Help me figure out how to display a giant pow wow drum

[Koalamom]

My Cherokee Ds recently got a beautiful giant pow wow drum and 4 drum sticks.  It is so heavy and awkward but so special that we just don't want to set it in a closet.  We have limited space, and did I mention 2 very young kids that would climb on it if it were too close to the ground.  Any ideas?

[coyotemist]

I know this isn't what you are wanting to hear...but a pow wow drum isn't really appropriate for small children.  They don't understand it's significance.  Personally, I would put it in a closet just for a couple years, pulling it out for special occasions and talking to the children about the drum.  When they are a bit older it can live in the living room or something (where you can supervise it's use).  In the meantime, you would be heartbroken if it was damaged, and he wouldn't realize what he lost until he was older.

[Koalamom]

The problem with closet space is we really don't have any, so it would be put in the laundry room and they may be able to get to it there too.  If it were up high some how, they wouldn't mess with it, and it would be great to be on display.  We regularly take it out and play it with the kids or out around a campfire.  We don't use it for pow wows, but for home use.

[nd_deadhead]

You answered your own question - it needs to be up high. I would build a shelf in a corner somewhere - either the living room or a bedroom - where it's out of the way.

One way is to screw 4 eyebolts into the ceiling joists, hang colored rope from the eyes, and run the ropes through holes in the corners of a piece of plywood, painted to match the walls. The weight of the drum will stabilize the shelf, or you can bracket it to a wall if it needs more stability. Or make a sling out of sturdy fabric, and suspend that from the eye bolts.

[MEcatlady17]

Originally Posted by nd_deadhead 

You answered your own question - it needs to be up high. I would build a shelf in a corner somewhere - either the living room or a bedroom - where it's out of the way.

One way is to screw 4 eyebolts into the ceiling joists, hang colored rope from the eyes, and run the ropes through holes in the corners of a piece of plywood, painted to match the walls. The weight of the drum will stabilize the shelf, or you can bracket it to a wall if it needs more stability. Or make a sling out of sturdy fabric, and suspend that from the eye bolts.

I too would find a way to put anchor hooks in the wall and hang it for display.  If people can hang giant TVs from the wall I am sure there is a way to hang the drum.  :)

[Koalamom]

So Anchored up high it will be. Now my real question is a decoration kind. How do I put it (and where) without looking stupid like some giant drum sticking out of the ceiling?