Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, Santa Fe

In the early 1920s, Mary Cabot Wheelwright, an adventurous New England heiress, scholar, and world traveler, ventured to the Navajo Reservation on horseback at the age of 40. There, she met Hosteen Klah, a powerful Navajo singer and healer. Despite the language barrier-he spoke no English and she spoke no Navajo-they formed a strong connection. Wheelwright wanted to learn more about his religion, and Klah, sensing the impending loss of the traditional Navajo way of life, was ready to share his knowledge with someone who could document it.

Together, they founded the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, which opened in 1937 as the House of Navajo Religion. The museum's mission has since expanded to include all Native American cultures, with rotating exhibits showcasing new work by individual artists every few months. The building itself is modeled after a traditional Navajo hogan, with large timbers supporting its eight-sided structure. A later addition houses a collection of Southwestern jewelry.

The museum offers guided tours from 10 AM to 5 PM, Tuesday through Saturday.

Tip:
Don't miss the basement gift shop, a re-creation of a 19th-century trading post, complete with authentically creaky wood floors and beautiful antique crafts on display, including Navajo weavings, Hopi baskets, old pawn jewelry, and Pueblo pottery.