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Museum Review:
National Museum of the American
Indian Is No Ordinary Venue
By: Eliot John
Hagen (October 27, 2004)
The National Museum of
the
American Indian (NMAI) is not your ordinary museum. When the building
itself is enough to make you gasp in awe, you can only guess how good
it is inside.
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In
my near hour-long wait
until 2:30, when I would be allowed into the museum with my timed
ticket, I walked around the entire building, snapping photographs from
every angle I could.
I couldn’t count
any corners
on the building; the Canadian architect who designed it wanted it to
represent wind-eroded rock formations on the plains of North America, a
goal that was aptly accomplished. If you have admired the architecture
enough, then you may walk through the market-place which is lined with
trinket-stocked stands.
Entering the
building, most
people’s heads tilt upwards to look at the high ceiling. The sunlight
enters through a faceted window at the very top, lighting a round stage
in the middle of the building (although electric lights are still a
necessity). As you walk down the spiraling ramp, you pass a column of
prisms in the wall, and, if you look to your right, the entire spectrum
is cast upon the white wall.
The size of the
museum makes
it quite hard to decide where to go first. You could stay in the
entryway, and watch some Native Americans build a canoe (you might even
get to lend a helping hand) or visit the museum shop, which is full of
masks, models, sculptures, totem poles, and books. (And that’s just the
ground floor shop.)
In the movie
theater, cartoons
of Native American fables are being played for your enjoyment and/or
enlightenment. Stop for a moment before entering the theater to look at
the Native American ‘drama masks.’
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The
new National Museum of the American Indian
has no discernible corners as the architect want it
to represent wind-eroded rock formations.
(Photo by Eliot Hagen)
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From the history of the
Native
Americans to the modern Native Americans; this museum should satisfy
almost every need you might have. Pull out drawers to look at tomahawks
and arrowheads or use the computer to use a virtual magnifying glass on
almost anything.
When you get hungry, pay
a
visit to the cafeteria, where authentic Native American food is served.
If you have some South American heritage, pick up some Peruvian potato
dishes. If you want to learn a bit about the American Indians, eat
something from the Great Plains. If authentic foods don’t interest you,
just grab a cheeseburger and take a seat.
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One of the many displays of Native American
art in
the new National Museum of the American Indian.
(Photo by Eliot Hagen)
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This Native American is moving so fast he’s
a blur.
Visitors to the National Museum of the American
Indian can expect to find many live performances.
(Photo by Eliot Hagen)
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Tell us what
you think.
E-mail lassogmhs@hotmail.com
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