Seneca-Iroquois National Museum Re-Opens for Visitors
Seneca-Iroquois National Museum Re-Opens for Visitors
Just two years ago, the Onöhsagwë:de’ Cultural Center opened its doors at 82 W. Hetzel St. in Salamanca and quickly became one of the top destinations in the region. In 2019, the center, which houses the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum, welcomed over 40,000 visitors including local residents, school groups, and tourists from across the United States and Europe. At the start of 2020, the center was on pace for another busy year - that is, until spring when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the museum to close its doors for six months.
“That was a very challenging time,” recalled Seneca-Iroquois National Museum Operations Manager Hayden Haynes. “Like everybody else, we had to focus our attention on what we could do online.”
This was no easy task, for the museum has a strong reputation for its impressive exhibits, some of which are designed for in-person interactions. The museum begins with a walk through the Creation Story and cultural beliefs of the Seneca Nation, which leads to displays of traditionally crafted items, a walk through an authentic Seneca log cabin, and the story of lacrosse and its role in Seneca culture. Exhibits include the history of the Kinzua Dam, the role of women in Seneca culture, and a variety of artwork, beadwork, carvings and more.
Shortly after closing the museum’s doors, Haynes and his team got to work creating virtual introductions to the museum to share online at senecamuseum.org. “Last year was quite different without our school groups,” Haynes noted. “We did a lot of Zoom meetings with schools instead, and we’re still doing that this year. We put a lot of resources online, like videos, a link to a free book on the creation story, and information about our exhibits and archeology. Now that we’ve reopened, we’ve had several smaller groups - many homeschoolers - visit us in person.”
Although the six-month closure presented many challenges, it also provided the opportunity for Haynes and museum staff to focus on the online store, which continues to play an important role in supporting the museum. Haynes explained, “Our online store opened in the fall of 2019, and back then, we only had a few dozen items, such as our in-house designed apparel and accessories. In 2020, basically we started pouring all of our energy into the online store, and it’s been going well!”
Popular items available online and in store include original artwork, carvings, jewelry, pottery, beadwork and paddles from more than 20 Seneca artists. “Lately, our focus has been to highlight more organic foods, holistic medicines, and also promote the Hodinöhsö:ni’ crafts,” Haynes explained. “Woodwork, including the paddles, are great for stirring soups or syrups. We’re also carrying locally roasted white corn and white corn flour from Gakwi:yo:h Farms, and their maple products, too.”
Since reopening the museum in October, Haynes and his team have been developing new exhibits and looking forward to the annual festival, which is planned for June. Haynes said, “We’re very happy to be open again and welcoming visitors. Not too many people got to see one of our new exhibits last year - the Snow Snake exhibit - but we’re glad to share it now.” (Snow Snake is a spear-throwing game that was played by the Seneca to keep their hunting skills sharp.)
The museum is open Monday through Friday from 10:00am-4:00pm. Due to reduced staffing, the museum doors are locked throughout the day, so visitors are asked to call the posted phone numbers in order to gain entry. Temperatures are taken at the door, and all visitors are asked to complete the contact tracing sign-in sheet. Masks are required for the duration of the visit and safe social distancing should be practiced. Haynes encourages groups of five or more to call the museum in advance so that visits can be staggered, if necessary. To learn more about the SINM, call 716-945-1760 or visit senecamuseum.org.