Institution
Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
The Smithsonian's museum of Native American histories and living cultures, in Washington DC and New York
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About
The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian is the national institution for Native American histories and living cultures, with one museum in two locations: on the National Mall in Washington, DC and in New York. Its calendar is a working cultural program, from exhibitions such as Stretching the Canvas: Ten Decades of Native Painting and Water's Edge to annual public events like Día de los Muertos and Artful Evenings with Native artists.
The museum's work spans collections and research, education, online resources, and public programs that present Native traditions with institutional care rather than commodification. Its education arm serves schools and the public, and its exhibitions and film programs carry Native voices and curation.
For a marketplace directory, NMAI functions as the reference institution for Native American traditions: the place where the cultures behind those traditions are held, studied and presented by Native-led public programming. Its two locations are open daily, with exhibitions running through 2027. The institution's stated mission: To present Native American histories and living cultures with institutional care.
Mission
To present Native American histories and living cultures with institutional care.
History
The museum was established by act of Congress in 1989 and opened on the National Mall in 2004, with a second location in New York; it runs exhibitions, the daily Cultural Dance Program (at IPCC-partner sites), education and research programs.