“We have been working toward the goal of expansion for many years, and it boils down to one reason-impact,” said Jacob Johnson, area manager for Smithsonian Enterprises, the operator of the Museum Store of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian.
The site of the new retail space historically served as the Cashier’s Office in the Custom House, which is now a city landmark. In the early 20th century, the revenue from the Custom House served as one of the largest funding sources for the federal government.
The renovation of the space preserves original details like antique metal dividers for the cashier’s cages and design flourishes, such as intricate crown molding, grand chandeliers and even the original vault used by the cashiers.
Authentic Native American merchandise, featuring one-of-a-kind items from more Native groups than ever before, are featured in the $2 million upgrade providing a shopping area three times larger, with nearly 3,000 square feet of space, offering apparel, art, literature, jewelry and food.
Mr. Jacob said, “The store has always been a big piece of the experience, and one that visitors could literally take away with them. Now that we can help introduce people to more Native cultures, it makes the visit so much more engaging and meaningful.”
The museum store is open 10 AM-5 PM daily.
The National Museum of the American Indian-New York, the George Gustav Heye Center, is located within the historic Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House on Bowling Green at the beginning of Broadway across from Battery Park.
The museum’s permanent and temporary exhibitions-as well as a range of public programs, including music and dance performances, films, and symposia-explore the diversity of the Native people of the Americas.