Some days I wake up and jump out of bed, raring to bake muffins, sew matching school uniforms for my neighbor’s kids and head into the city to the National Museum of the American Indian.
Not often.
But some days.
On those days I end up hitting the snooze button 3.2 times, then go to work and come home and watch four episodes of Veronica Mars on Netflix.
Don’t be like me.
Go out into the world – into Washington D.C. in particular, and learn a little bit about the Native Americans.
They have the coolest looking building of all the Smithsonians.
So there, you’ve learned something already.
See, that was easy!
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve fallen asleep lying on that metal bench… I’d have a dollar.
It happened when I was home from college over spring break. I’d taken a few visiting friends down to the mall, where we investigated the new museum.
Aside from the discomfort of that bench, the Native American museum didn’t make a strong impression on me during that visit.
It seemed huge and empty and boring and I decided I would never return.
Like most of my beliefs, this would be proven wrong.
And I’m glad.
It turns out the Native American Museum is bright and fun and filled with high-tech displays.
It’s not that the other museums have more to learn – it just turns out I’m better at learning the other museums’ lessons.
I have no Native American basis of knowledge.
With no School House Rock song to refer to subconsciously, I have no place to put new information or sort facts.
Apparently between learning what a seal pelt feels like and how, socio-economically, America’s indigenous peoples stack up against the rest of the word, what I was taught was my own ignorance.
Oh, and about time balls.
Each bead in that ball represents a moment in a young woman’s life that she wanted memorialized. So she found a bead and tied it in and using a piece of string and some unique stones she can go back through her life and tell you each moment.
That’s the kind of history that I remember,
Megan
Native American Museum (A Things to See in D.C. Post)
{ 44 comments… read them below or add one }
You should totally make a time ball out of dental floss and cheerios. Thanks for sharing the museum.
Are there days when you wake up feeling like P. Diddy?
Really.
Are there days I don’t wake up feeling like P. Diddy?
I’m glad you decided that the Native American Museum was worth a second look. I’ve never been to D.C., but if I go I will definitely use your blog as a planning resource!
By the way, I love the idea of a time ball. How cool is that?
“It’s not that the other museums have more to learn – it just turns out I’m better at learning the other museums’ lessons.”
That made me all squishy and warm. And not the kind of squishy and warm that require me fetching a fresh pair of pants.
This comment made me feel all squishy and warm. And made me question the construction of my sentence, but now that you’ve quoted it I fear it’s too late for change.
(Yes, I always want to go back and re-do my writing. It’s a curse.) (But thank you. A lot.)
This museum looks awesome! And I could use a nap.
I love Veronica Mars, Schoolhouse Rock and these pictures.
The concept of a time belt is so neat, except…I can barely keep track of my earrings. And I have cats that like string. Although, I guess that could be a memory. “This new bead on this new string represents the day my cats ate my memories.”
This comment made me laugh so. hard.
So thank you.
You are good at figuring out the why of the what. And that’s why I come here, because it often corresponds with my own why of whats. Thanks for doing all that work for me, I can now go fold laundry.
Whew, I hate folding laundry, so I’m glad we’re able to sort out obligations this way!
You know, it would be a LOT easier to like you if SO MANY OF YOUR DAMNED PHOTOS WEREN’T SO BEAUTIFUL.
I may have envy issues.
And also sloth.
Oooh – you must have figured out I secretly want people to love my photography. It’s hard to arrange, as it’s not that good, but I still crave the love, so this comment is officially my favorite of the day!
I went to that museum when I lived in DC a few years ago. It’s so cool looking!
hopa oyanke hecha iyaya heci ecani
lakota/sioux
“beautiful place have to go there soon”
too much dances with wolves…
Well, I’m impressed!
what? that i know how to google? you didn’t really think i was that smart did ya?
Hey – I’m not sure I could successfully google other languages, so you’re smarter than me!
That looks amazing! I love the time ball. I will definitely check out that museum if I ever find myself in D.C. one day.
There’s a great First Nations Gallery at the Royal British Columbia Museum – worth looking at if you’re ever in that neck of the woods.
I’ve never made it up to the great white north, but I’ve heard gorgeous things and I bet their indigenous people museum would kick our’s butt!
I’m going with your first impression – because it matches mine. I took a serious dislike to that museum. If I ever have to go again I’m going to take your nap on the bench suggestion.
It’s actually insanely uncomfortable, so you might just want to stick to the mall – at least there you’ve got a great people watching view!
One day I will wake up cool like you and go to a museum that is awesome. But I live in a boring part of Canada and all we have is…ummm…is….ummm….snow? See. That’s not awesome.
Ah, the internet – the only place where there are still a few people left who are mistakenly convinced I’m cool.
And you know what’s cool? Snow writing. Which you can do.
So I’m envious!
That is a place I would love to visit!
Megan, very interesting post. My husband Alex is Navajo. There’s a great museum (The Heard museum) in Phoenix, Arizona that features most of the Southwestern Tribes. We go to the Navajo Reservation almost every year to visit relatives. Cool!
Now that sounds like an interesting museum – I’ve heard the ones in the southwest are amazing, so if I’m ever in the area I’ll definitely check it out!
oh… those timeballs… pretty darn awesome i’m thinking!!!!
thanks for visiting me over at Beauty Be Good… hope you don’t mind another reader over here… think i might stay a while!!
I am going with your first impression also. I found it boring. And I’m Native American (Comanche) Indian! I kept waiting for ‘the good stuff’, whatever that might be, and it never happened. After a while it was like the same display over and over, just a different name up top. Ok, now the museum itself is GORGEOUS, so it was suuuuch a big letdown to get to the galleries.
And how about that restaurant!?! Not a fry bread or ‘Navajo’ taco in sight!
As for the Time Ball. Interesting. But I have a charm bracelet for the exact same thing, it’s alot easier to remember what each thing is for and alot more interesting for my friends to look at!
It is definitely known for spending all of its awe on the building – though I have to argue, I think that memory ball is freaking awesome! And all the Smithsonian cafes are the same – overpriced and nasty!
It looks well worth visiting. It’s one I haven’t been to there so I’m going to remember this.
That is a super cool beans building. And fountain.
I’ve been to DC once and the Smithsonian was closed bc of snow. Everything was closed. Restaurants, streets, grocery stores. I should really go back.
We do have a terrible habit of freaking out at the sight of snow. But don’t worry – after March you’ll be in the clear, so feel free to come back and visit sunny D.C.!
The only time I’ve gone was that time before the drive-in movie lateness incident. In other words, I need to go back!
I’ve never been… and I’ve never woken up ready to sew matching school uniforms for the neighbors kids. But if I ever do, my first stop? The museum, of course.
I’ve never been either! I will have to check it out someday. Thanks for sharing.
I love museums
I wish I had more time and money to visit them more often!
Money?? You clearly are unfamiliar with D.C. museums! All of the Smithsonians are free, as they’re paid for with tax dollars. Which is one of the main reasons I never go to museums while travelings – I’m spoiled and often forget some people have to pay to visit!
There’s nothing wrong with watching a little Veronica Mars here or there…or all the time. I will not judge you. (Though I have to say, I was quite disappointed in season 3. Blah.)
DON’T TELL ME!
I’m just finishing the first season, so all my disappointment is still to come!
What a wonderful place to enjoy the day! I would love to just get lost in there for a while..
Igloolik, eh? Sounds fun. Just not the yellow ones.
What an outstanding building. I haven’t been to Washington in a very long time. I think I’m overdue.