Located in Pawhuska within the Osage Nation Reservation, the Osage Nation Museum is the oldest tribally owned museum in the United States. Established in 1938 by the Osage Nation, the museum was created to preserve, interpret, and protect Osage history, language, and cultural traditions for future generations. Today, it remains a powerful expression of Tribal sovereignty and self-representation.

ABOUT OSAGE NATION MUSEUM

Set amid the rolling hills of Osage County, the museum reflects the landscape that has shaped Osage identity for generations. After removal from their ancestral homelands in present-day Missouri, Kansas, and Arkansas, the Osage purchased this land in northeastern Oklahoma in the 19th century, securing a permanent homeland. The tallgrass prairie, wide skies, and sandstone bluffs surrounding Pawhuska form both a physical and cultural backdrop to the Osage story.

Inside, exhibits highlight Osage history from pre-contact times to the present day. Visitors encounter traditional clothing, ribbon work, beadwork, photographs, and historical documents that speak to the resilience and adaptability of the Osage people. The museum also addresses the oil boom era of the early 20th century, a period of immense wealth for the Osage Nation that was followed by violence and exploitation, now widely known through renewed national attention.

Contemporary Osage artists are featured alongside historical artifacts, reinforcing that Osage culture is living and evolving. Language revitalization efforts, community traditions, and ceremonial life continue to define the Nation today.

For Route 66 travelers venturing into Osage County, the museum offers an opportunity to understand the land through Osage perspectives. It is not simply a historical institution, but a cultural center rooted in identity, continuity, and Nationhood.

COLLECTION

The ONM Permanent Collection comprises works of art, artifacts, historical photographs, and ethnographic and archival material. In 1927 the Osage Council purchased the collection of John L. Bird, a trader who began collecting Osage material around 1883. The Bird Collection forms the nucleus of the permanent collection. It has expanded over the decades to include distinct collections of Henry Pratt, W.B. Mathis, Lee Wilcox, Tamara Erikson, and Lilian B. Mathews, among others.

VISITOR INFORMATION

Rotating Art Galleries: Contemporary Osage artwork showcased throughout the year.

Educational Programming: Lectures, workshops and community events focused on Osage heritage.

Parking: On-site parking available for visitors.

Accessibility: Indoor facility with accessible entrances and gallery spaces.

Hours of Operation

Tuesday–Saturday 10:00 am–5:00 pm; closed Sunday & Monday and federal holidays.

Admission & Fees

Free (parking and entry are free; donations welcomed).