Native American Studies Center

Native American Studies Center Native American Studies of USC Lancaster Nestled in the Olde English District in the heart of historic downtown Lancaster, SC!

USC Lancaster’s Native American Studies Center-- free admission six days a week. 15,000 square foot state-of-the art facility; 6,000 square feet of exhibit galleries. USC Lancaster’s Native American Studies Center
119 South Main Street
Lancaster, SC 29720
Mailing Address: PO Box 889 Lancaster, SC 29721

NASC Faculty & Staff:
Director Dr. Stephen Criswell
Catawba Language Claudia Heinemann-Priest

Archivist Logan Cocklin
Historian Dr. Evan Nooe
Curator of Collections Brittany Taylor
Public Relations Coordinator Ashley Lowrimore
Visitor Coordinator Katie Shull-McManus
Special Projects Coordinator Elisabeth Avelar
Visitor and Project Coordinator Assistant Crystal Angel-Melton
Program Assistant Beckee Garris
Assistant Curator and Program Assistant Sharon Simmers-Norton

American Indians make up less than one percent of the population, yet images of Indigenous people are everywhere—from im...
09/07/2026

American Indians make up less than one percent of the population, yet images of Indigenous people are everywhere—from imagery on commercial items and classic westerns to state names and the Tomahawk missile.

Over the past 200 years, the United States government has chosen American Indians to represent the country on medals, currency, stamps, seals, and other official items. Although this stamp has been generically labeled “American Indian,” the man featured on it is the well‐known Lakota political leader Hollow Horn Bear. He fought in the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876, became a spokesman for his people, and rode in President Theodore Roosevelt’s inaugural parade in 1905.

Visit “Americans” at the Center through Saturday, Oct. 3 to explore how taking a deeper look at the images of Native Americans that infuse American life can reveal how American Indians have been part of the nation’s identity since before the country began.

Programming in conjunction with the exhibit "Americans" continues this month with the virutal lecture, “The Mother of Am...
09/07/2026

Programming in conjunction with the exhibit "Americans" continues this month with the virutal lecture, “The Mother of America? Pocahontas, Memory, and the Stories We Tell About Our Founding," presented by Dr. Kristalyn Shefveland, Assistant Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Southern Indiana.

The talk begins at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 16.

Register for the talk here: https://bit.ly/4z6Jkvu

In person and virtual!On Friday, Sept. 23 at 3pm, Dr. James F. Brooks, Carl and Sally Gable Distinguished Professor of H...
09/04/2026

In person and virtual!

On Friday, Sept. 23 at 3pm, Dr. James F. Brooks, Carl and Sally Gable Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Georgia presents the lecture, "From the Red River to the Little Bighorn: The Struggle for Independence in Indian Country."

Held in person and virtually. Register here to attend the talk via Zoom: https://bit.ly/4hHtocO

The talk is held in conjuction with "Americans," a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian exploring how deeply intertwined American Indians are in the history, pop culture, and identity of the United States.

South Carolina Humanities Museum on Main Street Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian Olde English District Tourism Commission

Thank you to Catawba Nation drummers and dancers Quinlan, Monty, Jonathan, Logan, and Luke for sharing a bit of Catawba ...
09/04/2026

Thank you to Catawba Nation drummers and dancers Quinlan, Monty, Jonathan, Logan, and Luke for sharing a bit of Catawba history and culture in a presentation today for 8th graders at Andrew Jackson Middle School in Kershaw, SC!

The program included examples of Northern and Southern singing styles, Hoop and Woodlands style dancing, and red cedar and river cane fluting.

We are grateful to once again have the opportunity to partner with Andrew Jackson Middle School, an arts-focus school and Arts in Basic Curriculum Institute certified school, and we thank them for their incredible hospitality today!

Mark your calendars for this upcoming virtual lecture!On Thursday, Sept. 24 at 5:30pm, Dr. Brooke Bauer (Catawba Nation...
09/04/2026

Mark your calendars for this upcoming virtual lecture!

On Thursday, Sept. 24 at 5:30pm, Dr. Brooke Bauer (Catawba Nation), Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, presents the virtual lecture, "Catawba Children's Education, 1808-1910."

Register here to attend this virtual talk: https://bit.ly/4ig6cTe

The talk is held in conjuction with "Americans," a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian exploring how deeply intertwined American Indians are in the history, pop culture, and identity of the United States.

South Carolina Humanities Museum on Main Street Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian Olde English District Tourism Commission

How fascinating to watch Artist-in-Residence Shane Tucker work shapeless clay into well-defined forms! Here's a look at ...
09/03/2026

How fascinating to watch Artist-in-Residence Shane Tucker work shapeless clay into well-defined forms! Here's a look at what he created during the first half of yesterday's appearance.

See what he creates next during these upcoming days in residence:

1-5pm, Saturday, Sept. 5
1-5pm, Wednesday, Sept. 16
1-5pm, Saturday, Sept. 19
1-5pm, Wednesday, Sept. 30

Share your stories at the Communal Pen Story Station, hear Catawba artist Alex Osborn share about his artwork on display...
09/03/2026

Share your stories at the Communal Pen Story Station, hear Catawba artist Alex Osborn share about his artwork on display as part of the exhibit “Americans,” bring items for possible artifact identification, and learn how to record your family or community oral histories during a day of programming at the Center on Saturday, Sept. 19!

Programming is held in conjunction with “Americans," a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian exploring how deeply intertwined American Indians are in the history, pop culture, and identity of the United States.

For more information, visit https://nativeamericanstudies.org/americans-events
South Carolina Humanities Museum on Main Street Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian The Athenaeum Press South Carolina Arts Commission USC Lancaster
Olde English District Tourism Commission

Programming as part of "Americans”- a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian exploring how deeply intertwined America...
09/02/2026

Programming as part of "Americans”- a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian exploring how deeply intertwined American Indians are in the history, pop culture, and identity of the United States- continues this month!

On Wednesday, Sept. 16 at noon, Dr. Kristalyn Shefveland, Assistant Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Southern Indiana presents the virtual lecture, “The Mother of America? Pocahontas, Memory, and the Stories We Tell About Our Founding.”

Register here to attend this virtual talk: https://bit.ly/4z6Jkvu

South Carolina Humanities Museum on Main Street Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian
Olde English District Tourism Commission

Coming up Sept. 25 & 26!This two-day symposium explores Native American experiences, perspectives, and communities durin...
09/02/2026

Coming up Sept. 25 & 26!

This two-day symposium explores Native American experiences, perspectives, and communities during the American Revolution. The program features scholars and presenters for discussions on Catawba and Cherokee diplomacy, conflict, archaeology, movement, communities, women, and their roles in the Revolutionary era.

Events begin at the Center on Friday, Sept. 25:

• Noon - 1 P.M.: Dr. Joshua Catalano, NASC WBB Lunch & Learn Lecture Series, co-sponsored by LancasterSC250: "Unearthing Fort Rutledge"
• 5 - 7:30 P.M.: Welcome Reception, courtesy of Nutramax
• 6 - 6:30 P.M.: "Mapping Catawba Movement During the American Revolution,” lecture by Jonah Trimnal, Hampton Plantation State Historic Site

Friday events at the Center are free and open to the public.

Saturday events at USC Lancaster's Bradley Building require registration (fees apply). Visit bit.ly/4zatyzTto register for Saturday's symposium.

For more information: https://bit.ly/4bW1FBI

Address

119 S. Main Street
Lancaster, SC
29720

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 7pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+18033137172

Website

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