A national landmark in southwest Memphis contains some amazing prehistoric artifacts about the Native Americans that once lived there. The site, now operated by The University of Memphis, hosts powwows and heritage festivals.
Need any more clues to guess what it is?
It’s the Chucalissa Museum.
Recently, the Friends of Chucalissa gave the museum and surrounding site a $20,000 donation to expand.
Dr. Daniel Swan, anthropology professor at The U of M and director of the Chucalissa Museum, said the group is essential to the museum.
“The Friends of Chucalissa is a private, non-profit support organization that formed a number of years ago to provide financial support, advocacy and volunteer expertise to support the museum and its educational mission,” Swan said.
Even with the direct financial support the museum receives from The U of M, support from the Friends of Chucalissa is crucial to the survival of the site.
“It’s critically important because what they do is fund activities and initiatives that The U of M would not have the funds for,” he said. “Their advocacy is equally as important as their monetary contributions.”
Although the Chucalissa Museum has long had a special connection with the Anthropology Department at The U of M, the site has also been very useful to students from other areas of study as well. Swan credits the success to the interdisciplinary museum studies program at The U of M.
“We are now working with a much broader range of students, including students from history and the College of Communication and Fine Arts,” Swan said. “It is our hope that we will continue to become a more broadly based resource for a variety of disciplines and programs.”
The museum’s core mission is still public education, and although the museum does not currently have a working relationship with the education department at The U of M, Swan hopes for a connection.
Dr. Ruthbeth Finerman, professor and chair of the Anthropology Department, said the museum is a valuable asset to everyone in the community.
“The museum at Chucalissa is an invaluable resource, not just to The U of M, but to the entire community because it is key to heritage preservation and outreach to the community, and also to education and awareness of the history and peopling of this region,” Finerman said.
She also said that the museum preserves history and keeps traditions alive today.
“It is also contemporary in maintaining many of those traditions through the heritage festivals and powwows,” Finerman said. “It helps to sustain the vital heritage of the region.”
Dr. Charles McNutt, retired emeritus professor of anthropology at The U of M and former president of the Friends of Chucalissa, said The University’s ties to the museum are special.
“It’s a rather unique resource for any university to have an Indian village that is partially reconstructed as a museum,” he said. “It gets The University great publicity.”
Drew Buchner, current president of the Friends of Chucalissa, said that the status of the site contributes to it being such a great resource.
“Chucalissa is a national landmark site. It is a great research facility for anybody interested in Indian or Mississippian history,” Buchner said. “The landmark status is really important.”
Anyone interested in becoming a Friend of Chucalissa, or in attending their “Chefs and Chiefs” gala at Mud Island in November can contact the group through their website at www.chucalissafriends.com.
