a smithsonian in nyc: National Museum of the American Indian

A Sunny Winter Day at Battery Park & the National Museum of the American Indian

After weeks of rain, the sun was finally shining and I was ready to get out of the house!  I consulted my list of NYC attractions and I decided it was time to visit the Smithsonian's, National Museum of the American Indian.  I'm interested in learning more about indigenous cultures, especially since our history books left out many of the gory details.  An added bonus to the museum is that it's free to enter!  

Thanks to the sunny winter day, I decided to walk through Battery Park before heading into the museum.  The World Trade Center views and winter foliage make the park a beautiful place to walk, even in the colder months.  The National Museum of the American Indian is located at the northeast corner of Battery Park, so the location was perfect for a little pre-museum fresh air.  

The National Museum of the American Indian is located in the architecturally stunning Alexander Hamilton US Custom House.  So beautiful and so much history before you even walk into the museum.  If you are interested in more tourist sites, the Wall Street Bull is located just across Bowling Green.  Today there was a line of about 50 people, waiting to take a photo with the backside of the bull.  Gotta love tourists, even if they are disgusting.  

After climbing the magnificent stone steps, you'll have a quick pass through a metal detector and then will allow yourself to really take in the beauty of the building!  The lobby has an information desk with maps and brochures and it was fun to be inside my first US government building since we had a woman Vice President!  Love to see it.  

Head towards the rotunda and be prepared to be amazed.  The exhibits are in rooms off the rotunda but spend some time admiring the artwork and glass ceiling before heading into the exhibit halls.  

When leaving the museum, be sure to check out the grand staircase on your way towards the exit.  The pink and gold coloring and ornate details make this the staircase of my dreams.  Looks up to see a glimpse of another glass ceiling.  Even though visitors cannot walk up the stairs to the higher floors, the spiral view to the top is interesting (and a bit trippy).    

The exhibits themselves are extremely well done and will break your heart.  The museum is filled with testimonies, stories, artifacts, and replicas.  The history pre and post-British/Dutch settlers tells a completely different story of the lives of the people living in this country.  I loved the focus on Native Americans in New York Sate, specifically spotlighting Manhattan, Long Island, and the Finger Lakes regions.  

While the history is extremely important and interesting, I especially enjoyed the photography series about modern-day Americans living on reservations.  One photojournalist focused on the affect of Covid-19 on the Navajo Nation, another on the complexities of the Hispanic/Indigenous sense of self.  One area that was completely new to me, was the third photojournalist's deep dive into the US governments regulations and how they are affecting who Native Americans choose to date and have children with.  With regulations in place that specify who can live on a reservation and accept aid people often feel they need to procreate with a partner with a high percentage of tribal blood.  The personal stories were incredible.  I won't post the photos here, you'll just have to go see it for yourself :)