National Museum of the American Indian Opens on Mall

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Summary

  • The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian opens on the National Mall on September 21, 2004. It is the first national museum in the United States dedicated exclusively to Native Americans, the first to present all exhibitions from a Native American viewpoint, and the first constructed on the Mall since 1987. The building, designed by architect Douglas Cardinal, is five stories, with 250,000 square feet, and is located between the National Air and Space Museum and the U.S. Capitol. Opening exhibitions included "Our Universes: Traditional Knowledge Shapes Our World," "Our Peoples: Giving Voice to Our Histories," and "Our Lives: Contemporary Life and Identities."
  • "The grand opening was celebrated in front on the U.S. Capitol and included a Native Nations Procession, Opening Ceremony and a First Americans Festival that lasted for six days. Opening day alone brought more than 80,000 people to the National Mall, which included Native Nations Procession participants." --NMAI Press Release

Subject

  • Cardinal, Douglas
  • National Museum of the American Indian (U.S.)
  • United States Capitol (Washington, D.C.)
  • Our Universes: Traditional Knowledge Shapes Our World (Exhibition) (2004: National Museum of the American Indian)
  • Our Peoples: Giving Voice to Our Histories (Exhibition): (2004: National Museum of the American Indian)
  • Our Lives: Contemporary Life and Identities (Exhibition): (2004: National Museum of the American Indian)

Category

Chronology of Smithsonian History

Notes

  • Smithsonian Institution, Office of Public Affairs, Press Release, October 2004
  • The Torch, Special Supplement, No. 04-09, September 2004, pp. S1-S4.
  • NMAI Press Release, September 2005. "Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian Chronology."

Contact information

Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu

Date

September 21, 2004

Topic

  • Festivals
  • Openings
  • Historians
  • New Museums
  • Exhibitions
  • Opening Ceremonies
  • Indians of North America

Place

Mall, The (Washington, D.C.)

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