Trip Idea

Native American Heritage In and Around Washington DC

Multiple Parks

The Washington Monument in autumn.
Duration Multiple Days
Topic(s) Native American Heritage, River and Riparian, Water Trails, Watersheds, Marshes, Military, War of 1812, Birds, Scenic Views, Wetlands, Indigenous and Native Warrior, Monuments and Memorials, Social Movements, Civil Rights, Urban America, Colonial/European Contact Conflicts more »
Activities Living History, Paddling, Self-Guided Tours - Walking
Type Kid Friendly, Urban, Educational, Outdoors
Parks Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, Chesapeake Bay, National Mall and Memorial Parks
Visit the museums, monuments, and parks in and around Washington DC dedicated to American Indian history and heritage. Experience landscapes that evoke the Chesapeake Bay as it was prior to European colonization, paddling the rivers that sustained American Indian communities. In addition to the locations and tours below, be sure to check out Piscataway Park, a National Park Service site that protects Moyaone, a prominent Piscataway village in the early 17th century.
  • Multiple Parks

    Tour Indigenous D.C.

    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Self-Guided Tours - Walking
    • Pets: Yes with Restrictions
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Day
    The National Museum of the American Indian building.

    Our nation's capital is full of American Indian heritage - if you know where to look. Use your mobile device to take a self-guided tour of Washington DC that highlights monuments, museums, historic sites, and artworks relevant to the indigenous community. Learn about the original inhabitants of the land on which DC now stands and visit the world-class Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.

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  • Multiple Parks

    Patuxent River Park
    • Activity Fee: Yes
    • Reservations: Yes
    • Activity: Living History
    • Pets: Yes
    • Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Day
    A red kayak in a marsh with grasses in the foreground.

    A short drive from Washington DC and Baltimore, Patuxent River Park boasts more than 7,000 acres of parkland along the Patuxent River. Museums of rural life and a replica American Indian village engage visitors in the region's history. Visit in the fall to attend the park's annual American Indian Festival, a Pow Wow geared towards public education.

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  • Multiple Parks

    Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum
    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Living History
    • Pets: Yes
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Day
    A yehakin house made of

    Discover thousands of years of archeology at Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum. Over 65 archeological sites tell the story of American Indian technology, innovation, and craft within the Chesapeake Bay landscape. Tour the museum, laboratory, and woodland village, walk the park trails, and paddle the Patuxent river.

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  • Multiple Parks

    Paddle the Patuxent River Water Trail
    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Paddling
    • Pets: Yes
    A person paddles an orange kayak on a river with trees in the background.

    The Patuxent River Water Trail offers visitors the opportunity to paddle the river, camp along its banks and visit its numerous parks, historic sites, sanctuaries and wildlife areas. The 110 mile-long river is unique in that it is the longest river that flows entirely within the state of Maryland.

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Last updated: December 18, 2023