The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), in Washington, D.C., opens to the public at 1pm on September 21, 2004. With its flowing, curvilinear form, the museum’s limestone exterior resembles a natural structure carved by wind and water, evoking the mesa-studded landscape of the southwestern United States. The interior is equally striking, designed to echo a pattern of concentric circles, in keeping with ceremonial elements common to many Native cultures.

At NMAI, visitors will see a series of “landmark objects,” placed at strategic points throughout the museum, as well as items from three major exhibits: “Our Universes: Traditional Knowledge Shapes Our World,” “Our Peoples: Giving Voice to Our Histories,” and “Our Lives: Contemporary Life and Identities.” The museum will also feature a “Native Modernism” exhibit, which examines the works of two prominent 20th-century Native artists, and a “Windows on Collections” exhibit, which offers an overview of extraordinary pieces from individual collections.

To coincide with NMAI’s public debut, the First Americans Festival will be held on the National Mall for six days, from September 21-26. Music, dancing, storytelling, instrument- and regalia-making demonstrations, Native foods, and arts and crafts from many tribes and Native communities will be featured. Admission is free of charge, as is admission to the museum itself.