Two exhibits relating to Native American history are back on display at Gulf Branch Nature Center, six years after being removed for rehabilitation.
The exhibits were removed in 2020 “after years of natural aging and exposure of the organic items and signage on display,” said Jerusalem Solomon, communications/engagement manager for the Department of Parks and Recreation.
“The process kicked off during the pandemic, but despite related delays, two refreshed exhibits have reopened,” Solomon told ARLnow. “These include the ‘Native American Tools’ and ‘From the Earth’ exhibits, featuring arrowheads, pottery and more.”
The remaining exhibits — “From the Wild” and “From the Water” — are expected to reopen in July, featuring artificial fruit, nuts, animal bones, and other re-creations.
The exhibits are located in the lower level of the nature center, at 3608 Military Road. The facility is open daily except Mondays.
Although the exhibits have been offline since 2020, several other items related to Native American cultures, including a replica dugout canoe, have remained on display.
Archeological investigation has traced the indigenous heritage of what is now Arlington at least 10,000 years back. At the time of European exploration in the 1500s-1600s, three tribes — the Powhatan, Monacan and Cherokee — were most prevalent in the region.
A map published after the 1612 exploration of Capt. John Smith “documented more than 200 indigenous towns, including one near today’s Pentagon and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport,” according to a county tourism website, which adds:
“The Potomac River, a lifeline for many communities, takes its name from the Patawomeck people who lived along its banks. The 17th-century Patawomeck lived in the upper reaches of the Potomac River and might have actually lived in [present-day] Arlington.”
The local area’s Native American population had dramatically reduced by the 1700s. The Virginia state government formally recognizes 11 tribal nations across the commonwealth.
