Artworks and artifacts from the United States, spanning indigenous traditions to modern creations. This collection reflects the diverse craftsmanship and cultural narratives of American history.
His name (Long time dog) is likely an English rendering of a Hidatsa name. In Plains cultures, dogs carried strong symbolic associations with loyalty, protection, and wealth, especially before the widespread adoption of the horse, when dogs served as essential draft animals.
Young Hairy Wolf was born around 1849 and died in 1919. He served as a medicine man—a spiritual leader responsible for healing rituals, visions, and traditional medical practices.
Taken around 1905, this black-and-white image portrays one man seated and two standing, all gazing westward, as if watching the signal about to appear. It evokes the timeless essence of Native American life on the Great Plains.
As part of Curtis's ambitious documentation of North American Indigenous peoples, the photograph not only highlights Mis se pah's individual beauty but also serves as a window into the Mohave people's enduring connection to their ancestral lands along the Colorado River.
Fragmented records suggest that a man called Ben long ear lived on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana and may have been born in the late nineteenth century.
Yellow Bull’s gaze meets the viewer without embellishment, creating an immediate sense of presence. The photograph invites reflection not only on the individual portrayed, but also on the wider historical and cultural world to which he belonged.
This image of White Shield not only showcases the dignified presence of its subject but also offers a window into the rich cultural heritage of the Arikara people during a time of profound change for Native American communities.
Far from being a static or purely decorative piece, the sculpture embodies a vivid moment of life and movement atop a turtle, evoking curiosity, joy, and the spontaneous energy of childhood.
For this portrait, Hastobiga’s ceremonial attire—feather-adorned headdress, body paint, and ritual rattles—suggests Curtis collaborated with him to highlight the sacred role of the hatałii.