Miccosukee Indian Village
Sat Oct 1, 9:00 AM - Sun Oct 2, 5:00 PM

The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida will celebrate the reopening of its Indian Village on Saturday, October 1, 2022 after an extended closure due to Covid 19. The Village is designed to showcase tribal arts and culture with crafts, airboat rides and alligator demonstrations. Visitors can observe Miccosukee Indians as they engage in the art of doll making, beadwork, patchwork and basket weaving. It’s also an opportunity to learn about the culture, lifestyle and history of the Tribe, explore the gift shop, and taste local cuisine at the Miccosukee Restaurant.

The Miccosukee Indian Village Museum showcases the Miccosukee history and culture preserved through historical documents, archival photographs and original artifacts. Opened in 1983, the museum offers visitors a glimpse into the Tribe’s unique way of life. Miccosukee history and culture is preserved through historical documents, archival photographs and original artifacts. Alongside permanent exhibits showcasing the early life of the Tribe as they adapted to the Everglades, the museum hosts rotating exhibits highlighting historical and contemporary Native American, First Nations and Aboriginal life.

Miccosukee Airboats are the best way to glide the Everglades and experience the magnificent “River of Grass.” The airboats offer a glimpse into traditional Miccosukee habitat, including a visit to a typical hammock-style camp that has been owned by the same family for more than 100 years. The expert guides show visitors a side of the beautiful Everglades that can’t be seen anywhere else.

The Miccosukee Tribe doesn’t wrestle its alligators—they love them and hope that visitors learn about them through their demonstrations. Watch brave demonstrators explain centuries-old traditions and rituals that have been handed down by generations of Miccosukee with their bare hands. The Miccosukee learned early on how to capture alligators for food and commodities like their tough skin, however times have changed and the Tribe’s relationship has moved towards conservation and education about their role in this unique environment.

The Miccosukee Tribe has a proud history, which predates Columbus. They were originally part of the Creek Nation, and then migrated to Florida before it became part of the United States.
During the Indian Wars of the 1800s, most of the Miccosukee were removed to the West, but about 100, mostly Mikasuki-speaking Creeks, never surrendered and hid out in the Everglades. Present Tribal members now number over 600 and are direct descendants of those who eluded capture.

The Miccosukee Indian Village is 30 minutes west of the Florida Turnpike, in the heart of the Florida Everglades, on Mile Marker 35 on U.S. Highway 41. You can see more at https://www.miccosukee.com/village.