The Bigger Picture: Visual Archives and the Smithsonian Now Open
to the Public (in 1922) - Museum of the American Indian On
November 14, 1922, George Gustav Heye opened to the public the
Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation in New York City
to display his collection of Native American artifacts. Heye, a
mining engineer, began collecting Native American artifacts
while working in Arizona in 1896. The museum, founded in 1916,
was located at Audubon Terrace and there was also a research
branch in the Bronx where collections were available for
research and study. After Heye's death in 1957, the future of
the museum was in doubt. Some thoughts were to transfer the
collection to the American Museum of Natural History in New York
or possibly for it to be purchased by businessman, H. Ross
Perrot. Neither of these options came to pass. It was not until
the 1980s when discussions began with the Smithsonian that a
home would be found for the Museum of the American Indian. On
November 18, 1989, President George