Indian Village

Visitors at the Indian VillageThe Indian Village was created in 2007 for the commemoration of the 400th anniversary of John Smith’s exploration of Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. It provides a glimpse into life as it might have been when John Smith visited the people who lived along the Patuxent River. Although it was built using modern hatchets, knives and saws, there is nothing modern in the Indian Village. It was built right next to the shore of the Patuxent River and is surrounded by forest. You can walk to a small beach on the river just a couple of hundred yards from the Village.

The Indian Village currently has four longhouses, a central fire pit, and racks for smoking fish and meat. It is protected on one side by a palisade—a tall fence of poles set into the ground. People along the Patuxent built palisades to help keep out raiders from other tribes who would take the stores of dried corn. A working garden is located just outside the palisade where a variety of plants represent the crops Native people were growing.

The paved path leading from the parking area makes it easy to get to the Village, while interpretive signs along the path provide background information about the Native people of this area.

During JPPM’s public season (mid-April – mid-October) the longhouses are outfitted with the many different kinds of tools, furs, baskets and other materials that the Patuxent Indians would have used. There are public and school programs, and days when the Indian Village is simply open for the public to see and enjoy. Click here for information on the 2013 Indian Village Programs or visit our Calendar of Events to see what other exciting things are happening at JPPM.

New - Village Audio Tour!

Do you want to learn more about the Village? Join us on our free cell phone audio tour created by the Huntingtown High School Archaeology class of 2009-2010!  Follow the audio tour through the Village to hear from students, scholars and local Native peoples about life on the Patuxent. Just call 410-246-1966 to begin your tour or click here to listen to MP3 clips for each stop or here to view video of the making of the Audio Tour.

Spirit Pole at the Indian Village Show here is the village manager helping a young student with fire starting. If you look real close you will see the smoke coming from dried moss inside of a turtle shell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Interested in volunteering at the Village?  Contact the Village Manager at tthoman@mdp.state.md.us.