5 things to see and do at Indian Steps Museum

Video: Climb the ancient stoneand creaky wood steps of the Indian Steps Museum tower

Indian Steps Museum stands a monument to Native Americans.

The 1912 arts-and-crafts style building showcases a ceremonial room, artifacts ranging in age from 10,000 to 500 years old, and stained glass windows depicting Native American life.

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The cabin was built by John Vandersloot, a local attorney who found the Native American artifacts on his property. He became so enamored with what he was finding that he traveled around the country to learn as much as he could about native peoples, said Martin Weiss, executive director of the Conservation Society of York County.

The museum has been visited by people locally as well as from other countries.

Here are 5 things to see or do while visiting Indian Steps Musuem:

1. Step into the Kiva

The ceremonial room is built in the Southwest Hopi and Navajo tradition, Weiss said. Out west, kivas were built below ground and made out of timbers. But at Indian Steps, it is above ground and built with rocks from the Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal.

"This is really, I think, the coolest room in the whole place, and it is kind of breathtaking on many different levels," he said.

The table, for example, is made of 2.5 tons of Ohio sandstone, which was quarried locally and brought to the cabin. The benches are made of single pieces of wood, which could not even be purchased today.

2. See the Native American artifacts embedded in the building

This technique wouldn't be allowed these days, but Vandersloot wanted to display the items that he found. The artifacts include arrows, spear heads and a soapstone image. He didn't want them to be hidden somewhere.

"His motivation was to put these in a place where people could see them and appreciate them," he said. "Because he truly wanted people to understand and appreciate the ethnic diversity, and he's one of the first people in his writings to use the term 'ethnology.'"

3. Enjoy the view of the Susquehanna River

The area has always been known as Indian Steps. That's because steps were carved in the rocks for the Native Americans to go down to the river, which was lower at that time. Those steps are no longer visible because when the hydroelectric plant was built, the water covered up them up.

Weiss said he stands on the front porch of the museum and looks at the river.

"No two days are the same," Weiss said. "Every day is different. The river changes constantly."

4. Admire an old American holly tree.

On the grounds of Indian Steps Museum stands a 350-year-old tree. It is believed to be one of the biggest holly trees at latitude 38. It stands 65 feet tall, and its branches spread 65 feet as well, according to the museum's website.

The tree was under water from flooding in recent years. It has been a little sick, and the society is trying to save it, Weiss said.

5. Visit the 2015 Native American Festival in September.

It's the biggest event at the museum. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sept. 26 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 27. The host drummer this year will be Dave White Buffalo. Admission will be $5 per person for one day or $20 for a group of 6. To attend both days, the cost will be $8 per person and $25 for a group of 6.

If you go

What: Indian Steps Museum

Where: 205 Indian Steps Road, Airville, PA 17302

Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and holidays. It will be open through Oct. 31.

Admission: $5 per person or $15 for groups of up to 6.

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