“There are ancient secrets and lessons hidden in nature. If you seek for guidance, you will discover the truth” –Bobby Lake-Thom

Every time I hear someone complain or bash the National Museum of the American Indian I get upset, and frankly it makes me sad. Some of the reasons I’ve heard for the dislike are: not all the cultures are represented; American Indians did not use fire weapons, and the most abominable of all, what a waste of space.

Well, yes many other cultures could be represented, but not all the cultures have the resources to do so; It is also possible that not all the cultures want to be represented, anyhow I believe the museum does a great job giving us a good taste of all these wonderful cultures that certainly have a lot to teach us.

The fire weapons comment, well that is a clear indication that people don’t read when they visit museums. Firearms are there to represent the cultural transition and the influence of the European culture on the Native American culture.

Now, let’s talk about the building and the main reason for this post. Let me be clear, that building is an architectural masterpiece from every point of view, and also a monument/temple that represents the sacred relation of the Native American cultures with Mother Nature. Yes, according to traditional Native American belief systems, “everything is a source of “power” and as a result it should be revered.”

While I don’t want to tell you how you should feel when you visit the NMAI, I can tell you how I feel by just being close to the site where the museum seats today. First the energy is very different to all the other places that dominate the National Mall in D.C.; there is a real connection with the natural world. And indeed if you read about how the museum was created, why it was designed like that, and why it occupies the place it has in the Mall, your visiting experience will be enriched, and if after all that knowledge you still dislike it, well at least it will be an informed dislike.

The 250,00-square foot structure is coated in Kasota limestone and is surrounded by an Eastern lowland landscape with numerous water features. The location of the main entrance -East-facing, a prism window, and the 120-foot high Potomac space devoted to contemporary native performances, are the product of extensive consultation with different native tribes.

Forty large rocks and boulders, known as grandfather rocks, are at the site and incorporated into the landscape. These rocks donated by many different native tribes throughout the Americas came from places as far as Chile.

The interior spaces are based on circles. The concept of the circle comes up often in Indian though, in storytelling and government. It also manifests itself in physical forms, tipis, for example, are often arranged in a circle. Many traditional carvings and other designs are also in circular form.

Acrylic prisms facing true south catch the sun’s rays and reflect a spectacular light spectrum onto the interior of the Potomac, animating the space and serving as one of the most visible design elements relating to the sun and light.