Housed in the magnificent Customs House, designed by architect Cass Gilbert, this museum is a sister institution to the one in Washington, D.C., though it was founded a decade earlier in 1994. Both are now part of the Smithsonian (free to enter!), and have as a foundation some 1 million objects collected from indigenous nations across the Americas, from the Inuits to the Incans. The ground floor is an interactive learning space for children called imagiNATIONS Activity Center; during the week it’s often reserved for school groups. On the upper story are three exhibition spaces. Native New York, which tells the stories of the peoples who once lived in New York State, seems geared to those of elementary school age; of more interest for adults is the Infinity of Nations galleries, which showcases exquisite indigenous art and artifacts: baskets, blankets, masks, dresses, intricate stone and wood sculptures, beaded moccasins, jewelry, and paintings on hides showing initiation ceremonies, to name just a fraction of what you’ll see here. The museum has two interpreters on staff who roam around answering questions—alas, they aren’t always in this gallery, which is a real shame, as they are able to relate fascinating background for many of the objects. The final gallery area, the Diker Pavilion for Native Arts and Cultures, hosts changing exhibits, some of which, to be frank, have been quite dull recently. But heck: the museum’s free, so if you’re in the vicinity, pop inside, and be sure to go into the gift store, where you’ll see the original tellers’ windows from when this was a customs house.