Step inside the Nanticoke Indian Museum -Millsboro, Delaware

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From the outside, the Nanticoke Indian Museum in Millsboro, Delaware looks strikingly similar to other building in the community. But, once you step inside, you begin to realize and appreciate the history, culture, and heritage of the Nanticoke people.

As you step inside, you can begin a self-guided tour that allows you to stop and view the beauty and craftsmanship of the jewelry, pottery, and weaponry, like spears and arrowheads. For many women, the superior beading and fascinating styles for the Nanticoke jewelry is always of interest.

Known as “The People of the Tide Water” you can join a guided tour to learn more about the history of the Nanticoke people, including how they lived before the Europeans joined them and how they survived the times when Europeans began to dominate the area. Many of the early European stories are even speckled with facts about the infamous Captain John Smith.

Through your tour, you can also learn more about culture of the Nanticoke people, including what they ate and how they dressed. The Nanticoke were diverse in their eating habits, learning to adapt to their surroundings. During times when they could plant, they grew great gardens filled with vegetable. When close to sea, the men would fish, but during other times they would hunt for wild game.

When it comes to clothing, the Nanticoke Indian Museum describes many of their styles of clothing. While at the museum, you will find that while living in cooler climates, the men and women of the tribe often dressed in clothes made of animal skin and furs. During summer months, they began trading with Europeans for trade cloths, which were made of cotton fabrics. For footwear, both men and women would don moccasins that provided cushion and comfort as they walked.

Powwows and times of celebration often caused the Nanticoke to dress up and present their traditional straight dances, their hoop dances, fancy dances, and toe dances for storytelling. Other types of dances, like the rabbit dance, the crow hop, and the shake dance, are wonderful dances that are used in a social setting.

Powwow drummers and singers help provide the music to which the dancers can tell their story. The dancers and those who are watching are often guided by the powwow Master of Ceremonies, who led them all to keep an appropriate flow to the festivities.

Those who are lucky enough to attend a powwow celebration will also find that they are a wonderful place to find groups of Nanticoke Indians selling and trading the goods they have made, including jewelry, moccasins, pottery, and paintings, as well as many other items. To learn more about all that is available though the Nanticoke Indian Museum, you may contact them before your visit.