UA’s Moundville Celebration Marks Reopening of Museum

MOUNDVILLE, Ala. — Living history and craft demonstrations, music, dance, children’s activities and crafts will help visitors celebrate the reopening of Jones Archaeological Museum at Moundville Archaeological Park.

The event will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 15, at the park, part of The University of Alabama Museums.

The reopening marks the completion of The University of Alabama Museums’ $5 million renovation of the museum. The building now features state-of-the-art interactive displays and dramatic life-size scenes that tell the story of Moundville, one of the most significant Native American sites in North America.

Ongoing craft demonstrations will include Southeastern Indian rivercane basketry, natural dyes, gourd vessels, shell carving, flintknapping and pottery making. Living history interpretations will feature weapons, prehistoric clothing and adornment, ancient hunting and fishing and fingerweaving.

Children’s activities will include face-painting, Native American football, shell necklaces and “tribal twister.” Performances will include Muscogee storytelling by Joyce Bear; a living history dance performance by Warriors of AniKituwah; Cherokee flute music by Daniel Bigay; and Choctaw social dancing by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

In addition, visitors will have a chance to experience the museum through a gallery lecture by Dr. Kent Reilly.

The opening celebration for the Jones Archaeological Museum is sponsored in part by the Alabama Humanities Foundation. A private, nonprofit organization, the AHF is the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Tickets for the event will be half the price of regular admission: $4 for adults, $3.50 for seniors and $3 for students and children. Children 5 and younger are free. Moundville is 13 miles south of Tuscaloosa on Alabama 69.  For more details, phone 205/371-2234.