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Washington D.C. School Trip: National Museum of the American Indian

Written by Forjee Jackson | November 6, 2020

Washington D.C. School Trip: National Museum of the American Indian

The Smithsonian Institute is no stranger to the world of museums. Their collections of museums and attractions are wide as they provide a variety. The National Museum of the American Indian Heritage is the perfect addition to any school trip to Washington D.C, among many others. The main objective of the museum is to provide knowledge and insight into Native American history and culture. While visiting students will have the ability to:

  • Observe Collections & Artifacts

  • View Exhibitions

  • Watch A Film

Observe Collections & Artifacts

The National Museum of the American Indian Heritage can be considered one with extensive offerings of Native American artifacts in the world. The museum is home to approximately 825,000 items which represents over 12,000 years of history. They tell stories of the Native American’s religion, history, culture and others are art pieces created by Native Americans. This collection  continues to grow as the museum focuses on attaining modern and contemporary art pieces. Students will see and learn a lot when they visit the National Museum of the American Indian on their school trip to Washington D.C.

View Exhibitions

The museum also offers exhibitions for viewing. Each exhibition tells a story of Native America whether it’s about their history, culture or in general. Even though they relate to Native America, each tells a different story and has varying approaches in doing so. This will keep students that are visiting D.C. informed and intrigued.

Tour of the National Museum of the American Indian

Watch A Film

While touring the National Museum of the American Indian, students can gain even more exposure by watching films, short stories, experimental films and even documentaries that were produced by Native Americans. Some films are fictional while others tell stories of Native American lives. This is an opportunity for students to learn about climate change, land rights, sovereignty and the preservation of indigenous language and cultural traditions. 


The National Museum of the American Indian is a very educational and informative part of a Washington D.C. school trip. The museum will teach students about the past and present lives of Native Americans. They will be able to see artifacts exhibitions and watch films created by indigenous individuals.