Navajo Nation Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1961 |
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| Location | Highway 264 and Loop Road Window Rock, Arizona 86515 |
| Type | Ethnographic, archaeological, art |
The Navajo Nation Museum is a special place in Window Rock, Arizona. It is both a museum and a library. This museum teaches visitors all about the amazing history and culture of the Navajo people. It has many exhibits, a research library, and programs that help keep the Navajo language alive.
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About the Museum's Home
The museum is in a cool, modern building. It is located in Window Rock, Arizona. This city is the capital of the Navajo Nation. You can find the museum right next to the Navajo Zoo.
The museum is in the middle of the Navajo reservation. This reservation is very large, covering about 27,000 square miles (70,000 square kilometers). The building is officially called the Navajo Nation Museum, Library & Visitor's Center. It also holds the Navajo Nation Library. This library has special collections for studying history, law, and culture.
The museum building is surrounded by tall sandstone cliffs. There is even a walking path outside. This path leads to a great view of the reservation.
How the Museum Grew
The museum started small a long time ago.
- In 1961, the Navajo Tribal Museum opened in a tiny building. It was at the Window Rock Tribal Fairgrounds.
- In 1982, it moved to the back room of an arts and crafts shop.
- In 1997, the current large building was built. It cost about $7 million to create this new home.
What You Can See and Learn
The museum collects many items that show the culture and history of the Navajo people. This includes things from nearby tribes and non-Native neighbors too. The museum has a huge collection. It includes art, cultural items, archaeological finds, and old documents.
There are over 40,000 photographs in the museum's archives. You can also find many documents, recordings, films, and videos. Researchers and authors often use these archives. They help them find historical photos for their books. Most of these collections can be studied at the museum. They can also be loaned out for other exhibits.
The museum always has interesting exhibits. Most of these are created right there at the museum. The exhibits often show off the work of Navajo artists. You can see beautiful weavings and other art forms. They also have exhibits about Navajo history and culture. The museum is currently planning a big new exhibit. It will tell the full story of Navajo culture and history.
Current Exhibits to Explore
Right now, you can see videos, photos, artwork, jewelry, and textiles. These items all share the history and culture of the Navajo people.
The Long Walk Story
One important exhibit tells about the Long Walk of the Navajo. This was a very hard time in 1864. The Navajo people were forced to leave their homes. They had to march about 300 miles (480 kilometers). They were taken to a prison camp in Fort Sumner, New Mexico.
If These Objects Could Talk
Another exhibit is called Jo' Jini'–If These Objects Could Talk. Navajo medicine men often say "jó jiní" at the end of their teachings. This means "that's what I heard" or "it was said." This exhibit features 60 different items. These include jewelry, folk art, pottery, and historical pieces. Many people donated these items. One special item is a flag that was flown at Fort Sumner.
The 1868 Treaty
In 2018, the National Archives loaned the museum a very important document. It was the only known copy of the 1868 treaty. This treaty created the Navajo reservation. It also ended the time the Navajo were held at Fort Sumner. Later, a second copy of the treaty was found. It belonged to Samuel F. Tappan, who helped write the treaty. That copy went to the Bosque Redondo memorial. People believe a third copy was buried with Barboncito.
After visiting the exhibits, you can stop by the museum's gift shop. It sells books about Navajo culture, jewelry, and other items. These items are often related to the museum's collections.
Other Cool Things the Museum Does
The museum and its director, Manuelito Wheeler, are very interested in saving the Navajo language. They want more Navajo people to be able to speak it.
The museum worked with LucasFilm to create a Navajo-dubbed version of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. This means the movie was re-recorded with Navajo voices. The project was finished in 2013.
In 2015, they spent a whole year working with Pixar. They made a Navajo-language version of Finding Nemo. They were very careful choosing the Navajo voice actors. They also made sure the dubbing was perfect. The film, called Nemo Hádéést'íí, first showed in Albuquerque in 2016. It then played in different cities in the Southwest. Navajo audiences loved it!
Art and Lectures
Manuelito Wheeler also gives talks about Navajo topics. One talk was called "Navajo Identity through Global Projects." The museum also worked with a famous artist named Ai Weiwei. They paired him with Navajo artist Bert Benally. Together, they created a special art piece in a remote canyon on the Navajo Nation.
