National Museum of American Indian New York
My wife and I first visited the National Museum of the American Indian – New York 13 years ago when we moved to NYC. It was also one of our favorite spots to take friends when they visited. And with enough blood in my body that I can rightfully claim to be a small part Native American (Choctaw), my kids feel an intimate connection to the displays.
The museum, part of the Smithsonian Institute and officially called the National Museum of the American Indian George Gustav Heye Center, celebrates American Indians and their history. There are rooms filled with paintings, pictures, artifacts and stories from all the major tribes. The Circle of Dance display is my favorite — a variety of clothing used for celebrations is displayed in a beautiful large room, while a large screen at the end of the room plays videos of the dances for which the clothing is used. The size of the room allows for kids to try the dance steps they are witnessing on the screen for themselves.
Located in lower Manhattan inside the Alexander Hamilton Customs House, which is a beautiful feat of architecture constructed between 1902 – 1907, the museum is also worth visiting for its historical and architectural significance. The inside of the Beaux-Arts building is ornately detailed and there are many paintings and frescos dating to the building’s early days. Some of the paintings do not quite fit the current use of the building, such as paintings that are left over from when one of the rooms showcased the greatest naval commanders in history. It is odd to see the glorified faces of those that brought disease, death, and persecution to American Indians next to the faces of American Indians commemorated throughout the museum.
There are other great reasons to visit with kids, such as Toddler Music Time, where little ones can sing and dance and create fun themed crafts. My 3 year old had a great time singing songs and pretending to be an animal. My 11 year old and 9 year old didn’t attend any of the classes, but they enjoyed walking around the museum and learning about American Indians while we were occupied with the class. As we usually do when visiting museums, my kids brought their sketch books and had a great time drawing some of their favorite exhibits.
The National Museum of the American Indian is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and until 8 p.m. on Thursdays. Admission is free, but they love donations, of course.
The museum is located at One Bowling Green in lower Manhattan. The closest subway stop is Bowling Green on the 4 and 5 lines, though it is a short walk from the Whitehall St/South Ferry stations of the 1 and R lines.
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Q&A
national museum of american history time? | Yahoo Answers
Are you talking the Smithsonian museum on the National Mall? And what do you mean by time? Do you mean what time it's open. The Smithsonians American History Museum is usually open from 10 AM to 5:30 PM, though currently their on extended hours so most days they close at 7:30 PM until September 4th. In fact the three most popular Smithsonian museums, National Museum of American History, National Museum of Natural History, National Air and Space Museum, and the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center, are all running like that. For operating hourse check out the link below.
The National Museum of the American Indian is a museum operated under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution that is dedicated to the life, languages, literature, history, and arts of the native Americans of the Western Hemisphere. It has three facilities: the National Museum of the American Indian on the National Mall in Washington, D.C....
The George Gustav Heye Center is a branch of the National Museum of the American Indian in New York City, USA. The museum is part of the Smithsonian Institution. The center features contemporary and historical exhibits of art and artifacts by and about Native Americans.
