National Museum of the American Indian

More than a decade in the making, this newest addition to the National Mall celebrates the myriad history and culture of indigenous peoples of the Americas. Hilferty crafted the Interpretive Master Plan centered on Native Americans telling their own stories. Visitors to the innovative Lelawi Theater are immersed within a circular space suggestive of Southwest kivas and earth lodges. The multimedia experience transports visitors to the Arctic Circle, the Great Plains, and the Amazonian rain forest as images of diverse cultures are projected on a 40-foot domed ceiling and within the theater’s sculptural centerpiece. Other exhibits display stunning artifacts, keyed to touchscreen monitors, that show and tell stories about the makers of these wondrous objects. Visitors encounter Potomac peoples and learn about native boatbuilding.