While crossing off stops on our list of Minnesota Historical Society sites (we have just three of the 26 left), we visited the Mille Lacs Indian Museum in Onamia, Minnesota.  This modern museum and adjacent trading post were yet another example of the quality museums MHS has scattered around the state.

Don’t let the Onamia address confuse you; though you may not be familiar with Onamia’s location on Lake Mille Lacs, you probably know the museum’s nearby neighbor a bit more:  Grand Casino Mille Lacs.  It’s just north of the museum on Highway 169.

The museum’s location is that of a former resort and trading post on the shores of Lake Mille Lacs.  Today, some of the resort buildings are still standing, though not open, and the trading post is open, with museum displays in part of the building and Native American handicrafts and foodstuffs available for sale in the shopping area.

Just up the sidewalk, the Mille Lacs Indian Museum displays the history and culture of the Ojibwe tribe in Minnesota with multimedia displays and hands-on activities for kids.  A scheduled employee-led program depicts the historic life of the tribe, season by season, in a diorama-like setting.

Families heading up north should find the Mille Lacs Indian Museum to be an interesting stop along Highway 169.  The Mille Lacs Indian Museum is open seasonally and for special events.

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