their lands from prehistoric to current times. The exhibits are informative but make sure you do not miss the movies and video presentations that are scattered through the museum. The Pequot War is only offered a few times a day. Also be sure to spend time in the recreated Pequot village, very educational and a great way to make learning and history interesting for visitors of all ages. A must see attraction if you are in the area. The lookout tower also gives one an idea of the extent and topography of the tribal lands and the casino visible in the distance which changed life for this tribe forever.

We have been going to Foxwoods on + off, since the bingo hall opened. Somehow...we just never went to see the museum. On a recent overnight stay, we had some extra time to kill and went to check it out. It's a very nice attraction, we spent a few hours there, that $20.00 would have lasted 10 mins on a slot machine! If you have never gone, check it out. It's worth a visit. Recommended!!!

A very well designed museum. It shares the history of the region and the Mashantucket Tribe. The hand held guide is very informative. The life-size diorama is fantastic.
Our 8 year old grandson and 5 year old granddaughter were mesmerized through out the whole museum.They listened to all the descriptions of each diorama and couldn't wait to find the next one on the list. They are having a live owl presentation coming up and I am sure it will be well worth going to.

This place was awesome! I brought my 11,9,8, and 6 year old. It was enjoyable for my husband, my father and I also. We were there for 3 hours and just enjoyed walking around. There are many very interesting things to see, read, and hear. All the exhibits looked so real and gave so much information. I liked that we were able to go at our own pace. We were not rushed and not a lot of people there. They have a cafeteria but they were closed. And there’s no place to buy something to drink. So make sure you are stocked up with water and snacks if you’re bringing kids.

We visited this museum late on a Saturday. There were only a few other guests as we hurried to the observation tower that closes earlier than the museum.

The museum is huge, and we were hard pressed to fit it all in during the 1 1/2 hour we had before closing time. Although beautiful and well done, we found it kind of sterile until we reached the re-created Native American Village on the lower level.

The village is an immense, life-sized diorama of a village from the 1500's. It was very educational, especially because of the included audio tour. We learned more there than in the rest of the museum combined.

Overall I thought the museum was a little pricy, but it redeemed itself with the village. I would like to see them drop the price by $5 a person, but even so I would not hesitate to recommend the museum. I would like to see all schools take a field trip here if possible. It would also be great for scout troops.

I really enjoyed this place, the Indians looked almost real, the village so real, I felt I stepped back in time. The place is so clean, the gift shop is very nice, I really enjoyed the history and especially the movies. Most of the time I was the only one in attendance. They have a shuttle from the hotels that drop you off at the doors.

Have been here a couple of times with my kids for field trips. There's a lot to see, so plan on being there for several hours.

I've visited the museum on several occasions and this re-opening proves you can make a good thing better. Exceptional tour guides. Interesting events in progress, such as the canoe burn, terrific exhibits. This is a world class museum not to be missed.
The new Pequot Cafe had some delicious offerings. Make sure you try it.

We brought our 8-year-old and 3-year-old here for spring break and can only say they loved it, and the three hours we alloted weren't long enough for them. Having read other reviews, we asked for a tour guide, who took us on an hour-long walkthrough of the museum so we'd have a good overview and could come back to the exhibits on our own. Of course, the Indian village at the bottom level was the most exciting place to visit (although the Insect Exhibit was a close second). The sculptures of the Indians are unbelivable, so life-like. After spending an hour or so in the village, using the free audiophones, we took a lunch break. Good food, fair prices. We closed off our day going up the tower, with it's beautiful overview of the countryside. In fact, the only negative for the whole day was the gift shop, which offers some attractive items, but seems to be half empty. And did I mention free parking? This is a place every child, and adult, should visit ... you won't regret it.