This November, Reisterstown Main Street, in partnership with the Maryland Horse Library & Education Center and Baltimore County Public Library's Reisterstown Branch, is introducing Indigenous Perspectives, a series of educational opportunities recognizing Native American Heritage Month.
Through local history, art, books, displays, films, conversations, and nature, we're bringing together opportunities to learn more about Indigenous peoples, their histories, knowledge, and continuing contributions.
Piney Grove chalcedony scraper. Photo: Maryland Historical Trust, via Archaeology Magazine. |
A REMARKABLE LOCAL DISCOVERY
13,000 Years of History Beneath Our FeetDid you know archaeologists have found evidence of human activity dating back approximately 13,000 years right here in Reisterstown? At the Piney Grove archaeological site near St. John's Episcopal Church, Western Run, researchers discovered evidence of ancient stone-tool making. In October 2024, archaeologists uncovered a stone scraper associated with the Clovis period, offering a remarkable glimpse into life here near the end of the last Ice Age. Read the Full Story |
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INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE & THE LANDSCAPE
Soldiers Delight: A Landscape Shaped by Indigenous PeoplesJust a few miles from Reisterstown, Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area holds another fascinating connection to Indigenous history. Its rare grasslands and oak savannas were shaped not only by the area's unusual serpentine geology, but also by Indigenous land management. Historical research connects the Susquehannock people with the use of fire to maintain open landscapes and support hunting. Today, prescribed burns help preserve this remarkable ecosystem. It's a reminder that the landscape around us has been shaped by both nature and human knowledge over generations. Explore Soldiers Delight |
Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area. Photo: Veggies, via Wikimedia Commons. |
Reisterstown Main Street. Photo: Reisterstown Improvement Association, Inc. |
PATHS, TRAVEL & TRADE
Before Main Street: The Roads That Connected CommunitiesLong before Reisterstown's Main Street became a route for wagons, stagecoaches, and automobiles, Indigenous peoples traveled through the region using networks of paths connecting communities, hunting grounds, and trading areas. Early Baltimore County records refer to a route known as the Old Indian Road. Historian William Bose Marye used early land records to retrace portions of these historic travel routes. While the exact relationship between these Indigenous paths and today's Main Street hasn't been established, they remind us that people were traveling, trading, and connecting communities here long before John Reister established his town. Read About the Old Indian Road |
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PEOPLE, LAND & WATERWAYS
Indigenous History Across Baltimore County & the ChesapeakeLong before Baltimore County's towns and roads existed, Indigenous peoples lived, traveled, fished, hunted, cultivated crops, and traded throughout the Chesapeake region. Its rivers and waterways connected communities across the landscape. The Susquehannock, associated with the northern Chesapeake and Susquehanna River, and the Piscataway, whose communities were centered along the Potomac River, are among the Indigenous peoples with deep histories in the broader region. Colonial settlement brought profound changes, including displacement and the loss of Indigenous lands. Yet Indigenous communities and cultures continue in Maryland today. In 2012, Maryland formally recognized the Piscataway Indian Nation and the Piscataway Conoy Tribe. Their continuing presence reminds us that Indigenous history is not only about the distant past. Explore Maryland's Indigenous History |
Chesapeake region waterways. Photo: Will Parson / Chesapeake Bay Program. Aerial support by SouthWings. |
Art is a powerful way of sharing stories, preserving knowledge, and expressing identity. Across generations, Indigenous artists have created work reflecting their communities, traditions, and relationships with the natural world.
Today, Native artists work in ceramics, weaving, beadwork, painting, photography, sculpture, digital media, and much more. Their work celebrates cultural heritage while exploring contemporary experiences and new creative ideas.
Through Indigenous Perspectives and Studios at 234, we hope to create opportunities to learn directly from Indigenous artists through exhibitions, conversations, and creative workshops.
Indigenous Art Gallery
Baltimore Center Stage
Native Artists
Baltimore Museum of Art
Resonance: Indigenous Roots, Modern Expressions
Baltimore County Arts Guild
National Museum of the American Indian
Smithsonian Institution
Explore art, history, storytelling, film, and nature throughout November.
Maryland Horse Library & Education Center
321 Main Street, Reisterstown
Reisterstown Main Street is sharing a special collection of more than 30 books, artwork, jewelry, and objects from Main Street Manager Crystal Micriotti's personal collection.
Explore Indigenous art, history, geology, natural materials, jewelry, and cultural traditions. Visitors are welcome to browse the books, examine selected objects, and discover something new at their own pace.
Available throughout November during Maryland Horse Library office hours.
A Journey on Horseback: Remembrance, Healing & Reconciliation
Dakota 38 | Smooth Feather Productions
Maryland Horse Library & Education Center
321 Main Street, Reisterstown
November 13, 6-8 PM
Join us for a special screening of Dakota 38, a documentary following a 330-mile horseback journey honoring the 38 Dakota men executed in Mankato, Minnesota, on December 26, 1862.
Inspired by a dream experienced by Dakota spiritual leader and Vietnam veteran Jim Miller, the journey brings riders and communities together in an act of remembrance, healing, and reconciliation.
The film was selected for its powerful connection between horses, history, and storytelling. Through this horseback journey, Dakota 38 explores remembrance, healing, and reconciliation, showing how horses can bring people and communities together.
A virtual filmmaker conversation is being explored.
An Evening of Art, Craftsmanship & Storytelling
Maryland Horse Library & Education Center
321 Main Street, Reisterstown
November 16, 6-7:30 PM
For one evening, some remarkable pieces of Indigenous jewelry are coming out of the cabinet and into the spotlight!
As part of our Indigenous Perspectives storytelling project, Crystal Micriotti will share treasured pieces from her personal collection, along with photographs and educational materials exploring jewelry-making techniques, materials, and design traditions.
Discover the beauty and variety of Indigenous jewelry, from intricate silverwork and turquoise to distinctive regional styles. Crystal will be available for informal conversations about the collection and what she has learned as a collector.
Whether it's a family keepsake, a treasured purchase, or something you've collected over the years, we'd love to hear how it came into your life and what makes it special to you.
Visitors are invited to share memories, family connections, and the stories behind their jewelry. With permission, selected pieces and their stories may be photographed or recorded for future Main Street storytelling projects. Artists and tribal affiliations will be credited when known.
No formal lecture, just an opportunity to look closely, explore the creative process, ask questions, and share stories.
Date and additional details coming soon.
Friday, November 27, 2026 | 2–3 PM
Reisterstown Branch Library
Join the Reisterstown Branch Library for a walk through Franklin Woodland Trails inspired by Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults. Explore Indigenous perspectives on plants, nature, and our relationship with the environment.
Meet in the library lobby before heading outdoors. Designed for children and teens.
Library Event DetailsHistory grows richer when people share what they know. Do you have a story, photograph, collection, resource, or idea that could contribute to Indigenous Perspectives?
We welcome ideas from Indigenous artists and educators, historians, schools, collectors, organizations, and community members. Share a story, suggest a speaker, or help us explore something new.
Please mention Indigenous Perspectives in your message.
Read, watch, listen, and discover something new this November and beyond.
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READ
Discover a Good Book
Explore Indigenous history, culture, and contemporary life through books by Native authors.
Braiding Sweetgrass
There There
An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States
We Are Water Protectors Search by title to check availability. |
WATCH
Stories on Screen
Native America | PBS Discover documentaries exploring Indigenous history, culture, art, and contemporary communities.
Native America Find more films through Baltimore County Public Library's DVDs and streaming collections, including Kanopy and hoopla. Explore BCPL Films |
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LISTEN
Hear Indigenous Voices
Listen to stories and conversations led by Indigenous hosts, artists, and community members.
All My Relations
Native America Calling
Smithsonian Sidedoor |
DISCOVER
More Ways to Explore
Indigenous Peoples Celebration A free event featuring educational activities, demonstrations, and Indigenous history.
Explore from Home |
Indigenous Perspectives brings together local history, educational resources, community stories, and opportunities to learn from Indigenous knowledge and creativity.
An initiative of Reisterstown Main Street, in partnership with the Maryland Horse Library & Education Center and Baltimore County Public Library's Reisterstown Branch.
Where History Meets the Road to Tomorrow.
