Cyrus Dallin Art Museum

10/19/2026

We had a wonderful Indigenous Peoples Day celebration with the Red Hawk Singers and Dancers! While this holiday is a time to honor the histories, cultures, and resilience of the Massachusett, Nipmuc, Mashpee, Aquinnah, Herring Pond, Nauset, Pawtucket, and many other tribal nations, we also understand that *every* day is Indigenous Peoples Day on Turtle Island. We hope this event inspired our community to find opportunities to support and celebrate Indigenous people throughout the year.

Thank you to our co-sponsors, the Arlington Historical Society & Jason Russell House, Old Schwamb Mill, Robbins Library, Arlington Human Rights Commission, and First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington, MA, and to the Arts Arlington Grants Committee for ​making this program possible.

10/19/2026

We had a wonderful Indigenous Peoples Day celebration with the Red Hawk Singers and Dancers! While this holiday is a time to honor the histories, cultures, and resilience of the Massachusett, Nipmuc, Wampanoag, and many other tribal nations, we also understand that *every* day is Indigenous Peoples Day on Turtle Island. We hope this event inspired our community to find opportunities to support and celebrate Indigenous people throughout the year.

Thank you to our co-sponsors the Arlington Historical Society , Old Schwamb Mill , Robbins Library, Arlington Human Rights Commission , and First Parish Unitarian Universalist Indigenous Justice Working Group, and to the ArtsArlington Grants Committee for making this program possible.

10/16/2026

10/07/2026

Massasoit Ousamequin is now on view in our Indigenous Peoples Gallery! ✨ This rare bronze bust was cast directly from Cyrus Dallin’s original full-scale model for his monument in Plymouth, Mass.

Ousamequin was the legendary Pokanoket (later known as Wampanoag) leader who, in 1621, negotiated a mutual agreement of survival with Plymouth Colony, ensuring a forty year alliance between his people and the colonists. The text rail features an image of the National Day of Mourning plaque erected adjacent to the statue by the United American Indians of New England. The plaque shares the truth of history and places Ousamequin in the context of centuries Indigenous resistance. Every Thanksgiving, Indigenous peoples from across Turtle Island gather at the site for National Day of Mourning observances.

We thank our generous donor, Manu Saini, for giving visitors the opportunity to experience this beautiful statue up close and learn about the legendary leader who inspired it. ❤

10/07/2026

Massasoit Ousamequin is now on view in our Indigenous Peoples Gallery! ✨️ This rare bronze bust was cast directly from Cyrus Dallin’s original full-scale model for his monument in Plymouth, Mass.

Ousamequin was the legendary Pokanoket (later known as Wampanoag) leader who, in 1621, negotiated a mutual agreement of survival with Plymouth Colony, ensuring a forty year alliance between his people and the colonists. The text rail features an image of the National Day of Mourning plaque erected adjacent to the statue by the United American Indians of New England. The plaque shares the truth of history and places Ousamequin in the context of centuries Indigenous resistance. Every Thanksgiving, Indigenous peoples from across Turtle Island gather at the site for National Day of Mourning observances.

We thank our generous donor, Manu Saini, for giving visitors the opportunity to experience this beautiful statue up close and learn about the legendary leader who inspired it. ❤️

09/29/2026

Indigenous Peoples Day is approaching! Join us in honoring this land’s First Peoples through the songs, dances, and teachings of the Mashpee Wampanoag and other Tribal Nations.

09/25/2026

We will hold our 30th anniversary celebration in the spring, when the weather is more cooperative! The museum will also be closed this weekend. Our wonderful volunteer guides to not get paid enough to brave this kind of wind and rain! 💨 ☔ 🌧

09/22/2026

Highlights from Art on the Green! Thank you to all of the artists, musicians, and volunteers who made this day a great success. Much gratitude to our incredible Art on the Green Coordinator Chuck Luca! ✨💫

Laurie Bogdan
Maggie Furtak of Pate Ceramics
Helen Ray
Author Kim Nagy and John Harrison
Nina Lapchyk
Felix Negrete
Sowing Opportunities, Inc. / Sembrando Oportunidades
Ginny Remedi-Brown
Rose Handwovens
Mother Earth, Sister Goddess
Nancy White
Diane Taraz
Troop 306 Arlington
Robin Henzer Wind Ensemble

09/17/2026

We had an amazing time celebrating Alex Rego of Arlington Scout Troop 306 at his Eagle Scout Court of Honor! Alex chose our Indigenous Little Free Library for part of his Eagle Scout project. One of the most touching moments ​of the ceremony was his presentation of a mentor pin to Dallin Museum volunteer Kevin Blanton. ❤

Throughout ​c​onstruction of the Little Free Library, Alex demonstrated leadership, ingenuity, and commitment. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with ​him and congratulate him on achieving the rank of Eagle Scout!

Please take a book and share a book! ​Our Little Free Library is exclusively dedicated to books by Indigenous authors. You will find a broad range of selections for readers of all ages! 📚📖🤓

09/14/2026

This time of year meant back to school for Cyrus Dallin too! 🍎🏫

Cyrus would travel by foot and trolley 3 hours round trip, 5 days a week, to teach his classes at the Massachusetts Normal Art School in Boston. A neighbor once recalled, "On the road he wore conventional clothes, but as soon as he entered the school, he would discard his outer clothing and put on a smock and beret, looking for all the world like a French artist from the Left Bank."

We love these photos of Dallin enjoying his work with his colleagues and students!

Images of Cyrus Dallin with faculty courtesy of Massachusetts College of Art and Design