There are two major exhibit areas in the museum: the front room at the entrance focuses on North Carolina Native American history, and a second area includes rotating displays on North Carolina Indians and other tribes. From the exhibits and their interpretations, a visitor can learn about topics ranging from native foods such as nuts, fish, and cattails, to planting corn with digging sticks, playing stickball, and the role of the shaman in religious and healing ceremonies. Reflecting the Indian worldview, displays are arranged in a more circular or topical fashion rather than in a linear, chronological mode (from prehistory to the present). Because McLean was also an archaeologist, a major component of the museum's collection is prehistoric artifacts, including thousands of projectile points, stone tools, and pottery shards. However, the more recent displays depict the contemporary life of local tribes, particularly the Lumbee and the Catawba.
In addition to the exhibits inside, a seasonal Native American garden featuring plants used by the native population for food, medicine, and textiles is located on the perimeter of the museum grounds. The garden, a favorite of local students, not only serves as an instructional tool but is instrumental in research.
Southeastern North Carolina is often overlooked as an area of Native American history and culture, although the Lumbee tribe in Robeson County is the largest Indian tribe east of the Mississippi. Since its creation, the Indian Museum of the Carolinas has taken the challenge of remedying this oversight. By bringing attention to the rich heritage of the Native American peoples of this region, the museum provides the opportunity for North Carolinians to increase their knowledge and enhance their appreciation of one of the diverse cultures of the region and state.