When I read about Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis, I was excited to visit and view Western and Native American art. According to the website, the art tells the stories of the peoples of North America in all their diversity and complexity. It’s a place for historical context, artistic expression, new ideas, and individual perspectives.
This impressive museum is the only museum in the Midwest and one of only two museums east of the Mississippi that explore Native America and the American West in the same galleries. The mission has always been to inspire an appreciation and understanding of the art, history, and cultures of the Indigenous peoples of North America and the American West.
When I entered the museum stretching out before me was Grand Hall with art and galleries on either side with a cafe at the very end. To my right was the museum store.
There are three floors (Canal Level, Entry Level, and Upper Level). Each gallery offers a different perspective. My favorite galleries were Art of the American West and Gund Gallery of Western Art. Artists offer a view of rough living, intimate moments, and family portraits.
Also preserved in the museum are Indigenous and Western cultural objects and contemporary art. The institution’s contemporary Native American art collection ranks among the best in the world.
Artists featured here include T.C. Cannon, N. C. Wyeth, Andy Warhol, Georgia O’Keeffe, Allan Houser, Frederic Remington, Wilson Hurley, Catharine Carter Critcher, Charles Russell, and Kay WalkingStick.
I stayed more than two hours, taking my time to enjoy and admire the art and informational exhibits. Special exhibits are also featured here. Currently, one of the featured artists is photographer Dorothea Lange. The exhibition features 30 photographs highlighting her iconic portraits from the Great Depression, World War II, and beyond.
Eiteljorg Museum is world class and one every Indianapolis visitor should visit.
The museum is open year-round except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. For more information about the museum, click here. For more information about visiting other Indianapolis attractions, accommodation, restaurants, and other valuable information, click here.
