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. 

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. I would like to thank Lord Cultural Resources, Inc for the opportunity to collaborate on this endeavor and highly recommend their services to other tribal museums and/or cultural centers. Yaw^ko”

In 2023, Lord Cultural Resources was engaged to re-envision the visitor experience for the permanent exhibition at the relocated Oneida Nation Museum, renamed the Kahnekano·lú Cultural Center, in partnership with Bluewater Studio, WeatherstonBruer Associates and the Cultural Center team. The new Center includes more space to house and care for a growing collection as well as for exhibitions, programming, and events.

We are so honored to have worked closely with this 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. We have developed and designed a number of exciting exhibits that share and celebrate Oneida culture, including collection displays and hands-on experiences. Digital interactive exhibits include an immersive projection of the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address, a responsive dance interactive that lets visitors learn traditional social dances, as well as hands-on interactives that speak to the relationship between sovereignty and community, Clans, the Three Sisters, and so much more.

The Kahnekano·lú Cultural Center opened to great acclaim and celebration June 2026.