National Museum of the American Indian

Museums, Historical Sites, and ZoosDistrict of Columbia, United States51-200 Employees

The National Museum of the American Indian is a Smithsonian institution dedicated to Native peoples of the Americas, with locations in Washington, DC; New York City; and Suitland, Maryland. It operates three primary facilities—the National Mall site in Washington, the George Gustav Heye Center in New York City, and the Cultural Resources Center in Suitland—alongside off-site outreach through websites, traveling exhibitions, and community programs, as well as performing arts activities. The museum collaborates with Native communities and allies to present Native voices and knowledge to the public, seeking to inform both Native communities and a broader audience.

The institution maintains one of the world's most expansive collections of Native artifacts, photographs, archives, and media spanning the Western Hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to Tierra del Fuego. Positioned within the Museums, Historical Sites, and Zoos sector, it functions as a cultural and research organization that emphasizes Indigenous history, cultures, and contemporary issues, within the broader Smithsonian ecosystem. Its mandate originates from enabling legislation enacted in 1989 and amended in 1996, reflecting a long-standing commitment to accessible Native knowledge for researchers, students, and the general public.

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