#276: The National Museum of the American Indian. The exterior of the museum is especially beautiful. It’s meant to look like rock and wind and water. It’s gorgeous.
After taking my fifth guided tour of DC, I am not so sure that my story about the air, earth, wind and fire is right. Apparently the museum is designed that way so that it looks like it doesn’t have any corners because Native Americans believe that evil spirits lurk in corners. This is what the last guide told me. I’ve heard all kinds of stories. For whatever reason and whatever it is meant to represent, the National Museum of the American Indian is definitely one of the most beautiful museums on the Mall.
It also makes me happy that the name of this museum is one of the only places in Washington, DC where the word “American” actually means “from the continent of America” and not just “from the United States of America”, as the museum has artifacts covering native peoples from the entire Western Hemisphere, including my beloved Venezuela.
A basket made by the Warao people of Venezuela, on display at the NMAI. (The picture is from their website).
If you know things about Latin America, or if you read a recent article on The Atlantic, you know that using the word “America” to refer exclusively to the US is a big no-no for my people.
So good job Smithsonian Institution. I had high hopes for you and you didn’t let me down. Good looking and smart. Gotta love this museum.
