The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Museum was a dream, then a passion of Amelia Peters Bingham, in which she saw the opportunity to highlight the rich indigenous culture and historic significance of the Town of Mashpee, on Cape Cod, is known as the Land of the Wampanoag. The idea also coincided with the 100th anniversary of the 1870 incorporation of the Town of Mashpee. The Native Community embraced the concept of self-determination to show the world who we are and how we survived the conquest of America.

The Bourne-Avant house situated on Snake Pond Road, also known as Main Street or Route 130, was chosen as an ideal historic structure to start this small museum. This building is one of the oldest remaining homesteads located near the historic center of town, adjacent to the Mashpee River and the Herring Run across from the Mill Pond and within close proximity to the Mashpee Wakeby Lake. It was originally built approximately 1793 by Sherjashub Bourne, great grandson of the missionary Richard Bourne.

Since that time there have been many occupants of this historic dwelling the last being George and Mabel (Nakoomis) Avant. For many years Mabel fulfilled a variety of roles including Town Clerk, Tribal Historian, and mortician. This house was considered the story telling center as Mabel is remembered for this very important role.

The Museum is the geographic core of the Mashpee Wampanoag people. Eighty-five percent of Wampanoag people live within 20 miles of the Museum.