Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian

The Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian is the oldest independent non-profit museum in New Mexico. Founded by Mary Cabot Wheelwright (1878–1958) in collaboration with the respected Navajo singer Hastiin Klah (1867–1937), it is situated in a historic building of modernist design based on a Navajo hooghan designed by architect William Penhallow Henderson. Recognized as a historic landmark, it has been open to the public since 1937. The Wheelwright is an accredited museum with a permanent gallery, a lively exhibition and public program. It houses the founding collections of Navajo ceremonial items in addition to contemporary Indigenous North American art, and Navajo and Pueblo jewelry. The collections include substantial archives, currently part of a digitization program funded by the Mellon Foundation. The Wheelwright has aimed to work in partnerships since its founding.