United States of America -- District of Columbia -- Washington
General:
The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) and its surrounding Native Landscape garden opened on September 21, 2004. At a total of 4.25 acres, the building and landscape lie east of 4th Street SW and south of Jefferson Drive, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Rather than a controlled, linear style that is found in much of the surrounding buildings, the NMAI museum and landscape evoke feelings of fluidity and connection with nature. The landscape contains more than 33,000 plants of approximately 150 species, all of which are native to the Piedmont region between the Atlantic coastal plain and the Appalachian Mountains. Additionally, all of the species have an ethnobotanical use for Native Americans, whether for food, medicine, fiber, dye, or ceremonial purposes.
Legislation was enacted to create NMAI on November 28, 1989. Leaders from nearly 150 native communities spanning North and Central America were consulted, culminating in a planning document entitled "The Way of the People," published in 1993. Architect Douglas Cardinal (Blackfoot tribe) of Ottawa, Canada, designed the building of the museum. For the landscape, the architectural firm EDAW, Inc. (now part of AECOM) collaborated with ethnobotanist Donna House (Navajo/Oneida) on the design and plant selection, and with landscape architect Johnpaul Jones (Choctaw/Cherokee) and artist Ramona Sakiestewa (Hopi).
The Native Landscape is comprised of four habitats of the natural regional landscape: upland hardwood forest (on the north side of the museum), wetlands (east), cropland (southeast), and meadow (southwest). The 24,000-square-foot forest habitat is divided into three zones with different soil moisture levels that affect the kinds of plants that grow in each zone. The 6,000-square-foot wetlands is a lush aquatic landscape filled with water lilies and cattails, inspired by the site's geologic history as a swamp. The 5,200-square-foot cropland is an organically sustained garden, maintained through Native American strategies of crop rotation and companion planting, along with the use of natural pest-predators such as ladybugs. Produce harvested from the cropland is used in NMAI's café and for on-site ceremonies. The 5,500-square-foot meadow lies on both sides of the south entrance, and is comprised of wildflowers, grasses, and two American elm trees.
Art and architecture adorn the landscape. Ever-evolving clay sculptures entitled "Always Becoming," designed by Nora Naranjo-Morse (Santa Clara Pueblo), have stood in the meadow habitat since 2007. The north side of NMAI features an acclaimed waterfall feature which represents Tiber Creek, a former tributary of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. An offering area and many places of rest and reflection are built into the architecture of the landscape. Performances are held at the fire pit and outdoor amphitheater or at the Welcome Plaza. Astronomical artworks are engraved in the pavement at the museum's north and east entrances.
Four stone cardinal direction markers lie along the east-west and north-south axes of the building. These large boulders come from four corners of the western hemisphere, and date from different epochs: North (Canada, Basins Group era), south (Chile, Cretaceous period), east (Maryland, Cambrian period), and west (Hawaii, ca. 1662). Forty additional boulders lie along the landscape's perimeter, to serve as protective bollards and also symbolize the longevity and memories of native tribes. These "Grandfather Rocks" were blessed by American Indians in both Canada (from which they originated) and the United States.
People associated with this garden include: EDAW (landscape architectural firm, circa 1989-2004). Donna House (Navajo/Oneida) (ethnobotanist, circa 1990-2004). Johnpaul Jones (Cherokee/Choctaw) (landscape architect, circa 1990-2004). Ramona Sakiestewa (Hopi) (design collaborator, circa 1990-2004). Nora Naranjo-Morse (Santa Clara Pueblo) (artist, 2007- ). Douglas Cardinal (Blackfoot) (building architect, circa 1990-2004).
Related Materials:
Native Landscape at the National Museum of the American Indian related holdings consist of (35mm slides (photographs), negatives, photographic prints, and digital images)
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Topic:
Gardens -- District of Columbia -- Washington Search this
Genre/Form:
Digital images
Slides (photographs)
Photographic prints
Negatives
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Gardens Image Library, Archives of American Gardens, Smithsonian Institution.
View of Altar Between Ceremonies Showing Tiponi, Prayer Sticks, Sacred Corn Meal, Corn Ears, Medicine Bowl, Bow Standards, Fox Skin Effigy and Bags of Flutes
Local Numbers:
NAA INV.02148800
Local Note:
Black and white photoprint
Place:
Arizona -- Oraibi Pueblo (Near)
Genre/Form:
Photographs
Citation:
Photo Lot 24 SPC Sw Hopi Gen/Unid 02148800, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
View of Altar Between Ceremonies Showing Tiponi, Prayer Sticks, Sacred Corn Meal, Corn Ears, Medicine Bowl, Bow Standards, Fox Skin Effigy and Bags of Flutes
Local Numbers:
NAA INV.02148900
Local Note:
Black and white photoprint
Place:
Arizona -- Oraibi Pueblo (Near)
Genre/Form:
Photographs
Citation:
Photo Lot 24 SPC Sw Hopi Gen/Unid 02148900, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
View of Flute Altar Inside Kiva Showing Effigy Figures, Tiponi, Medicine Bowl, Basket Trays, Bowls, Prayer Sticks, Gourd Rattles and Ears of Corn in Bin
Local Numbers:
NAA INV.02149100
Local Note:
Black and white photoprint
Place:
Arizona -- Shongopavi Pueblo
Genre/Form:
Photographs
Citation:
Photo Lot 24 SPC Sw Hopi Gen/Unid 02149100, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Line of Antelope Priests Wearing Body Paint and in Costume, Leaving Antelope Kiva With Bag of Sacred Cornmeal, Medicine Bowl, Pollen Sprinkler, And Rattles
Local Numbers:
NAA INV.02162300
Local Note:
Copyright: George Wharton James, 1898
Black and white photoprint
Place:
Arizona -- Oraibi Pueblo
Genre/Form:
Photographs
Citation:
Photo Lot 24 SPC Sw Hopi NM No # Ceremonies 02162300, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Ceremony, Flute; Flute Priests Wearing Body Paint and in Costume with Medicine Bowl, Pollen Sprinkler, and Ears of Corn In Bundles for Six Directions Altar on Mesa
Shows altars in the Ni-man-ka-tci-na, and the positions of the corn and medicine bowl.
Biographical / Historical:
Dated 1891 - from J. of American Ethnology and Archaeology, volume 2, New York, 1892 where both these are reproduced.
Local Numbers:
OPPS NEG.1811 B 1
Local Note:
Text of Annual Report of S. I. for 1926, D. C., 1927, pages 469-486 (especially page 471) states that except for Oraibi illustrations all illustrations are from Fewkes personal studies 1890-95.
Black and white copy negative
Topic:
Language and languages -- Documentation Search this
Shows altars in the Ni-man-ka-tci-na, and the positions of the corn and medicine bowl.
Information on this "Six Directions' Altar" on page 269 of Fewkes "The Oraibi Flute Altar in J. of American Folk-lore, volume 8. 1895. Supposedly the altar is present in "all great Tusayan ceremonials." Also known as the "Cloud Charm Altar," and the "Medicine Altar." See page 434 of Proceedings of the Boston Society of Nat'l. History, volume 26, 1895.
Biographical / Historical:
Dated 1891 - from J. of American Ethnology and Archaeology, volume 2, New York, 1892 where both these are reproduced.
Local Numbers:
OPPS NEG.1811 B 2
Local Note:
Text of Annual Report of S. I. for 1926, D. C., 1927, pages 469-486 (especially page 471) states that except for Oraibi illustrations all illustrations are from Fewkes personal studies 1890-95.
Black and white copy negative
Topic:
Language and languages -- Documentation Search this
Shows altars in the Ni-man-ka-tci-na, and the positions of the corn and medicine bowl.
Biographical / Historical:
Dated 1891 - from J. of American Ethnology and Archaeology, volume 2, New York, 1892 where both these are reproduced.
Local Numbers:
OPPS NEG.1811 B 3
Local Note:
Text of Annual Report of S. I. for 1926, D. C., 1927, pages 469-486 (especially page 471) states that except for Oraibi illustrations all illustrations are from Fewkes personal studies 1890-95.
Black and white copy negative
Topic:
Language and languages -- Documentation Search this
