Photography Exhibition From the National Museum of the American Indian’s Archives Center Reveals Community Stories

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian on the National Mall will open “InSight: Photos and Stories from the Archives” Friday, May 23. Drawing from the more than a half-million photographs in the museum’s Archives Center, the exhibition gives an intimate view of Indigenous lives across the Western Hemisphere and across time. The photographs show everyday moments of joy and quiet reflection. In them, people attend social gatherings, pose for family photos and learn from relatives. 

In addition to providing a glimpse of daily life and significant moments, the exhibition highlights a core mission of the Archives Center: to continually work with community members to add information to the photo collections. Over time, through relationship-building and collaboration, the center has gathered a trove of stories behind the images. This exhibition is the culmination of the ongoing and collaborative process of revealing the vibrant lives behind still shots.

The exhibition was curated by Emily Moazami, head archivist; Rachel Menyuk, processing archivist; and Nathan Sowry, reference archivist.

Exhibition Preview

Curators will have some availability to provide a preview to members of the media the week of May 19. Those interested in scheduling an interview or advance gallery access should contact the press office at nmaipressoffice@si.edu.

About the Museum

In partnership with Native peoples and their allies, the National Museum of the American Indian fosters a richer shared human experience through a more informed understanding of Native peoples. The museum in Washington, D.C., is located on the National Mall at Fourth Street and Independence Avenue S.W. For additional information, including hours and directions, visit AmericanIndian.si.edu. Follow the museum via social media @SmithsonianNMAI.

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SI-94-2025