George Gustav Heye Center facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
George Gustav Heye Center
National Museum of the American Indian

Established	1922
Location	Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, 1 Bowling Green, Manhattan, New York, United States
Visitors	239,435 (2022)
Public transit access	New York City Bus: M9, M15, M15 SBS, M20, M55 New York City Subway: ​ train at Bowling Green or ​​​ train at South Ferry – Whitehall Street

The National Museum of the American Indian–New York, also known as the George Gustav Heye Center, is a special museum in Manhattan, New York City. It's part of the larger National Museum of the American Indian. This museum is located inside the beautiful Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House.

The museum is part of the famous Smithsonian Institution, which runs many museums across the United States. Here, you can see amazing art and historical items made by and about Native Americans.

The idea for this center started with a museum called the Museum of the American Indian. It was founded by George Heye in 1916. Later, in 1987, it became part of the national museum and the Smithsonian family.

History of the Museum

The George Gustav Heye Center is named after George Gustav Heye. He started collecting Native American items way back in 1903. He loved learning about and preserving these important pieces.

Early Days in New York City

Heye founded the Museum of the American Indian in 1916. It officially opened its doors in 1922. The first location was a building at 155th Street and Broadway in New York City. This area is known as Sugar Hill.

Moving to a New Home

By the 1980s, the museum needed a bigger and better space. Its old building in Upper Manhattan was not big enough anymore. U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan suggested a new home for the museum. He thought the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House in Lower Manhattan would be perfect.

At first, some local leaders, like Mayor Ed Koch, weren't sure about the plan. But they soon agreed. In 1988, a big decision was made. The Smithsonian Institution would create its own Native American museum in Washington, D.C. At the same time, the Smithsonian would also take over Heye's collection. This collection would stay in New York City at the Custom House. This plan became law in 1989.

Opening the George Gustav Heye Center

The George Gustav Heye Center officially opened in the Custom House in 1994. The Custom House is a very old and beautiful building. It was finished in 1907 and designed by a famous architect named Cass Gilbert. This building is considered a National Historic Landmark.

In 2006, the museum added more space for visitors. This new area is called the Diker Pavilion. It added about 6,000 square feet for exhibits and events. The museum now has about 20,000 square feet of space for people to explore. The Heye Center always has new exhibits, films, and cultural events for everyone to enjoy.

What You Can See: Galleries

The George Gustav Heye Center has many interesting galleries. They show different parts of Native American art and culture.

Infinity of Nations

This is the museum's main collection. It's called "Infinity of Nations." This exhibit shows how huge and amazing the Smithsonian's collection is. It's organized by different parts of the world, including Central and South America. You can see over 700 items here. These items are both historical and artistic. The exhibit also uses videos and audio to help you learn more. You can hear historians talk about specific objects.

Other Cool Spaces

The museum has other fun areas too:

• The rotunda on the second floor is a large, round room. It's often used for performances. The walls have beautiful murals by Reginald Marsh.
• The Photography Gallery shows amazing photos.
• There are Special Exhibit Galleries and Contemporary Galleries for new and modern art.
• The Haudenosaunee Discovery Room is a hands-on area for learning.
• You can also find a small theater that shows films every day.
• Don't forget to visit the museum store for souvenirs!

The ground floor has the Diker Pavilion for Native Arts and Culture. It also has the imagiNATIONS Activity Center, which opened in 2018. This center used to be known as "The Tipi Room."

Past Exhibits to Remember

The museum often changes its exhibits. Here are a few examples of interesting shows they've had:

• Beauty Surrounds Us (2006–2011) was one of the first exhibits in the Diker Pavilion.
• A Song for the Horse Nation (2009–2011) showed how important horses became to Native Americans after they arrived in the Americas.
• Preston Singletary: Echoes, Fire, and Shadows (2011) featured glass sculptures by a Tlingit artist. His art told stories from Tlingit myths.
• Ramp it Up: Skateboard Culture in Native America (2009–2010) explored the world of skateboarding among Native youth. It looked at graphic design, films, music, and Native businesses.
• Fritz Scholder: Indian/Not Indian (2008–2009) showed paintings and sculptures by a Luiseno artist. He explored ideas about Native identity in his art.

The museum has also created online tours. They worked with Native American youth on the 4 Directions Project. Students picked items from the collection and made 3D tours. They also wrote essays about what they learned.

Image gallery

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  Original building at Audubon Terrace, photographed around the time of its opening in 1922

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  Rotunda of the current building, the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, during a live presentation (2012)

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  Diker pavilion (2012)

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  Infinity of Nations (2012)

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  Photography Gallery (2012)

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  The Tipi Room (2012)