PLATTSBURGH — A soon-to-open exhibit at the Clinton County Historical Museum will feature artifacts highlighting the history of Native Americans in this region.

The museum received a $10,000 grant from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership to research its collection of Native American artifacts in anticipation of the new exhibit, which is slated to open in early April.

OLDEST IN COLLECTION

"The exhibit will focus on the presence of Native Americans in pre-history and history in what has become Clinton County," said Tricia Davies, director/curator for the Clinton County Museum.

"These (Native American artifacts) are some of the oldest objects and most important objects in our collection."

The museum has displayed a few Native American items from its collection over the years, but the new exhibit will feature a wide range of artifacts, including arrowheads, stone tools and other symbols of a culture that lived here long before Samuel de Champlain made his European discovery of the lake that would come to bear his name.

LAUNCHED BY INTERNS

"I wouldn't have expected to put this (project) into motion if we didn't have this grant," Davies said. "It's allowed us to hire for a short time Melissa (Peck) to continue cataloging the collection."

Peck and Janelle Jaeger, both former interns, began the lengthy process that is now nearing completion.

Their efforts have allowed Davies to focus her attention on collecting information from area educators and historians to create the most effective and appropriate display.

"I was astounded to learn that a textbook on New York history that is being used locally has pictures of two artifacts from our collection," she said.

TOUCHING HISTORY

The exhibit will now bring the history of the region to life for area youngsters.

"I always tell my students that history happened here to get them interested in the subject," said Momot Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Michelle Gottschall.

"Making the connection between these local artifacts and what they read in the textbook really hooks them into social studies.

"Now that there will be an exhibit so close to school that is so closely related to the curriculum we are learning about, students will have the opportunity to get close to history and make it even more personally relevant.

"I am so excited that my students will actually get to see and touch these prehistoric treasures and not just look at them in books."

EXHIBIT LEAVING

The new exhibit will be on display in the museum's Strategic Waterways Gallery.

The gallery has hosted an exhibit on loan from the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum that chronicles underwater archaeology from Lake Champlain over the past few decades. That exhibit will soon return to the Maritime Museum's facility in Vergennes, Vt.

The museum does not know where many of the artifacts in the Native American collection originated from, but Davies is also working with regional history enthusiast Thomas Pray on including display items that were found in specific locations.

Clinton County Historical Association Board President Helen Nerska also has some artifacts from specific locations that she will include in the exhibit.

EXPERT PARTICIPATION

Davies will work with John Fadden of the Six Nations Indian Museum in Onchiota on developing strategies for a strong display.

She would also like to tie the historic collection to modern times by inviting local and regional Native American experts to offer storytelling and other hands-on activities.

'SUPERIOR WORK'

Meanwhile, with the efforts put in by Peck and Jaeger, the association will have a much stronger understanding of what the Native American collection includes.

"It's been very interesting for both of us," Peck said of the work she and Jaeger have done.

"The experience has opened doors for both of us. Janelle has gotten a job in Buffalo, and I'm working at the Plattsburgh State Art Museum. Our internship here gave us a good look at the collections process."

"They were both hired on as project interns after their graduation (from Plattsburgh State) because we were awarded this grant and because Melissa and Janelle did superior work previously," Davies said.

The 800-plus artifacts cataloged by Peck and Jaeger will be transferred onto PastPerfect via Excel and will be fully accessible for research purposes once the project is complete.

Email Jeff Meyers at: jmeyers@pressrepublican.com