National Museum of the American Indian.

I reviewed the website of the National Museum of the American Indian. The museum is a part of the Smithsonian network of national museums in Washington D.C. and the website was created by the Smithsonian institution itself. The perspective is that of broad academic approach, much as the museum itself does. It is rare that you will find anything that would be described as controversial from this source as it’s primary goal is to educate the public while acting as an entertainment attraction. The museum brings in people from around the globe and is a huge source for the dissemination of information regarding Native Americans to tourists including both those who live in the United States and those who come from abroad. I believe the lens of the museum aims to be respectful and does a decent job of explaining the horrors that were often inflicted on native peoples by colonists and the American government however it often stops short of criticizing these people or groups outright. I believe that this is a quality academic source as it contains information that is largely sourced from academics and experts as well as a great number of primary sources. Most of the academic work is peer reviewed and found to be within bounds the mainstream of historical and sociological views and work. I have visited the museum in person, so much of the work and information on the website and I had already been exposed to. I do feel that reviewing this site allowed me to do a deeper dive into the information and ideas that I was exposed to upon visiting the museum in person.

Comments

  1. Christopher O'ConnorOctober 30, 2018 at 2:38 PM

    Upon my last visit do D.C. unfortunately I did not have time to visit this museum. Upon visiting the website I personally felt like I have already learned quite a bit.

    According the the Architecture/Landscape page on the americanindian.si.edu website, about 60% of the world's diet today is derived from Native American foods (potatoes, chilies, tomato, chocolate). The museum also contains croplands of the three sisters' plants (corn, bean, squash), even some tobacco plants.

    Currently they have exhibits on the Trail of Tears, Native people that lived in the D.C. region of the Chesapeake, and an exhibit about treaties between the U.S. and American Indian Nations, among others.

    Personally, I wish I made time to visit this museum.Just seeing photographs of the beautiful architecture of the museum from the outside, I can not wait to see the outside and inside in person. I will absolutely be stopping in next time I am visiting this area.


    https://americanindian.si.edu/visit/washington/architecture-landscape/

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