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National Museum of the American Indian
Courtesy of National Museum of the American Indian

Hours:

  • 10 to 5:30
    Closed December 25

Location:

  • 4th St. at Independence Ave., SW
    Washington, DC

Phone/Website:

Metro:

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  • L'Enfant Plaza Station (Use Maryland Ave./Smithsonian museums exit)

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Shop at the National Museum of the American Indian

The Chesapeake Museum Store (1st floor) offers beautiful, one-of-a-kind silver and turquoise jewelry, pottery and textiles handmade by Native artisans. Find books, music, jewelry, T-shirts, toys and souvenirs in the Roanoke Museum Store (2nd floor).

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Eat at the National Museum of the American Indian

The Mitsitam (meaning "let's eat") Native Foods Cafe (1st floor) offers a Native-inspired menu from five different regions—including Indian tacos made with frybread, fire-roasted salmon, buffalo burgers, desserts, snacks and beverages. Cafe hours: daily, 10 to 5. The cafe's full menu is available from 11 to 3, with a smaller menu from 3 to 5.

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saddle bag

Tips

Begin your visit by watching the 13-minute film “Who We Are” in the Lelawi (leh-LAH-wee) Theater. Hand-held translators are available in Spanish, French, German and Japanese.

Look for the museum’s team of cultural interpreters, Native docents wearing tan vests, on hand to give mini-gallery tours and to share their personal stories and experiences. Ask at the information desk for the tour schedule.

For families with young children, stop by the information desk to pick up a copy of a free family activity guide.

Search the museum’s ever-expanding and easy-to-use online collections, offering more than 5,000 photographs and 800,000 artifacts.

Tours

Meet in the Potomac Atrium Monday through Friday at 1:30 and 3, weekends at 11 and 1:30; and Saturdays at 3. Reservations for groups of ten, 202-633-6644 or e-mail NMAI-GroupReservations@si.edu.

Highlights Tours

(walk-in; meet at sign in Potomac Atrium)

All tours subject to docent availability:

• Mon., 1:30 PM and 3 PM
• Tues.-Sun., 11 AM, 1:30 PM, and 3 PM


Group Tours: School

NOTE: The museum will be accepting reservations for school group tours for the upcoming school year; call Mon.-Fri.: 202-633-6644 (voice), 1-888-618-0572 (toll-free voice), or 202-633-6751 (TTY), or e-mail NMAI-GroupReservations@si.edu

• School Group Tour Schedule: Tues.-Fri., 10 AM and 11:15 AM
Tours run approximately 45 minutes
Note: No tours on federal holidays

Notes:
• To confirm already scheduled school group tours, call Mon.-Fri.: 202-633-6644 (voice), 1-888-618-0572 (toll-free voice), or 202-633-6751 (TTY).
• Although individual passes are not required for registered school groups, teacher must show confirmation letter for entry.
• School groups are to enter at the museum's south entrance on Maryland Ave.


Tours for Visitors with Hearing or Visual Impairments

(by appointment only, 2-week notice required; call Mon.-Fri., 9 AM-6 PM, except federal holidays: 202-633-6644 (voice), 1-888-618-0572 (toll-free voice), or 202-633-6751 (TTY), or e-mail NMAI-GroupReservations@si.edu)


Cultural Interpreters: Welcome and Orientation

(walk-in; 1st level, meet in Potomac Atrium)

Cultural interpreters welcome visitors and offer a 10-minute orientation to the museum.

• Every Mon.-Fri., 1:30 PM


Gallery Talk: Our Lives

(walk-in; 3rd level, meet at exhibition entrance)

Cultural interpreters offer a 30-minute gallery talk in Our Lives.

• Every Tues. and Thurs, 3 PM


Gallery Talk: Our Universes

(walk-in; 4th level, meet at exhibition entrance)

Cultural interpreters offer a 30-minute gallery talk in Our Universes.

• Every Mon., Wed., and Fri., 3 PM


Highlights Tours

(walk-in; meet in Potomac Atrium, 1st level)

A cultural interpreter gives a 45-minute overview of the museum's history, landscape, building, exhibitions, and other points of interest.

March through May, 2009:
• Sat. and Sun., 1:30 PM


Permanent Exhibition Tours

(walk-in; meet near elevators, 3rd or 4th level)

A cultural interpreter gives a 20-minute tour of one of the permanent exhibitions -- Our Lives, Our Peoples, or Our Universes -- featuring different Native communities, perspectives, and ideas.

March through May, 2009:
• Mon.-Fri., 3 PM


Special Exhibition Tours: Fritz Scholder: Indian/Not Indian

(walk-in; meet at exhibition entrance, 3rd Level)

Look for our friendly cultural interpreter who will give a 45-minute tour of the related exhibition.

June 1 through August 16, 2009:
• Fri.: 3 PM


Group Reservations: Museum Entry Procedures

It is strongly recommended that all groups of 10 or more register at least 3 weeks in advance for timed entry to the museum; call Mon.-Fri., 9 AM-6 PM, except federal holidays: 202-633-6644 (voice), 1-888-618-0572 (toll-free voice), or 202-633-6751 (TTY), or e-mail NMAI-GroupReservations@si.edu

Note: Registered groups are to enter at the museum's south entrance on Maryland Ave.