National Museum of the American Indian - Washington, DC
National Museum of the American Indian - Washington, DC
Part of the Smithsonian Institution the National Museum of the American Indian is the sixteen museum of the group. It is dedicated to the literature, history, life, languages and arts of the Native Americans. The Museum was established in 1989 by an act of Congress. The purpose of the Museum is to protect and foster the Native American culture by reaffirming traditions and beliefs, encouraging contemporary artistic works and giving a voice to the Indians.
Virtually all of the tribes of the nation are represented at the Museum. The collections which were assembled by George Gustav Hey from 1874 - 1957 include a wide range of materials from historical artifacts to religious pieces. There are everyday items to see as well as those that are not so common. The museum's holdings also include film and audiovisual collections, paper archives, and a photography archive of more than 300,000 images depicting both historic and contemporary Native American life.
There are three facilities in the National Museum of the American Indian. Each one was designed follwoing consultations between museum staff members and Native people. The Museum incorporated Native methodologies for the handling, documentation, care and presentation of all the collections.
Some of the displays include one called the Ramp It Up: Skateboard Culture in Native America. Here you will see how the Native American Indian and Native Hawaiian communities use the skateboard for both physical fitness and competition. There are also entrepreneurs who build the skateboard parks and host the competitions.
There is also a Fritz Scholder: Indian/Not Indian display showing 135 paintings, works on paper and sculptures drawn from major public and private collections. These works of art lend a different view to the Native American lifestyle.
Our Universes: Traditional Knowledge Shapes Our World is an ongoing display focusing on indigenous cosmologies, worldviews and philosophies related to the creation and order of the universe, and the spiritual relationship between humankind and the natural world. The eight cultural philosophies shown are the Pueblo of Santa Clara (Espanola, New Mexico, USA), Anishinaabe (Hollow Water and Sagkeeng Bands, Manitoba, Canada), Lakota (Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota, USA), Quechua (Communidad de Phaqchanta, Cusco, Peru), Hupa (Hoopa Valley, California, USA), Q'eq'chi' Maya (Cobán, Guatemala), Mapuche (Temuco, Chile), and Yup'ik (Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, USA).
The Our Peoples: Giving Coice to OUr Histories is another ongoing display. The Seminole Tribe of Florida, Tapirapé (Mato Grosso, Brazil), Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma (USA), Tohono O'odham Nation (Arizona, USA), Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation (North Carolina, USA), Nahua (Guerrero, Mexico), Ka'apor (Maranhão, Brazil), and Wixaritari (Durango, Mexico)—sometimes known as Huichol—were the first communities and tribes to share their stories with visitors in the Our Peoples gallery. Two new tribal communities added their voices in 2007, when exhibitions representing the Blackfeet Nation (Browning, Montana) and Chiricahua Apache (Mescalero, New Mexico) were rotated into the gallery, replacing the Seminole and Tapirapé installations.
Location: NMAI on the National Mall
Fourth Street & Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20560
Phone: 202-633-1000
HOURS
10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. daily; closed December 25. (Exhibition spaces, café, and stores begin closing at 5:15 p.m.)
ADMISSION
Admission is free, and the building is fully accessible.
National Museum of the American Indian - Washington, DC
National Museum of the American Indian - Washington, DC
Part of the Smithsonian Institution the National Museum of the American Indian is the sixteen museum of the group. It is dedicated to the literature, history, life, languages and arts of the Native Americans. The Museum was established in 1989 by an act of Congress. The purpose of the Museum is to protect and foster the Native American culture by reaffirming traditions and beliefs, encouraging contemporary artistic works and giving a voice to the Indians.
Virtually all of the tribes of the nation are represented at the Museum. The collections which were assembled by George Gustav Hey from 1874 - 1957 include a wide range of materials from historical artifacts to religious pieces. There are everyday items to see as well as those that are not so common. The museum's holdings also include film and audiovisual collections, paper archives, and a photography archive of more than 300,000 images depicting both historic and contemporary Native American life.
There are three facilities in the National Museum of the American Indian. Each one was designed follwoing consultations between museum staff members and Native people. The Museum incorporated Native methodologies for the handling, documentation, care and presentation of all the collections.
Some of the displays include one called the Ramp It Up: Skateboard Culture in Native America. Here you will see how the Native American Indian and Native Hawaiian communities use the skateboard for both physical fitness and competition. There are also entrepreneurs who build the skateboard parks and host the competitions.
There is also a Fritz Scholder: Indian/Not Indian display showing 135 paintings, works on paper and sculptures drawn from major public and private collections. These works of art lend a different view to the Native American lifestyle.
Our Universes: Traditional Knowledge Shapes Our World is an ongoing display focusing on indigenous cosmologies, worldviews and philosophies related to the creation and order of the universe, and the spiritual relationship between humankind and the natural world. The eight cultural philosophies shown are the Pueblo of Santa Clara (Espanola, New Mexico, USA), Anishinaabe (Hollow Water and Sagkeeng Bands, Manitoba, Canada), Lakota (Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota, USA), Quechua (Communidad de Phaqchanta, Cusco, Peru), Hupa (Hoopa Valley, California, USA), Q'eq'chi' Maya (Cobán, Guatemala), Mapuche (Temuco, Chile), and Yup'ik (Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, USA).
The Our Peoples: Giving Coice to OUr Histories is another ongoing display. The Seminole Tribe of Florida, Tapirapé (Mato Grosso, Brazil), Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma (USA), Tohono O'odham Nation (Arizona, USA), Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation (North Carolina, USA), Nahua (Guerrero, Mexico), Ka'apor (Maranhão, Brazil), and Wixaritari (Durango, Mexico)—sometimes known as Huichol—were the first communities and tribes to share their stories with visitors in the Our Peoples gallery. Two new tribal communities added their voices in 2007, when exhibitions representing the Blackfeet Nation (Browning, Montana) and Chiricahua Apache (Mescalero, New Mexico) were rotated into the gallery, replacing the Seminole and Tapirapé installations.
Location: NMAI on the National Mall
Fourth Street & Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20560
Phone: 202-633-1000
HOURS
10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. daily; closed December 25. (Exhibition spaces, café, and stores begin closing at 5:15 p.m.)
ADMISSION
Admission is free, and the building is fully accessible.
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