The Ancient Americas

When the first European explorers arrived, tens of millions of Indigenous people lived in the Americas. But within a few hundred years, disease, slavery, and warfare had killed at least three out of every four people. Many Indigenous cultures were destroyed. But some people endured to carry their languages, histories, and cultural traditions forward into the future.

Today, Indigenous peoples are integral members of the modern world, living in North, Central, South America, the Caribbean, and around the globe. They work in all professions—including government, law, art, and medicine. They are also parents, friends, and respected mentors within clan, tribal, and communal organizations.

Every day, contemporary Indigenous peoples draw on their past as they live in the present and prepare new generations for the future.

Exhibiting Indigenous History

One way in which Indigenous peoples keep their histories and cultural traditions alive is by sharing them with others. The Ancient Americas exhibition and its related educational programming were developed in collaboration with Indigenous and Latino advisors from across the Americas. These dedicated individuals provided mentorship and guidance throughout the course of this project.

To learn more about other Field Museum exhibitions that address Indigenous peoples, skip to Related Exhibitions.

Beyond the European Invasion

The Ancient Americas exhibition features over 10,000 years of Indigenous histories in the Americas, leading up to European contact. A future Field Museum exhibition will examine the tumultuous colonial history of the Americas, covering the Americas from 1492 through today.

Continue to Chicago's Indigenous History. >>