Lots of things to be learned here. Recommend!

Youll need to purchase a free timed entry ticket online. Social distancing strictly observed. Must wear a mask or no entry. Bags get checked and you go through metal detector. Gift shop and cafe not open. Plenty of bathrooms, very clean. Great exhibits and beautiful museum!

Amazing place. Many exhibits were closed due to covid restrictions.

My favorite smithsonian! The 4th floor is vital

Appreciate they serve foods to go with the theme. You can enjoy foods better if you think of the price you paid for your lunch is actually admission fee to the museum. $25 per person for all ages. That’s how I justified.

I learned so much about the American Indians. I realized my public education in this country left out very important historical facts about our Native Americans. Our country should be more than ashamed at the way the American Indians were treated and lied to over and over again by the USA. the Indians should never trusted our word when it came to treaties and land promises.This museum teaches us reality is in the eye if the beholder. Dont trust what you cannot see!

This is a great museum. All of the exhibits are interesting. I especially liked the Americans exhibit. It displayed many Indian inspired products, etc. over the course of history. The side exhibits exploring the facts and myths concerning Pocohantas, the Trail of Tears and The Battle of Little Big Horn were interesting and illuminating.

A Washington secret, Native American Food on your next Thanksgiving Day. And American Indian arts and crafts for Christmas Gifts in the Museum Shop, Black Friday. Best of all, learn in the exhibits about the gracious Original Americans... The People ...who cared for the land and animals, water, fish and fowl, including the American Eagle, for thousands of years, then welcomed newcomers to their beautiful land. Thank you to Mr Dan Snyder for changing the name of your team to honor The People.

As a Native American woman I truly enjoyed visiting this museum. Many will say the history is not exact and the pieces stolen, however, the location was great and the pieces authentic. I would go back.

Every bit of this museum tells a story, from the grounds outside to the many displays inside. I wish Id had more time to explore, but started from the top floor down and never made it past the top. The exhibits have so much detail, especially those speaking to the land acquisition by the colonials and then the Americans. Each display spoke to the differing views by the natives and the others, and the slide from peaceful partnership to forced relocation. It was hard to walk through.Bright spots in my visit included the museum store and the cafeteria. The museum store had its assortment of mass produced merchandise, but also a wonderful assortment of native made art. The cafeteria did a great job showcasing traditional foods, along with information on the cultures they came from.This museum would be a wonderful whole day trip, well worth devoting the time and attention.

This museum was just amazing. It is actually very scary to think of how diverse the word native Americans are. The rich culture and traditions within each tribe or chapter. You can spend quite a few hour here listening to all of the stories and music. The day I went there they also had celebrations for the day of the dead. Would recommend this place to everyone.

Ive loved this museum since it opened. Became a charter member and all. Going tonight reminded me of why I loved it so much. Definitely will be back to to explore all over.

Really cool to see one of the most interesting civilizations in the world!

Visiting the National Museum of the American Indian was one of the most incredible experiences Ive had. The vibrancy, beauty, and warmth that I experienced has rarely been matched. Just studying the architecture and ingenuity of the outside of the museum was enough to take my breath away. Visiting the cafeteria was wonderful. I tried bison for the first time which is offered as a hotdogs, chili dog, burger and chili. It was DELICIOUS! I am so pleased that I visited. I wish I could have spent more time visiting each floor but there was so much to see and take in that it was impossible to see everything and maintain my schedule. I definitely will be returning and advise anyone visiting D.C. to visit the museum and experience the lives and works of true Native Americans. I am humbled after having graced the museums doorways.

According to the official website, the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. contains the “most extensive collections of Native American arts and artifacts in the world—approximately 266,000 catalog records (825,000 items) representing over 12,000 years of history and more than 1,200 indigenous cultures throughout the Americas.” With four levels of object collections, touring the huge building will take about an hour or two.Begin your visit on the fourth level then go down to each floor as you follow the lifeways, history, and art of indigenous peoples throughout the Western Hemisphere.

The museum building is beautiful and the exhibits made me want to learn more.

Another Great & Beautiful Historical Museum. Theres a lot to learn here in this building so so much about our indigenous brothers & sisters. A Peaceful Nation.

Nice museum to check in Washington DC trip. Its near to the Capitol Hill, botanical garden and next to the Space museum.The place has lot of information on american Indians and their culture and history with some important artifacts which are hard to see in original. There is a gift shop which sells the souviniers and jewelry.

Very educational experience! I especially enjoyed learning about Section 14 in Palm Springs (look it up!) and the Inka Road exhibit. Didnt disappoint. Fun and interactive exhibits.

One of the best museums, there are artifact & modern interactive displays which teach us about the history & culture.

Very fascinating and wonderful museum that is full of history, that sadly most schools dont teach. Everyone should visit this place to see how rich and wonderful the indigenous people have provided. The museum is very clean, it also has a great gift shop, and serves food and drinks.

What an incredible museum! I was happy to see my grandmothers (and my) heritage somewhere to be reflected upon, to learn about Native American history in such depth, and to have time to explore.

Went here just to kill time and ended up learning a lot about the American Indian history. Great exhibits! The architecture is simply beautiful- both exteriors and interiors. The attention to detail makes the museum much more authentic. There is a cafeteria (could be a bit pricey). The souvenir store is filled with many unique artifacts.

A truly amazing GEM. Amazing galleries and connecting the dots of history, treasures, lies and the suffering of the indigenous population. Great history of South American Indians as well. The museum is not overcrowded sho thoug wil have time to enjoy. Great sections for kids to watch cartoon stories and get their hands in activities.

I was amazed at the displays and the amount of detail that went in to each. I definitely recommend beginning your toe with the video in the 4th floor theater. It will enhance your experience.

I enjoyed the museum. Its a good memory of native indian culture.

The architecture is perfect for the subject matter. I am not an expert on American Indian History but i am very well read and the exhibits are presented beautifully and appear to me to be well researched. All in all, the two trips i have made to the meseum were inspiring and wonderful. My second visit to this museum had me visiting a spot I had missed on my first visit, Nation to Nation: Treaties.... . As I rounded one corner I could not believe my eyes. My great.......grandfather was featured on a wall. Tears welled in my eyes. I was not expecting to see his mark, his name. Thank you so much to the beautiful people who chose to share his and William Penns story. To the kind educator-demonstrator who asked me about my ancestry last year, your question led me on a search for facts. My answer NOW is yes and I can name 5 documented ancestors from 5 different nations in Pennsylvania and Virginia.

There are security checks on entry, its a manual check so be patient. The admission is free of cost and it was not crowded like other places.Start your tour from 4th floor and then scroll down. History is beautifully displayed with respect to native people, there is a lot of technology used for this purpose and mostly writing found explaining things.I would have given full five stars if more native day to day things, arts, crafts were included.There are stores if you are interested in buying or shopping but I found them too expensive.

Considering the history that native people have given to this country is measured in sheer tonnage, this is an amazing museum to see. The rotating exhibits allow for more than just a typical start and end date for history. This is the example of how to show the emotion in history and it could not be more fitting that it is for our native population. This is one of the places you must visit of you come to DC.

I want to love this museum but it could be so much more. The exhibits are small for starters. There is a lot of time and space spent on the “treaties” period as well as the use of Indian symbols, etc in media, advertising, and stereotypes. Where are the exhibits on the history and culture of different tribes. There is a rich history that people want to learn about and frankly need to lear about, and that is largely missing here. There is some, but not nearly enough. Make this place somewhere we can come to learn and celebrate the fantastic history, tradition, and culture of Native American people groups. The focus on treaties and racist advertisement, while it needs to be talked about, doesn’t make sense and lacks depth without first going in depth on history/culture/government/etc. The National Museum of African American History and Culture really sets the standard for what this museum could be. I’m hopeful! There is a fairly good and popular interactive exhibit for children on the third floor, and there are rotating exhibits as well as events. Definitely go, and hopefully it will get better with time.

Loved it... really nice place. I took my family there and the kids loved. So much to see, great location and best of all it was free.

I only had a limited amount of time to check out the museum because of class but from what I saw, it was very good. Tells more the the story of how the Native Americans were treated and still are being treated. Cant wait to go back.

I cannot explain with words how STUNNING the museum is, we spent a whole day inside. From now on everytime I visit DC I will be back for more. So much to see, so much history between the walls of this building. A must see, it should be added to the personal Bucket List of every traveler. There is a couple of shops, some really expensive items and some very affordable that you can bring home.

Very friendly and Great staff. Plus is free

Its a very unique building. Inside it highlights the history and culture of Native Americans, North, Central, and South. The food court is VERY expensive. Definitely buy your meal from the food trucks outside. Its much cheaper.

Occupying an architecturally eye-catching building on Washington DCs National Mall, this chapter of the Smithsonian Institution manages and exhibits collections of native artefacts from North, Central, and South America. Resources include artefacts, photographs, archives, and media. Notably, there is room for broader cultural influences. The collections span several floors and trying to take in the museum in on visit is probably not realistic. Instead, find an exhibition or two and immerse yourself for a rewarding experience. Entry was free at time of writing. The National Museum of the American Indian also houses resources in New York City and Maryland.

Great experiencia. I found my roots.

Interesting and different mesume. It makes you think about what you have been told. Artifacts are cool, and there are a lot of films.

Well... I like the idea of a place to appreciate the contributions of Native Americans. The actual experience of visiting this (really nice) building is a bit frustrating. How long should one linger at a particular exhibit? Enough to read every text and peruse every pic? You can do this of course but after a couple of hours youve barely begun to see the place. Not a problem unique to this museum, of course, but still. Also... the food on offer is imaginative but not always well prepared and kind of over-priced. And entrance is slower than it could be bc only two metal detectors and limited bins into which, the guards insist, one must empty ones pockets. The National Gallery across the Mall is less fussy.

- nice quiet museum- cool history stuff- takes maybe 2 hours to get through all of it depends on how much you read on everything- overall a good place

The museum is well done, will open your eyes. The food in the cafe is excellent. The fry bread is to die for!

An important story not to be forgotten. A lot of artifacts collected. I enjoyed the visit.

Beautiful, powerful. Amazing

A bit of an unknown but what a gem. Amazing museum. Take the time to visit. Not crowded like the others. Amazing architecture.

A really thought-provoking experience. Its more than just history; theres art, religion, & contemporary culture in there as well, and a lot of things that tie America past to the continued injustices of the present. My one problem is, while some exhibits were straight up excellent, a few others veered a little close to whitewashing some of the atrocities that the United States has committed against its native people. That didnt feel right, and I wish it would receive some closer attention. That aside, the museum still puts some much-needed focus on Native voices and is 100% worth a visit.

Amazing amazing amazing. I’ve been here multiple times and everytime and still amazed at much I missed prior. I could spend hours here and never read everything. I’m from the Erie NY area so it’s also extremely interesting to read about my own areas history.

This was an amazing museum. The cafeteria is now one of my favorite places to eat when Im downtown.

So much information! Youd need an entire day to see it all. My friends and I spent Almost 2 hours on JUST the top floor! Split your time wisely if youre on vacation or take the time to visit early to see it all in one day.

Beautiful building.

Very nice, I love the space it make a peaceful atmosphere . I love the children area that could give to the children an opportunity to interact .

Great place. Had lunch in cafe and got an education on American Indians

Amazing and I love that the museums are free. Gotta start early....everything closes at 1630 to 1800!

The National Museum of the American Indian is my favorite not so secret museum on the mall. The building itself is spectacular and its never crowded, unlike the other National Mall museums. Everything about the museum is organic, and they have an amazing childrens discovery room, but it is closed on Monday, so keep that in mine. The cafeteria is definitely the best food on the mall be sure to grab a Mexican Hot Chocolate if its chilly and indulge in their Tres Leches cake. They have chicken tenders and fries for those less adventurous, but trust me, youll want to try something different.

Fantastic Native American museum! Great exhibits about different tribe nations and a great opportunity to get more insight/ knowledge about Native American culture. I wouldve loved to have seen my heritage (Taino tribe from Puerto Rico) represented but all and all this was a wonderful visit. If you have questions, dont hesitate to ask the museum staff, they are very knowledgeable in their field and have additional stands with extra information about Native Americans.

The National Mall site of the museum is exclusively dedicated to native American history and traditions. From afar it looks like a natural formation with its flowing curved lines. The golden Kasota limestone looks like it was carved by the elements, the wind and rain for thousand of years.

Went for the food, Potentially one of the best in the Smithsonian group on the mall. Prices are not much more than what you pay from the food trucks outside. But without the ambiance of noise and birds.The museum should not be missed if only for what it brings to the nation in understanding our country and the original residents

So much of what isnt taught in school or college can be learned here. Wonderful and eye opening museum.

An important place to learn about the socio-historical landscape of the US and the ties between natural and cultural capital that isnt often discussed. Also really loved the crop garden outside the museum displaying the Three Sisters principles of permaculture and crops domesticated by native American peoples. They host great events and symposiums here to raise awareness and encourage discussions on issues related to identity -- find out more on their website!

The National Museum of the American Indian offers a wonderful educational journey through time and space. Cultural examples from Inuit to Apache to Cherokee and Narragansett are presented. The timeline of the first human beings in America to the present is laid out in text, video and artifacts. Its a wonderful place to visit and explore. It also has a good, moderately priced cafeteria that can fit hundreds of visitors .

Great collection. The colors and varieties among the indigenous people of North America is amazing. This museum is well worth the visit. It is also an architectural striking modern building.

This is one of the newer Smithsonian museums and there is plenty to see and do. The exhibits are well done and to see everything in the building you would have to spend 3 to 6 hours. The line at the front door is becuase of the airport-like security that guests need to pass thorugh to get in. There is no admission fee, but the food in their restaurant is a little pricey. Recommended.

I have very much enjoyed this museum. My knowledge of Native Americans is limited so I certainly have learnt a lot, especially thanks to the video at the start of the visit. I was impressed by the diversity of the cultures presented as well as appalled to see how little they are still currently valued in the US and around the world.The building and its surrounding are absolutely charming and the restaurant, although expensive, is very good.

As someone who knows for sure that Native American Heritage runs through their blood, even from early on in the lineage, I was excited for this Museum. I saw this one while waiting to meet someone so I did not get to finish everything. The exterior was designed to be pretty outstanding compared to the other museums. There were not many people were present but some people had a tour guide which I stepped in for the last few minutes I was there.I definitely plan on going back one day.

This was pretty interesting. Food was a bit pricey but good. Learned alot about other Indian cultures that I wasnt aware of. The area about Little Big Horn was really good and very interesting.

You absolutely cannot see everything in 1 day

Fabulous, fascinating and a bit depressing, to say the least, learning about what the early Americans did to the true first Americans. The tour guide Gem was top notch. She will give you the real deal. Thankful a place like this and people like her are around to educate and enlighten us.

A good experience over all. More of an overview type of museum, as it covers a vast array of people and culture. Interesting exhibitions and a really nice kids interactive corner. Extra plus for the restaurant, after our experience at air and space our expectations was low, but this was a really good one.

Beautiful, informative exhibits. Lots of interactive stuff and really cool things to see, even for children under 12. I especially enjoyed the Seven Teachings exhibit, where you walk through and learn about each of the seven spirits that represent an important aspect of native culture. They have a wonderful gift shop with many interesting items. You may want to bring some extra cash though, some of the items are rather pricey. I will warn you, be careful what you walk in with...I have a small Swiss Army knife that is on my keychain, I had to remove it and hide it in a garden at the side of the building. I saw others had done the same thing so they are obviously, a bit more strict about those sort of things than the other museums, none of which made me remove it. Still...an amazing museum, well worth a visit.

Security staff are rude and brusque. Even saw one ladysleeping on the job. Cafe and store workers were helpful for Celiacs. The layout does not utilize the space. It would be nice to have student interns from various tribes have the opportunity to come to DC and work in the museum and develop more exhibits and have more interaction.

Very nicely done exhibits in a fantastic space. Informational displays are well thought-out and concise. Great tribute to the history of the continents First Nations.

Very tranquil & informative museum. I thought it was so fitting to see Native Americans working thru out the museum to answer any question about a display or artifact.The trail of tears exhibit can be sad to see the destruction of tribes.But the presence and strength of remaining tribes are encouraging to all as they tell stories of life, faith and family. The gift (3, I think) shops have something for everybody in all price range.The Dining area has burgers and fries but many cultural dishes.Chicken tenders with fries cost $9.25,8oz chocolate milk was $2.75, Pork Tamales are large with 2 in an order cost $10.50.. portions are a nice size.Delicious!!!!!!!

An incredible well designed and curated museumWonderful collection s

Remarkable building but relatively small exhibition and the best part of it is in museum store on the second floor. Really nice pottery, jewelry and souvenirs. Indian culture is represented in mostly positive and sugary way with religion and rituals mostly left outside of it. Inka road with interactive map was interesting but the place is more for kids. The collection in Metropolitan museum is way more impressive.

Love this museum and make sure you eat in the cafe with all of the Native American cuisine.

I love this place! The permanent exhibits are great as are the temporary ones. I would recommend starting on the third floor to and walking through the Our Universes exhibit. The cafeteria is kind of pricey but the food is pretty good. The gift shop has a lot of cool stuff and quite a few knickknacks, but all are at least relevant to the museum unlike the Archives gift shop which is basically a toy store.

Beautiful building and lots of history to learn from. Impressed with the exhibits

Very good. Beautiful building, but text difficult to read due to low light levels. Probably not suitable for people who are sensitive to scents, which are sprayed into entire building. Building should have a coat check

First off - after reading some of the reviews - this is a cultural museum not just a history museum and half of the exhibits change over time. So, for example, there was a whole section on the Inca Road. And even the permanent section that has the many tribes was designed to show off some not-as-well-known tribes so people could learn NEW things about Native Americans. Also, I was told it wasnt that permanent and they do plan to change some of the exhibits over time.And the building is PART of the exhibit - it was designed not just to hold the artifacts and displays but to BE a display. Just like the artwork around the outside, it is all meant to work together. Like the Holocaust Museum and its red brick.That large empty space is used by performers and artists to display the living culture of the Native Americans. They are not HISTORY - they are still here and adding to our world.And yes, the museum food is costly. For those who rarely travel, just a warning, museum food is always pricey. But the food HERE is also somewhat worth it. I could only think of three or four places in DC where the food is ever worth the price and that includes many of the clubs.Also one of the best gift shops in any of the museums. Still had something that many Americans may find scary...books!

Great kids area, been here many times, never seen the museum, but have entertained 4 years olds for many hours!

All in all, we had a good experience here. When I read reviews about it in my travelers guide, it suggested that there was a great kids section and that was correct. I have a two and a three-year-old ( although I suspect they would have liked it even more if they were a bit older. It is very interactive and educational.)They were both kept very busy in the section that they have designated for children. As a matter of fact, it was hard to get them to leave. My husband mentioned that he was looking forward to seeing more artifacts on display. My travelers guide also suggested that its best to take a tour of this Museum as doing it on your own can be bewildering. I found this to be true. As far as experience with the employees goes, the ladies at the security gate were thorough, efficient, and sweet. I did have an older woman security officer stare me down awkwardly in the foyer near the gift shop as I stood there rocking my two-year-old to sleep. That was a bit unsettling, but otherwise everything else was fine.

Very informative and fascinating history! Family oriented. Rich in culture.

This museum is great! They rotate exhibits so there is always something new to learn. Very helpful staff as well

Great exhibit showcasing indians from Alaska down to Peru and out to Hawaii. The things you will see will be different than what you learned in history class as a kid. I was particularly fascinated with the number of treaties the US wrote (and broke) and the marketing pieces used throughout the years. The whole exhibit really touches you.

Even though this building is large, beautiful, and right next to other frequented museums, I felt like no one goes here! Its a wonderful museum. There is so much to learn, and if youre going to support a museum staff and contributors, support American Indians. Their story is important. American conquerors treated them so badly. My husband and I were saddened and shocked at what we learned. So much beauty, peace, and untouched society was ruined by the colonization of America.

Very interesting exhibition on Inkas civilization. In general, Museum is very kid-friendly

Was here for 2 hours, could have used more time! Cool Cafeteria downstairs with different types of Native food.

I absolutely loved how they represented and explained the diverse religions and worldviews of the various First American nations. The exhibit on treaties was informative and could be related to by people of different backgrounds. The gift shop represents many of the Native arts and crafts from all regions. Make sure to watch a live performance and grab a bite of original American cusine in the cafe.

Of the 10 museums in DC we went to .... this was my favoriteGreat for whole family ..... 1.5 to 2 hours

It really is amazing to see all the contributions and all of the influence that American Indians have had in American culture advertising music and just the blast from the past that I remember growing up Great exhibits beautiful architecture very well done A must see when traveling to Washington

Beautiful building. Take time to understand how the architecture reflects the American Indian culture and experience. Found the exhibits to be comprehensive. Obviously not just a history museum, but more of a cultural institution. Particularly enjoyed walking the gardens along the perimeter of the building, seeing how the structure fit into the landscape and effectively nature was integrated into the buildings message.

Ive been here a month ago in this museum, and I was genuinely impressed. I havent thought any of this museum than the beautiful designed of the building having the perfect portrait of the numerous Native American tribes of our country which I admired so much. The exhibits had interactive features, videos, and lots of textual information available to compliment the artifacts and art displayed. I am grateful to the museum staff for all their hard work to create such a beautiful exhibit!

We spent about an hour and a half on the fourth floor. We wished we had a whole day. Learning about the various tribes, seeing the artifacts, hearing the stories of each culture is fascinating. Experienced manifest destiny from the other point of view made us ashamed of what some of the founding fathers did to grow our nation. I want to see the rest of the museum.

If you like history of the First Nations, this is a great place for you to go and see all of what these first people added to our own culture and how we did not use them right. So much to see and learn and all relevant to today. Well worth the time and effort. The price is also right, it is free.

A newer museum in dc. Somewhat near the air and space museum. I enjoyed it there. The exhibits expand a very wide array of native american history. This is great for kids but also wonderful if you are a solo traveller. Also its free just like all the others in DC

This museum could be so much better. There are plenty historical facts, but the presentation doesn’t give it the respect this museum deserves. It’s low tech and dull. There is so much potential within this museum. Especially to travel here with children, it’s important to bring life to those who were the original inhabitants. Lights, sounds, and videos could really bring life and interest here.

Very enlightening journey of a disturbing and tragic story. The exhibits show a rich heritage of a beautiful people

A free Smithsonian museum, that is about where the positives ended for me. $18 chips & guac seemed a bit out of place. Most saddening was the heavily white-washed history lesson and lack of balanced story-telling present in their displays. I wouldnt return for this reason alone.

Great Exhibits, eye opening experience!

Beautiful architecture with soothing earth tones. Many pieces are unique and informative, but overall the space was a bit underused in my opinion. For how large the museum was, there seems to be a great deal of unused space. The food was very disappointing because it was advertised as being food from, or influenced by, native cultures, yet it was little more than normal museum cafeteria food.

The lay out is easy to follow, the history is explained so eloquently, the photos and art are pure, and I left with a feeling of sadness and pride for the beauty of these amazing people and the culture they fight to keep alive.