MIFFLIN — Gauging the success of an event by how fast the ice cream sells out might seem a bit strange to some folks.

To Jessica Eaton Guyer, curator of the Tuscarora Academy Museum in Mifflin, the tasty treats have proven to be the perfect measuring stick over the years. After all, it is the museum’s Fourth Annual Indians and Ice Cream Day from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 13.

Back by popular demand, the museum, operated by the Juniata County Historical Society, will display its collection of bags and moccasins from plains tribes spanning 1880 to 1900, along with other Indian artifacts.

This year, they’ve also paired with the Perry County Historical Society and avid artifact collector Andy Paige, of Thompsontown, to share their knowledge and display their wide array of prehistoric and Native American tools and weapons.

“We’ve been wanting to partner with our friends at neighboring societies for some time now and the stars have finally aligned,” Guyer explained. “For people who have come to this event before, it provides new items for them to see.”

Paige will bring his collection and plans to display a granite celt, large pestle — used for grinding or crushing — and a rare bell ax. Paige’s unique pieces include Susquehannock tubular trade beads from a Washington Borough site in Lancaster County. The glass tubular-shaped beads were brought to the United States by Europeans and were used for trade with American Indians.

“The most exciting part for me is seeing so many more people visit this special hamlet of Academia to expand their knowledge,” Guyer said. “The site has been a place of learning since 1836 so it makes me proud to see visitors continue the tradition.”

Guyer stresses the ice cream, courtesy of the Crème Stop in McAlisterville, is available only while supplies last. It didn’t last long a year ago when more than 100 to 150 visitors flocked to the museum, located at 472 Academia Road, Mifflin.

“We have sold out every year, but usually not until the last 15 minutes or so,” Guyer added. “Average attendance has been 100 to 150 people. It is great to hear people say they look forward to the event. I credit Anna Stroup Mianulli for the idea. Her family owns the Crème Stop. She interned for us several years ago and introduced the idea. It was an instant hit.”

Last year’s event raised $600 for the museum.

Visitors are also encouraged to bring any artifacts they have for an evaluation. The three collectors are also willing to inspect visitors’ items and possibly identify them as artifacts.

“This is the second year we’ll have our own special items on display from Plains tribes c. 1890 to 1900,” Guyer said. “We have no idea how or when these items came into our collection. Early historical society record keeping was sparse.

“But we have had them evaluated by the Smithsonian so we know what we have,” Guyer added. “They aren’t on display in the museum but we thought it was a good day to bring them out of their special storage unit.”

So, while visitors feast on a variety of ice cream flavors, they can also focus their on the displays of Indian artifacts.

Of course, the museum sits less than a mile from the Book Indian Mound, an archaeological site consisting of the remnants of a burial mound and prehistoric village. A wide range of pottery and a large number of bones, including 22 skulls, were discovered during an investigation of the site in 1929. In 1986, the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

While the artifacts will be outside under canopies, the museum will also be open for regular tours.

The event will be held rain or shine.