The National Museum of the American Indian stands at Fourth Street and Independence Avenue SW in Washington, D.C. Douglas Cardinal, who is Blackfoot, was the architect and project designer. GBQC Architects and Johnpaul Jones were the design architects, and Cardinal was removed from the project during construction over disagreements. Ground was broken on September 28, 1999, and it opened on September 21, 2004.
The five-story building has 250,000 square feet (23,000 m²) on a 4.25-acre (1.7 ha) site. Golden Kasota limestone clads its curving form, which evokes rock shaped by wind and water. Simulated wetlands surround it, and the entrance faces east.
It includes a 120-foot (37 m) high space for Native performances. The Mitsitam Native Foods Cafe has five regional food stations. The museum opened to 2.4 million visitors in its first year.
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