Oneida Nation Museum

The Oneida Nation Museum was established in 1979 “to provide accurate information about the Oneida and Iroquois culture, history, and nationhood”. The ability of the Oneida Nation Museum to achieve its mission has been limited by a site that is not easily accessible and a building that is very small. The need for larger and better located facilities and an enhanced visitor experience has long been recognized and in 2018 the Nation purchased an 11-acre property that includes a 19,400 sq. ft. former church building. The new Museum is intended to house a growing collection, enable implementation of larger permanent and temporary/traveling exhibitions, more space for public and educational programs, and to bring staff together. There is also an opportunity for the new site and facility to be more conductive to attendance and revenue generation.

In addition to architectural planning and design, the Nation identified the need for museum-specialist business planners to work with Museum staff and the facility planning team and selected Lord Cultural Resources to conduct the business plan. In response to the Lord final report, the Oneida Nation Museum Director, Stacy Coon, wrote that “the information provided in Lord’s Business Plan will most likely help in moving forward with the proposal of the Oneida Nation Museum to relocate to another building and expand our collection.”

In 2023, Lord Cultural Resources was engaged to re-envision the visitor experience for the permanent exhibition at the relocated Oneida Nation Museum. The new Museum will include more space to house and care for a growing collection as well as for exhibitions, programming, and events.

In partnership with Bluewater Studio and WBa Design, we are so honored to be working with this incredible Museum team to re-envision the new exhibitions so that they can continue to inspire pride in the community and create a place and space for connection.