HQ Function

Serves as the flagship public museum, featuring major exhibitions, educational programs, cultural performances, and administrative offices for the NMAI.

Notable Features:

Distinctive curvilinear architecture by Douglas Cardinal (Blackfoot) and GBQC Architects, Kasota limestone exterior, indigenous landscaping, Potomac (main atrium), Lelawi Theater, Mitsitam Native Foods Cafe.

Work Culture:

A collaborative and mission-driven environment focused on Indigenous perspectives, cultural preservation, research, education, and respectful partnerships with Native communities. Emphasis on authenticity and Native voice.

HQ Significance:

A prominent national institution on the National Mall dedicated to celebrating and interpreting the history, culture, and arts of Native Americans. It serves as a vital center for dialogue and learning about Indigenous peoples.

Values Reflected in HQ: Respect for Native cultures and sovereignty, collaboration with Indigenous communities, authenticity in representation, commitment to education, and the enduring presence and contributions of Native peoples.

Location:

While its physical sites are in the United States, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian's scope is hemispheric, encompassing the Indigenous peoples of North, Central, and South America, and the Caribbean. Its global engagement includes international research collaborations, scholarly exchanges, traveling exhibitions (though less frequent), digital outreach via its website and online collections, and participation in international dialogues on Indigenous rights, cultural heritage, and repatriation. The museum's collections and scholarship are of interest and relevance to Indigenous communities and researchers worldwide.

Street Address:

4th St SW & Independence Ave SW

City:

Washington

State/Province:

D.C.

Country:

USA