Washington DC tourism will probably include plans to visit the National Museum of the American Indian which was established in 1989 by an act of Congress. The purpose of the Museum is to protect and foster the Native American culture by reaffirming traditions and beliefs, encouraging contemporary artistic works and giving a voice to the Native American Indians. The Museum is part of the sixteen museums that make up the Smithsonian Institution.

George Gustav Hey began collecting Native American Indian items in 1874 and continued through 1957. His collection is the foundation of the Museum. There is a wide range of materials from historical artifacts to religious pieces for you to see. There are also everyday items showing how the Native Americans lived. There is also a film and audiovisual collection, paper archives, and a photography achieve of more than 300,000 images depicting both historic and contemporary life.

Located on the National Mall the Museum is on Fourth Street and Independence Ave., SW. You will find that a visit to these three buildings will have you wanting to spend more time viewing the other Museums which are part of the Smithsonian Institute. Regardless of how long your trip is, you will want to come back and visit more of the sites of the city.