Discover OKC’s First Americans Museum: Engaging family experiences for every age child

While my kids’ age gaps aren’t large in terms of years (and oh how I felt that when I typed it!), their developmental stages are so vastly different. That means when we venture out for a day of family fun, I’ve begun to really focus on experiences that pique each of their unique interests and can span the requests of my high-energy, youngest child to my thoughtful almost-teen.

First Americans Museum is a favorite local attraction for our family. The museum expertly celebrates the cultural diversity, authentic history and contributions of the 39 Tribal Nations in Oklahoma today. Immersive, high-tech and hands-on experiences allow kids of all ages to engage in both historical and modern day exhibits, video presentations and educational opportunities.

We recently visited again with an eye for the must-see exhibits and experiences that most resonated with our kids’ ages (8, 10 and 12 — going on 22). We loved our visit and hope our carefully curated recommendations will make for a fabulous experience for your family, too!

ELEMENTARY KIDS

1. Origins Theatre. Opening the Okla Homma gallery, this 320-degree theatre shares four origin stories. We love beginning our experience literally surrounded by the animations, sounds and sights of Tribal members. While all ages will enjoy this space, the colorful imagery and storytelling format are perfect for capturing the attention of younger kids.
2. Powwow Van. When my youngest son hears we’re going to First Americans Museum, his first request is always to visit the Powwow Van. He loves climbing in the “van,” strapping on his seatbelt as he sinks into the squishy seat and being transported on a roadtrip across the state via the video screen. The sights and sounds of powwows on this virtual road trip convey the varied customs, traditions and pride from a variety of Tribal Nations. We always stay to watch the beautiful regalia and dance of our own Choctaw Nation.
3. Chunkey. Where there’s a video game, there’s a child, right?! This immersive video game that requires your entire body to play teaches a traditional game requiring strength and ability. This also helps get some wiggles out for younger visitors!
4. Veterans Gallery. Toward the end of the Okla Homma gallery, large signage and touchscreens invite visitors to understand the pivotal role of Native people in serving our country. From learning about World War II Code Talkers to looking up more recent active duty military members, my youngest son always enjoys reading about members of the Choctaw Nation in this space.

TWEENS

1. One Place, Many Nations: Acknowledging the 39. This was a new-to-us installation that takes a deep look into the unique histories, cultures and contributions of the 39 Tribal Nations. We loved looking at the displays about each Nation on the wall, especially where each came from originally, where they are located now and the cultural connections they share with other Nations. My tween especially loved the giant touchscreen table, through which you can search and learn even more facts about the Nations of your choosing.
2. Moving Fire audio pods. These cozy nooks throughout the Okla Homma gallery are storytelling experiences that resemble being seated in front of a glowing fire while you listen to the sounds of dance and oral traditions. My tween enjoyed the origin story of the bison most.
3. Sports Gallery. My sports-loving tween always enjoys the section of Okla Homma dedicated to Native people who’ve made an impact in their sport. Many of the faces and stories in this space he recognized, but he also learned about new-to-him athletes or learned that an athlete he was already familiar with has Native roots.
4. Life of an Object. On the second floor of FAM, this exhibit features  culturally significant objects that were collected from Tribal Nations by non-Native institutions in Oklahoma in the early 1900s. The exhibit takes a hard look at the ways in which non-Native scholars and collectors have often mis-represented cultures throughout the years and then contrasts that with Indigenous perspectives. This is a very unique and meaningful way to experience tribal history and better understand the value in Indigenous people sharing their own stories. My tween was especially engaged by the touch screens and moving panels throughout the gallery, and we had a long conversation on the way home about the impact of cultural misrepresentation.

TEENS

1. (Mis)representation. In this section of Okla Homma, a variety of objects that misrepresent Indigenous people are on display, including toys, costumes, decor, books and more. The exhibit explains why objects that stereotype Indigenous people are harmful. My daughter read every word, studied the objects and then helped her younger brothers understand the meaning of the exhibit and impact on everyday life. This was likely the most conversation-invoking section of the museum for our family.
2. MMIW. My 12-year-old and I spent time together learning about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis in the United States. Indigenous women are three times more likely to be the victim of a violent crime than other women, and this section explains the movement to reducing those statistic. This is an emotional topic, but with the help of a caregiver, the video and exhibits on this topic are informative and meaningful for older kids.
3. Thirty Nine Restaurant. If your child is a foodie, don’t miss Thirty Nine Restaurant inside First Americans Museum. Modern Indigenous cuisine is blended with traditional flavors with delicious and delightfully unexpected results. Even sweeter: just prior to our visit, I’d had the opportunity to interview Chef Loretta Oden, chef consultant for the restaurant and internationally-renowned for her impact on elevating Indigenous cuisine. We recognized several recipes from her new cookbook and especially loved the white bean hummus, bison burger and turkey sandwich.
4. Chef Loretta’s Garden. Just beyond the restaurant is Chef Loretta’s Garden. You don’t have to be a patron of the restaurant or have museum admission — it’s free to visit. This vibrant teaching garden changes with the seasons as Chef Loretta plants flowers, herbs, fruits and vegetables used in Indigenous cuisine. The garden is also host to FAMcamps for kids during school breaks. Don’t miss the QR codes throughout the garden where you can access Chef Loretta’s recipes. The garden is supported by Shape Your Future, a program of TSET.

What are you most looking forward to experiencing on your next visit to First Americans Museum? Do your kids have a favorite exhibit not mentioned? I’d love to hear from you at tips@metrofamilymagazine.com.