Welcome to Hiawatha's
U.S. Routes 219-250 S & 33 E
Elkins, West Virginia 26241
(304) 636-4836
Begin your Elkins adventure at Hiawatha's, a specialty store, which is a destination within itself. Hiawatha's is not your usual store. Many visitors spend several hours looking at the many interesting and unusual items.
Many items are handcrafted by Native Americans, from the Southwest USA, North Carolina, and Canada, such as quivers, arrows, peace pipes, pottery, silver and turquoise jewelry, dream catchers, and many decorative wall items. Many are one-of-a-kind pieces.
For instance, Sioux pottery is made from the red clay of the Black Hills in South Dakota and a fine white clay from Kentucky. Each piece is designed, handcrafted, decorated with designs and symbols important to their culture and is signed by the artist who created it. No two pieces are exactly the same.
"Story Gourds" are handcrafted in the Central Highlands of Peru near Huancayo. Each gourd is hand carved by using a sharp nail, set in a piece of broom handle and expertly guided by the hand of the artisan who learned the craft from his or her ancestors. Each tells an interesting story of Peruvian rural life.
The Salasaca Indians, located about three hours south of Quito, Ecuador, are weavers. They raise sheep, sheer the fleece, dye the wool, spin the thread, and weave the final product, which we have for sale in our store. Their weavings are beautifully colored and depict mythical birds, animals of the Galapagos, and birds of the Andes, plus typical scenes of the area. The weaving is done reverse side up on the loom, meaning that they work on the weaving from the back.
Artisans from Montana painstakingly paint and engrave handles of many of the collectible knives in our store and mount them on animal statuary.
Wildlife figurines adorn the store, along with "almost" life-size dolls.
Voice and instruments come alive as music by Native American artists is heard throughout the store by such artists as Joanne Shenandoah, R. Carlos Nakai, John Two-Hawks, AH NEE MAH, Alice Gomez, and many others.
Capture the western spirit with boots, jeans, a western shirt, an oilskin duster (or a beaded leather jacket) and a Toby Keith hat -- and you're "good to go." Add- ons might include a new belt, buckle, wallet, and some irresistable men's cologne.
Should you work in the coal industry or around a rock quarry and miner's boots are required, try the 10" LaCrosse miner's boots at Hiawatha's.
The best price on Aigner leathergoods is found here, along with a great selection of silver, turquoise, and copper jewelry, and many styles of Minnetonka moccasins for the whole family. Annie Oakley fragrances are a popular add-on.
For those of us with "growing pains" you may choose from pain relief formulas, such as Badger, Nuwati, and Unker's. Add some copper or copper-magnetic jewelry and you've just got to feel good!
Even we adults enjoy reading the educational children's books (in our spare time, of course,) with titles like "The Education of Little Tree," "Thirteen Moons on a Turtle's Back," "Pocahontas," and "Hiawatha," to name a few. Cookbooks of various titles are available, along with many books about Indian crafts and folklore. Puzzles from b'Dazzle are almost impossible to work and make a good gift for someone who has a lot of time on their hands!
You would have to look a long time to find a store as interesting as ours.
Hiawatha's is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. You will find friendly service and helpful information about Elkins and West Virginia.
West Virginia-made jams, jellies, applebutter, and chow chow, are wonderful for the use of the buyer -- or for a gift -- the black raspberry being our favorite! Humorous T-shirts are available, along with educational ones. A customer favorite is one of a group of Native Americans with a caption underneath "Fighting Terrorism Since 1492."
There is no end to the number and type of West Virginia (some Elkins) souvenirs that are available.
Hiawatha's is a specialty store, not your usual store.
caywood@hiawathascountrystore.com
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