The Lumbee tribe, with over 50,000 members, is one of the most prominent of North Carolina’s American Indian groups and one of the largest tribes in the United States. Historians believe the modern tribal name originates from the Lumber River, which traverses the area and is an important historical, cultural, and spiritual symbol for many tribal
members. Along with Scotland County, most Lumbees reside in Robeson County and the adjacent counties of Cumberland and Hoke, and these four counties are considered by the Lumbee Tribal Council to be the tribe’s home territory.
Part of the North Carolina Rural Heritage Center, the Indian Museum of the Carolinas emphasizes people of the southeastern region, but you’ll also find artifacts and exhibits of tribes from other regions, including the southwest and Mesoamerica. Some of these artifacts are more than 10,000 years old.
The permanent collection contains more than 200,000 authentic artifacts, including pottery, jewelry, clothing, tools, and weapons,
