Top Spots For Experiencing Native American Culture

For the best way to learn about and understand the original natives of our country, check out this easy-to-speed-read list of the top Native American destinations.

The National Museum of the American Indian George Gustav Heye Center (New York)

-Located in the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House

-Headdresses from different tribes

-Oldest known duck decoys, dating to 400 B.C.

-Yup'ik jackets used for nursing mothers

The National Museum of the American Indian (Washington D.C.)

-More than 800,000 items from North, Central and South American cultures

-Top-rated native foods cafe

-Full calendar of public events and exhibitions

Oklahoma

-39 federally recognized tribes

-Second-highest Native American population in the U.S.

-National Historic Trail of Tears

-Re-created Cherokee village at Cherokee Heritage Center

-Gilcrease Museum, the world's largest collection of art and artifacts of the American West

Santa Fe, New Mexico

-Historic Plaza, lined with hundreds of authentic American Indian vendors

-An architectural re-creation of Taos Pueblo at the Inn and Spa at Loretto

-Museum of Indian Arts and Culture

Gathering of Nations (Albuquerque, New Mexico)

-World's largest Native American cultural event

-More than 700 tribes

-Traditional performances, arts and crafts, and cuisine

Taos, New Mexico

-Taos Pueblo, a current Native community dating back to the 13th century

-Millicent Rogers Museum, housing some of the most important collections of Native art

Phoenix, Arizona

-Heard Museum, housing 11 galleries of Native collections

-Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park, a 1500-year-old site with an archaeological village for public viewing

-Traditional Native dining at Fry Bread House, KAI and Desert Rain Cafe

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