THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF
              THE AMERICAN INDIAN
              HISTORY OF EVENTS

     In 1980, discussions began between the Smithsonian
Institution and the Museum of the American Indian,
Heye Foundation, in New York City.  The museum has
one of the largest Native American collections in the
world, more than 1 million objects representing tribes
from the entire Western Hemisphere.  The talks were
initiated by the museum's trustees, and discussions
centered on an affiliation with the Smithsonian,
maintaining an independent museum in New York and
developing cooperative scholarly and educational
programs with the Smithsonian.  Although not
conclusive in themselves, these early talks led the way
to future negotiations.
     In April 1987, Smithsonian Secretary Robert McC.
Adams accompanied Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii)
to the Museum of the American Indian, Heye
Foundation in New York to talk with officials there.   
     On May 4, 1987, the board of trustees of the
Museum of the American Indian unanimously adopted a
resolution providing for the affiliation between its
museum and the Smithsonian and for the relocation of
the museum collections to a new building on the
National Mall in Washington, D.C. 
     On May 11, 1987, the Smithsonian Board of
Regents approved a motion encouraging the secretary
to  continue discussions with representatives of the
Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation,
about the prospect of a formal institutional relationship
between the museum and the Smithsonian.  The
secretary was also encouraged to explore the concept of
a national museum of Native American history and
culture with members of Congress, representatives of
the Executive Branch, tribal leaders and other interested
parties, including responsible authorities in New York. 
     Following discussions with the Smithsonian and the
Heye museum's board of trustees, Sen. Inouye
introduced a bill (S.1722) on Sept. 25, 1987, to
establish a National Museum of the American Indian
within the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
Secretary Adams testified on this proposed legislation
on Nov. 12, 1987.
     In 1988, negotiations continued in Washington on
the language of the legislation and in New York on the
affiliation agreement between the Smithsonian and the
Heye Foundation.  Congress adjourned in October 1988
without taking final action on S.1722.
     The Smithsonian Institution continued its
negotiations with the board of trustees of the Museum
of the American Indian, Heye Foundation. The
Smithsonian Board of Regents at its meeting on
Jan. 30, 1989, approved an agreement in principle to
transfer the Museum of the American Indian collections
to the Smithsonian. 
     On March 16, 1989, Julie Johnson Kidd, chairman of
the board of trustees of the Heye Foundation, signed
the agreement on behalf of the Heye Foundation board. 
The Smithsonian Board of Regents gave final approval
to the agreement on May 8, 1989, and it was endorsed
the same day by Secretary Adams.
      Sen. Inouye introduced S.978 to establish the
National Museum of the American Indian on  May 11,
1989, and Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (D-Colo.), at
the time a U.S. representative from Colorado,
introduced companion legislation H.R.2668 on June 15,
1989.
     On Sept. 12, 1989, Adams joined Inouye and
Campbell for a press conference to announce the
Smithsonian's revised policy on repatriation of
American Indian human remains and the introduction of
an amendment to the legislation that would establish the
new museum, incorporate the repatriation policy and
appropriate funds for an inventory of human remains in
the Smithsonian collections.
     On Nov. 28, 1989, President George Bush signed
legislation establishing the National Museum of the
American Indian as part of the Smithsonian Institution.
     On May 21, 1990, Secretary Adams announced the
appointment of W. Richard West Jr. (Southern
Cheyenne), as founding director of the new museum.
West assumed his position on June 1, 1990.
     In April 1991, the Smithsonian selected Venturi,
Scott Brown and Associates Inc. of Philadelphia, Pa., to
assist the National Museum of the American Indian in
developing general architectural program requirements
and criteria for the design of the new museum to be
built in Washington, D.C., and requirements for the
Cultural Resources Center. The center, to be based
in Suitland, Md., about six miles from Washington,
D.C., will house the bulk of the museum's 1 million
object collection and will also accommodate associated
activities such as research, collections conservation,
exhibit support functions and outreach programs.
In June 1992, the Smithsonian selected James Stewart
Polshek and Partners, Metcalf Tobey & Partners, and
The Native American Design Collaborative to provide
architectural and engineering services for the National
Museum of the American Indian's Cultural Resources
Center. 
     The preview exhibition "Pathways of Tradition",  a
selection of more than 100 objects representing
American Indian cultures and creativity, was on view at
the George Gustav Heye Center of the National
Museum of the American Indian in New York City
from Nov. 15, 1992 until Jan. 24, 1993.  This temporary
exhibition provided the viewers with a demonstration of
the exhibition philosophy of the museum and a preview
of future exhibitions and programs. The Heye Center
will officially open in the Alexander Hamilton U.S.
Custom House in lower Manhattan in October 1994.
     In February 1993, the Smithsonian selected the
architectural firm of Geddes Brecher Qualls
Cunningham of Philadelphia in association with Douglas
Cardinal Architect Ltd. of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, to
design the National Museum of the American Indian on
the National Mall in Washington, D.C., scheduled to
open in 2001.  Cardinal (Blackfoot) designed the
Canadian Museum of Civilization in Hull, Quebec.
                    
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For press information contact:
Lee Ann Fahey (212) 825-8199
or Dan Agent (202) 357-2627

For recorded information call:
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This information was provided by the 
Resource Center: (212) 825-8118
.