Interactive Journey Invites Guests to Explore Mohegan History, Symbols, and Stories
Mohegan Sun is excited to introduce an all-new self‑guided Mohegan Cultural Tour, inviting guests to experience the sights and sounds of the Mohegan People and the living spirit of the Tribe’s history woven throughout the property. The journey explores the stories, traditions and symbols of the Mohegan Tribe—brought to life through architectural details and cultural expressions. The tour begins with a message from Sôksqá Mutáwi Mutáhash (Chief Many Hearts), Lynn Malerba, the Mohegan Tribe’s lifetime Chief and the first woman to hold this esteemed role in more than 300 years, setting the tone for the tour. A message from Mohegan Elder and former Mohegan Tribal Chairman, Bruce “Two Dogs” Bozsum, who also serves as the narrator, then follows as part of an introduction to the Winter Entrance Gallery. Throughout the tour, guests can scan QR codes at designated locations to access engaging content.
“At Mohegan Sun, showcasing the rich history and themes of the Mohegan Tribe has always been a very meaningful part of our guest experience,” said Jeff Hamilton, President & General Manager of Mohegan Sun. “This new self‑guided tour significantly elevates that tradition, reflecting on and showcasing the Tribe’s heritage, stories, artifacts, and much more. We hope visitors leave with a deeper appreciation for the Mohegan story and the living culture that continues to guide everything we do.”
The Winter Entrance Gallery begins the cultural tour, an area between the Earth Expo & Convention Center and Sift Bake Shop, displaying the history and the many symbols of the Mohegan Tribe, including baskets weaved from ash, oak or shaped from bark, brass kettles, toboggans, snow shoes, snow snakes and more. These items reflect the Mohegan People’s knack for skilled craftsmanship, resourcefulness, and a time-honored understanding of the natural materials that sustains their way of life. This area of the tour also showcases a map of the Delaware Migration. The Mohegan people are part of the broader Algonquian‑speaking cultures of southern New England, with historical records linking their origins to the Lenni Lenape (Delaware) and a major migration from the Hudson River Valley into present‑day Connecticut. Identifying as an ancient Wolf Clan of the Delaware, the Mohegans first lived in the region as part of the Pequot before internal divisions led Uncas to form the independent Mohegan Tribe and establish its distinct identity.
Guests are then invited to to the next section of the tour, titled Fireside Stories – stories that have been passed down through generations, recounting the Tribe’s values, history, and ancestral wisdom through tales of Moshup the Giant, the Little People(Makiawisua) and powerful spirits.
The tour then encounters artwork by Mohegan artist Kristin Emilyta, whose paintings draw on her family’s legacy and her own vivid memories of Mohegan traditions. Her work—featured in regional museums and cultural exhibitions—celebrates identity, ancestral connection, and the living spirit of the Tribe.
Throughout the Winter Entrance Gallery, guests encounter sacred Mohegan sites that reflect the Tribe’s history and spiritual heritage, including Moshup’s Rock, Fort Shantok, the Uncas cabin foundation, and the historic Mohegan Church, which will celebrate its 200th Anniversary in 2031. The tour also highlights the Tantaquidgeon Museum and the restored Royal Mohegan Burial Ground, showcasing the Tribe’s enduring commitment to preserving and protecting its sacred places.
The Winter Entrance Gallery concludes with an area dedicated to the roles and responsibilities of the current Mohegan Tribal Council and the Mohegan Council of Elders.
The next phase of the cultural tour brings guests to a striking sculptural smudge pot, visible from the escalators on the way down to Casino of the Earth from the Winter corridor. This sculpture symbolizes the Mohegan practice of burning sacred herbs to cleanse spaces and invite clarity and good spirits. Cast from a mold created on the Mohegan Reservation, it stands beside an illustration of the Wolf Moon—one of the 13 Moons of the Mohegan lunar calendar, representing the challenges of winter and the storytelling season. Visitors are encouraged to look for the remaining Mohegan Moons throughout the tour.
As the tour moves from Casino of the Earth into The Shops at Mohegan Sun and Casino of the Sky, guests will pass the iconic Maheehkunuk rock figure and wolf at the Spring Gateway near the Mohegan Sun Box Office. This symbol reflects the Mohegan identity—“Mohegan” meaning Wolf People in the Mohegan language—and honors the Tribe’s values of loyalty, strength, and family.
The wolf represents the Mohegan people’s connection to the land, their ancestors, and their enduring spirit. Behind the rock, guests will also find a special carving created by the honorable Mohegan Chief Ralph Sturges, gifted to Mohegan Sun as an expression of his dedication to the tribe and its legacy.
At the entrance to Casino of the Sky, guests can look down to see the round mosaic featuring the Turtle, Turkey, and Wolf—clans of the Lenni Lenape, with the Mohegans belonging to the Wolf Clan. Within the dark red wolf, guests can notice the hidden turkey shape.
Beyond the mosaic stands the Tree of Life, reflecting the Mohegan belief that time is a circle connecting past, present, and future. Sculptural wooden arches represent the roots, trunk, and branches, honoring ancestors, today’s Mohegan community, and generations to come, while beaded canopies echo sacred red cedars. To the left of the Tree of Life, Mohegan Sun’s largest interior mural depicts humanity emerging from nature through the image of a man formed from the Earth, reinforcing the enduring connection between people, the land, and the spirit world.
The journey through The Shops at Mohegan Sun and Casino of the Sky then offers tour guests the below highlights:
- “River Blue” Sculpture: A towering hand-blown sculpture by famed glass artist, Dale Chihuly, features 2,500 hand-blown glass pieces in vibrant cobalt blue, shimmering silver and clear tones. The 10,000-pound art piece evokes the powerful swell of water rising in a single, dramatic motion.
- Taughannick Falls: A part of Todd English’s Tuscany, this powerful waterfall cascades down seven stories, symbolizing Taughannick Falls—an area in what is now upstate New York where the Mohegan people once lived. This region is known for its breathtaking waterfalls and rugged gorges. During the Mohegan migration to Qunutukut—what we now call Connecticut—crossing the Taughannick Falls area was especially dangerous. As Mohegan medicine woman Emma Baker said in the late 1800s, “This is where our folks came from—away, to the hills of Taughannick!”
- Michael Jordan’s Steak House & MJ23 Sports Bar & Grill: Located near the Sky Convention Center features a dome just outside the entrance to both Michael Jordan restaurants. Guests can step into a circular pattern within this area, look up with the dome directly above, and stand in a spot designed to create to create an echo. The feature at Mohegan Sun was inspired by the spirit of childhood and finding joy in life’s simple moments.
- Wombi Rock: A Living Mountain of Light and Spirit: At the heart of the Casino of the Sky rises Wombi Rock, a 65‑foot crystal formation inspired by the Mohegan belief that rocks hold spirit, energy, and memory. Crafted from 3,774 hand‑selected onyx slabs sourced internationally and finished by artisans in Italy, the structure is laminated to glass to allow light to radiate through its surface. Above, a planetarium‑style dome symbolizes the ever‑changing sky and Mohegan cosmology.
- Sky Tower Hotel Lobby: This iconiclobby features a captivating design rooted in Mohegan storytelling, featuring trees, water elements, and a river flowing toward Taughannick Falls. Shaped like a giant birch-bark basket, the space honors a long‑standing Mohegan tradition where baskets serve as both functional tools and carriers of history. Intricate beadwork woven throughout the trees adds texture and meaning, celebrating the artistry and cultural legacy of the Mohegan Tribe.
- Matt Harris Turtle Painting: Also located in the Sky Tower Hotel Lobbyand inspired by the Lenni Lenape Creation Story, a Grandfather Turtle painting by Mohegan Tribal member Matt Harris is on display. The painting depicts the sacred narrative of the turtle raising its back from the waters to form the land, giving rise to life and humanity. It draws from one of the earliest recorded tellings of the story by Elder Tantaqua in 1679, about the enduring connection between land, water, spirit, and creation.
For more information on the new Mohegan Cultural Tour, please visit mohegansunculturalcorner.stqry.app/
Just down the road from Mohegan Sun, guests can also explore more Tribal history at the Tantaquidgeon Museum, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2031.
ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN
Owned by Mohegan, Mohegan Sun is one of the largest, most spectacular entertainment, gaming, dining and shopping destinations in the United States. Situated on 185 acres along the Thames River in scenic Southeastern Connecticut, Mohegan Sun is home to two unique casinos, 1,600 deluxe hotel rooms, two world-class spas, two distinct convention centers, an expo center, a golf course, over 70 shops, restaurants and bars as well as three award-winning entertainment venues including a 10,000-seat Arena. Mohegan also operates an iGaming division, Mohegan Digital, in Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Ontario, CA providing cutting-edge online gaming solutions to Mohegan’s loyal fan base. Mohegan Sun is within easy access of New York, Boston, Hartford and Providence and located 15 minutes from the museums, antique shops and waterfront of Mystic Country. More information is available by calling 1.888.226.7711 or visiting mohegansun.com. Connect with us on Facebook, follow us on X and Instagram @mohegansun and view us on YouTube.
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