National Museum of the American Indian
The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) was chartered by Congress in 1989 as the 16th museum of the Smithsonian Institution. The NMAI is the only national museum dedicated to the Native peoples of North, South, and Central America. Our educational mission is to preserve, present, and celebrate the Native cultures of the Americas.
The NMAI has one of the largest and most extensive collection of Native American art and artifacts in the world—approximately 800,000 objects representing over 10,000 years of history, from more than 1,000 indigenous cultures through the Western Hemisphere. Much more than a collection of exhibition galleries and artifacts, the NMAI actively promotes “cultural continuance.” Through our exhibitions, and most importantly, through our educational programs and outreach to Native communities, the NMAI helps Native people revive and sustain their cultural heritage. In doing so, the NMAI has established collaborative and mutually beneficial relationships with tribal communities throughout North, South, and Central America. The hallmark of this museum is that all aspects of our exhibitions and programs are presented from the Native perspective—“in the Native voice.”
The courtyard fountain and various objects from the collections housed in the new museum.