Host an Event in Washington, DC
With event spaces as diverse as its holdings, and stunning views of both the U.S. Capitol and the National Mall, the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian is one of the city's premier event venues.
The museum is available for event rentals for corporate and non-profit organizations, personal and social events, fundraising events for 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, and daytime meetings. The museum can host events ranging from a private dinner for 10 to a full-building rental for 3,500 guests.
For more information and to reserve your space, contact the Office of Special Events at nmai-specialevents@si.edu or 202-633-6982.
Welcome Plaza
Guests' entry experience begins with the museum's landscape and installations, a cascading water feature, and Native plant life leading to the Welcome Plaza. Welcome your guests with hors d'oeuvres and performances as they arrive for your event.
Outdoor Amphitheater | View Floorplan
Accessible from the Potomac Atrium, the Outdoor Amphitheater allows guests to enjoy the Native landscape during your event. Open the space for a pre-dinner reception or wind down the evening with a dessert reception beside the water feature.
Outdoor Amphitheater | Standing capacity 100
First Floor
Potomac Atrium | View Floorplan
Guests enter the museum into the Potomac Atrium, which, at 100 feet in diameter and four stories high, is our main event space. Named for an Algonquian phrase meaning "where the goods are brought in," the Potomac celebrates contemporary Native culture and offers a place for receptions and seated dinners.
Mary Louise and Elmer Rasmuson Theater | View Floorplan
With a generous stage and an intimate atmosphere, the Rasmuson is a flexible space that can be used for presentations, lectures, and seminars. Rental of the Rasmuson Theater includes access to the greenroom suite and two dressing rooms.
Third Floor
Third Floor Overlook | View Floorplan
The Third Floor Overlook is an ideal setting for a cocktail reception and allows guests the opportunity to explore two of the museum's galleries, featuring the exhibitions Americans and The Great Inka Road.
Fourth Floor
Fourth Floor Overlook | View Floorplan
A reception on the Fourth Floor Overlook offers guests access to private lounge spaces, views of the National Mall, and access to galleries featuring the exhibitions Our Universes and Nation to Nation: Treaties Between the United States and American Indian Nations.
Fourth Floor Overlook | Standing capacity 200
Patrons Lounge | View Floorplan
The Patrons Lounge is an elegant space for a dinner, luncheon, reception, or other gathering, with unparalleled views of the U.S. Capitol and the National Mall.
Fourth Floor Conference Rooms | View Floorplan
The Fourth Floor Conference Rooms are available for daytime meetings, luncheons, and presentations. For an evening event, they can also serve as a private lounge, an office for day-of coordinators, and a staging space for event materials.
Fifth Floor
Senator Daniel K. Inouye Memorial Terrace | View Floorplan
Affording guests spectacular views of the U.S. Capitol and the Washington Monument, the Senator Daniel K. Inouye Memorial Terrace is an outdoor space suitable for lunches, receptions, and seated dinners.
Policies and Guidelines
The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., can host the following types of events:
- Private receptions for corporations, non-profits, and foundations
- Fundraising events for organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
- Personal social events for adults, such as wedding receptions, memorials, anniversary celebrations, and birthday parties for those over the age of 13
- Personal youth events, such as proms, dances, and birthday parties for those over the age of 13
- Business gatherings in non-public spaces
For additional information, please refer to the Policies and Vendor Guidelines for each building.
