National Museum of the American Indian

This is a don't miss attraction!

National Museum American Indian on the National Mall -
located at Fourth Street & Independence Ave., S.W.
(the entrance is on Third Street)
Washington, DC 20560 Phone: 202-633-1000
Call for tickets or arrive early and take your chances.

With its central location on the National Mall between the
Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum and the U.S.
Capitol Building, it is easily accessed from the L’Enfant
Plaza Metro Station by all lines except Red.

The museum opened to the public on September 21, 2004.

This museum had so many fascinating exhibits its hard to
know where to start. The building itself is outstanding in its
design with the stone exterior seeming to wave in the wind.
The architects, project designers, and construction crews
were chosen from varied Indian tribes and 500 tribes were
consulted during the planning phases. The building is open
in the center and has huge stairways which wind around
that vast open space. For more details on the building itself:
http://www.nmai.si.edu/subpage.cfm?subpage=dc&second=building&third=architect


Starting at the top floor we stopped for a short film in the
360 degree Lelawi Theater. The film is displayed on four
screens in the center, as well as the domed ceiling, and
what appeared to be a rock in the middle of the floor was
changed from rock to running stream and then to a blazing
fire. Scenes blending one to another accompanied by the
Native American music, prepare you for your trek through
the museum and its vast and varying cultures. A number
of niches were prepared in the walls and down in the center
for beautiful displays of beadwork, quillwork, and other items.

On the 3rd floor we saw facinating montages that depicted
countless tribes in their past and present. There was an area
that showed layers of identity. For American Indians, who
you are, what you think, how you dress, where you fit in,
and both how you see yourself in the world and how the
world sees you is shaped by language, social and political
consciousness, location, community membership, customs,
and beliefs.

The second floor has a huge shop full of Native American
items from food to books, clothing to jewelry. We spent
quite a bit of time browsing in the shop. There appears to
be quite a bit of empty space ready for more exhibits on
this floor.

On the first floor may well be one of the best food options
in the whole Smithsonian complex in the Mitsitam Café
(mit-seh-TOM) meaning “let’s eat” with its tradional and
native foods. Unfortunately we weren't hungry at that time
but we looked at the menu which seemed well priced and
offered all levels from snacks to a full meal of salmon or
buffalo. Certainly later when we ended up eating Subway
in another museum we wished for the offerings we had
passed on earlier in the day.
http://www.nmai.si.edu/

Many of the teaching guides are available as PDF's here:
http://www.nmai.si.edu/subpage.cfm?subpage=education&second=pub#familyguide

Many exhibitions are available online as well:
http://www.nmai.si.edu/subpage.cfm?subpage=exhibitions&second=online