Discover Indigenous Museums: A Global Journey

Indigenous museums around the world play a crucial role. They preserve and celebrate indigenous peoples’ rich histories, cultures, and contributions. Here are 20 must-visit Indigenous museums globally:

Large red rock formations in an arid landscape with sparse vegetation and a clear sky.

Anangu Uwankaraku Punu Aboriginal Corporation

Founded in 1993, located in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia. This cultural center features exhibits on the traditions, art, and stories of the Anangu people.

Modern yellowish-brown building with glass entryway, next to older classical structure with flags.

Australian Museum

The Australian Museum, located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, was founded in 1827, making it the oldest museum in the country. The museum’s current building, designed by Mortimer Lewis, was completed in 1849 and features a neoclassical design. Th First Nations Gallery features extensive exhibits on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, including traditional artifacts, contemporary art, and cultural narratives.

Modern building with purple, geometric facade, submarine docked at urban waterfront, skyscrapers behind

Australian National Maritime Museum

The Australian National Maritime Museum opened in 1991 in Sydney, Australia, overlooking Darling Harbour. It features exhibits on the maritime history of Australia, including the traditions and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Modern building with wooden facade, large glass windows, labeled "BURKE", beside a road and sidewalk

Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture

Established in 1899, located in Seattle, Washington, USA. It features exhibits on the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest, including artifacts, art, and cultural displays.

Modern building with rounded dome roof, greenery, Canadian flag, and Gothic-style structures in background.

Canadian Museum of History

Founded in 1856, located in Gatineau, Quebec. It includes extensive exhibits on First Nations, Inuit, and Métis cultures, showcasing artifacts, art, and historical narratives.

Garden with red, yellow flowers, wooden animal sculptures, trees, and blue sky backdrop.

Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Established in 1900, located in Denver, Colorado, USA. It features exhibits on the indigenous peoples of North America, including artifacts, art, and cultural narratives.

Heard Museum

Since its founding in 1929, the Heard Museum has grown in size and stature. It comprises 12 galleries featuring American Indian art and exhibitions, an outdoor sculpture gallery, a world-class museum shop, and an outdoor café. Dedicated to the advancement of American Indian art, the Heard successfully presents the stories of American Indian people from a first-person perspective and exhibitions that showcase the beauty and vitality of traditional and contemporary art.

Glass-walled building with event signage, people nearby, and Eiffel Tower in the distant background.

Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac

Opened in 2006, designed by Jean Nouvel, located near the Eiffel Tower. This museum focuses on non-European art and cultures, with a vast collection of artifacts from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions and cultural events.

Modern concrete building with large windows, pond, gravel pathway, totem poles, and wooden cabins.

Museum of Anthropology

Opened in 1949, located at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. It features extensive collections of indigenous art and artifacts, particularly from the Northwest Coast First Nations.

Modern building with a stone facade, metal roof, "DISRUPTION" banners, emblem, and potted plants.

Museum of the Cherokee Indian

Opened in 1948, located in Cherokee, North Carolina, USA. It features exhibits on the history and culture of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, including artifacts, art, and interactive displays.

Museo Nacional de Antropología

The Museo Nacional de Antropología in Mexico City, Mexico, was completed in 1964 by Pedro Ramírez Vázquez. The museum’s modernist architecture is notable for its vast courtyard and iconic “umbrella” structure. It is dedicated to the archaeology and history of Mexico’s pre-Hispanic civilizations.

Modern architectural structure with angular designs, bright lighting, and a large ring sculpture.

National Museum of Australia

Established in 1980, located in Canberra. This museum features extensive exhibits on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, including artifacts, art, and interactive displays on indigenous history and contemporary issues.

Red brick building of Peabody Museum partially obscured by pink flowers, with banner displaying artifacts.

Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology

Founded in 1866, located at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. It features extensive collections of artifacts from indigenous cultures around the world, including North and South America.

Interior museum view with two-level galleries, high ceilings, dinosaur skeleton in center, exhibits.

Redpath Museum

Founded in 1882, located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It features exhibits on the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis cultures of Canada, including artifacts, art, and natural history specimens.

Aerial view of a snowy landscape, modern building, and vivid sunset with forested hills.

Sami Cultural Centre Sajos

Established in 2012, located in Inari, Finland. It serves as a cultural and administrative center for the Sámi people, featuring exhibits on Sámi traditions, handicrafts, and contemporary culture.

Curved modern beige building with glass windows, overhangs, trees, and circular sculpture in a plaza.

National Museum of the American Indian

A diverse and multifaceted cultural and educational enterprise, the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) is an active and visible component of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum complex. The NMAI cares for one of the world’s most expansive collections of Native artifacts, including objects, photographs, archives, and media covering the entire Western Hemisphere, from the Arctic Circle to Tierra del Fuego. The National Museum of the American Indian operates three facilities. The museum on the National Mall in Washington, DC, offers exhibition galleries and spaces for performances, lectures and symposia, research, and education. The George Gustav Heye…

Spacious circular hall with marble walls, arched windows, domed ceiling, and event setup with round tables.

National Museum of the American Indian – New York

Expanded in 2019, located in the Financial District. The expansion includes new exhibition spaces and educational facilities for showcasing Native American art and culture.

Entrance to museum reception with wooden walls, glass doors, a person at desk, and a wooden sculpture.

Tairawhiti Museum

Opened in 1952, located in Gisborne, New Zealand. It focuses on the history and culture of the Māori people, particularly those from the Tairāwhiti region, featuring art, artifacts, and historical exhibits.

Modern building with geometric design, large glass windows, illuminated entrance, and flagpoles in front.

Te Papa Tongarewa

Opened in 1998, located in Wellington, New Zealand. This national museum includes significant collections related to the Māori people, with exhibits on traditional art, history, and cultural practices.

Building with indigenous mural, two carved totem poles, garden area, and distant trees.

U’mista Cultural Centre

Established in 1980, located in Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada. It focuses on the culture and history of the Kwakwaka’wakw people, featuring ceremonial regalia, masks, and totem poles.

These indigenous museums offer a profound insight into the histories, cultures, and contributions of indigenous peoples from around the world. They provide a platform for preserving and celebrating indigenous heritage, fostering greater understanding and appreciation of these diverse cultures.