No trip to Washington, D.C., or New York City, New York, is complete without a visit to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. Come and see one of the world’s most expansive collections of Indigenous objects covering the entire Western Hemisphere. In both locations, look for the QR codes, and enjoy bilingual (English and Spanish) audio guides that can be accessed via your personal device.
For families visiting with young children, enjoy the imagiNATIONS Activity Centers at both museums. These interactive spaces provide visitors of all ages with a wide variety of experiences to learn about Indigenous cultures and innovations. Both centers are open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Photo by Matailong Du
In Washington, the museum’s award-winning exhibition “Americans” surrounds visitors with familiar images, stereotypes, and stories of Indians in the United States. Each room dives into the history behind them with a keen, critical, and at times humorous eye. The exhibition examines understandings and misunderstandings of Pocahontas, Thanksgiving, the Battle of Little Bighorn, and more. As part of the museum’s experience, the Mitsitam Native Foods Cafe offers a menu of Indigenous-inspired foods daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Located on the grounds of the museum, the National Native American Veterans Memorial recognizes, for the first time on a national scale, the enduring and distinguished service of Native Americans in every branch of the U.S. military.
Photo courtesy National Museum of the American Indian
If you are in the New York location, visit the “Native New York” exhibition. Take a journey through the city and state to explore what makes New York a Native place. The exhibition encompasses 12 places in present-day New York, introducing visitors to the Native nations that call the region home. From Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) ironworkers who helped build Manhattan’s iconic skyscrapers to Lenape (Delaware) teens visiting their ancestral home, stories of Native New Yorkers provide an expanded understanding of the region’s history and reveal that New York is—and always has been—a Native place. Stop by the Mili Kàpi Cafe for hot and cold beverages and light casual fare. Mili Kàpi means “give me some coffee” in the language of the Lenape people, the original inhabitants of New York City. The cafe is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.
Learn more and celebrate Native American Heritage Month with museum programs in person and online at americanindian.si.edu.
National Museum of the American Indian
americanindian.si.edu
Lead image:
“Native New York” exhibition
Photo courtesy C&G Partners
