Chucalissa and the C.H. Nash Museum

Chucalissa, administered by the University of Memphis, allows visitors to step back in time to explore the culture of a people that flourished before the first Europeans landed in America. Chucalissa is a Choctaw word for “abandoned house”. The archaeological remains tell us that the site was occupied, abandoned and reoccupied several times between 1000 and 1500 A.D. This site was part of a large political system called the Mississippian culture. At its height in the 15th century, Chucalissa was home to between 800 to 1000 residents.

The interpretive C.H. Nash Museum curates an extensive collection of artifacts recovered from excavations of the site. The exhibitions discuss the history of the Native Americans in the southeastern United State and their life on the Mississippi River. The museum includes an expansive outdoor archeological display and is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.