“Night at the Museums” Offers Unique Access to Smithsonian Museum

The National Museum of the American Indian’s George Gustav Heye Center joins 14 other cultural institutions of Lower Manhattan for the second annual “Night at the Museums” hosted by the Downtown Culturals Group. This evening event features special programming and tours at the various venues and runs from 4 to 8 p.m. June 23 as part of the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s “River To River” summer arts festival. Admission is free.

Visitors of all ages can spend a summer evening immersed in New York City’s history, explore what makes the United States unique, discover new cultures and heritages or even take a walking tour of the area. All museums and historical sites are within walking distance from one another. Lower Manhattan offers one of the most diverse and concentrated groups of museums in the world.

At the National Museum of the American Indian, cultural interpreters will be on hand to teach visitors about Native life and culture. Visitors can also take advantage of exhibition tours led by subject matter experts. Included in these tours are the exhibitions, “Infinity of Nations,”  “Glittering World: Navajo Jewelry of the Yazzie Family” and “Cerámica de los Ancestros: Central America’s Past Revealed.”

All tours will begin at the second-floor Information Desk. Tour times are:

4 p.m.: “Infinity of Nations”

4:45 p.m.: “Glittering World”

5:30 p.m.: “Cerámica de los Ancestros”

5:30 p.m.: “Infinity of Nations”

6:15 p.m.: “Glittering World”

7 p.m.: “Cerámica de los Ancestros”

Tours may be subject to change and/or cancellation.

In addition, a special screening of Indian Relay will show in the Diker Pavilion for Native Arts and Cultures at 6 p.m. The film, directed by Charles Dye, follows teams from three different American Indian communities as they prepare for and compete across a grueling Indian relay season—hearts set on the glory and honor of winning the year’s National Championships.

All participating institutions will issue a special “Passport” for the event that will provide a map of the area and information about the museums and historical sites to help visitors plan their evening. This handy brochure offers visitors special discounts valid through the summer on museum admission and other services depending upon the location.

 The Downtown Culturals Group is composed of cultural organizations located in Lower Manhattan below Chambers Street. Its purpose is to foster collaborations among and promote the visibility of Downtown’s cultural resources. For the most up-to-date information about all of the venues participating in “Night at the Museums,” visit NightAtTheMuseums.org.

For more information about the National Museum of the American Indian’s George Gustav Heye Center, visit AmericanIndian.si.edu. Follow the museum via social media on Facebook, Twitter (@AmerIndianNYC) and Instagram (@Smithsonian_NMAINY) and join the “Night at the Museums” conversation with the hashtag #MuseumNightLM.

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