They walked softly upon the earth, but their stories linger in the stone and pottery work left behind for others to ponder. To catch a glimpse of what life was like for Native Americans in what would become Scotland County and beyond, the public is invited to visit the Indian Museum of the Carolinas, now reopened after a long hiatus for six days a week.

"We opened again on a regular basis about a month ago," Caretaker Richard Cummings said, "and word is starting to get out that we are in business again. We've had daily visitors and a couple of school groups come in for tours, so we expect to get more as people realize we are open."

The collection is comprised of some 200,000 artifacts from the Southeast region and more, and includes projectile points, pottery, tools and a pair of dugout canoes along with instructional displays and a library. Opened in 1972, the museum closed in 2005 just prior to the death of curator Dr. Margaret Houston, an anthropologist at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg. John Stewart, chairman of the Indian Museum of the Carolinas committee, is happy to see the attraction become accessible once again to general visitors.

"We've been opening it up by special request during the last year or so," Stewart said, "but I'm glad to say we now have a full time caretaker who will be present to give tours and discuss the history of some of the pieces. A lot of people in the community and beyond don't realize what a fine collection of pottery, tools and other artifacts we have, not only from the Southeast but from the Southwest and other regions as well."

Stewart would like to see more local support for the museum in the form of volunteers as well as visitors.

"We are trying to get more volunteers lined up to keep the museum open into the future," Stewart said. "A lot of people from Scotland County don't realize what a fine facility we have here, but we're working on changing that now."

The museum is located at 607 South Turnpike Road in Laurinburg. Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Admission is free. Phone 276-5880 for directions or information.

To become a museum volunteer, contact Stewart at 276-7238.