National Museum Of The American Indian

Lonely Planet review

One of the newer Smithsonian museums this place tells the story of the American Indian in a format not often employed by mainstream museums, with mixed results. The idea, to use native communities' authentic voices and own interpretations of events to debunk stereotypes, is imaginative but unfortunately comes across as a little dry and too texty to hold the casual sightseer's attention for very long.

The intent is right, however. Planned in the mid-1990s, the museum took nine years to curate and makes an effort to recognize and honor the many Native American tribes, including the Sioux, Navajo, Cherokee and Pueblo, who lived on American soil well before white men did. The collection, which consists of nearly a million objects reaching back thousands of years, comes from Canada and Mexico as well as the United States.

Additionally, the museum is a joy to look at. The snazzy modern shape of rounded lines and bright colors is constructed from native materials. Check out the shelves in the two gift shops (packed with great stocking stuffers) - in places they are inlaid with purple and white tiles hewn from quahog shells by the Wampanoag tribe of Martha's Vineyard. Set on a 4.5-acre plot, with almost three of these acres exquisite gardens, the place has a Zen-like quality that feels in tune with nature.