San Carlos Apache scouts. Arizona, ca. 1885 Photo by J. C. Burges. General Nelson A. Miles Collection. Presented by Maj. Sherman Miles and Mrs. Samuel Reber.

National Museum of the American Indian P6963

For Immediate Release - Flagstaff, AZ -- The Fort Tuthill Military Museum is pleased to host the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian’s Patriot Nations: Native Americans in Our Nation’s Armed Forces. Native Americans have served in every major U.S. military encounter from the Revolutionary War to today’s conflicts in the Middle East in higher numbers per capita than any other ethnic group. Patriot Nations: Native Americans in Our Nation’s Armed Forces reveals the remarkable history of Native American veterans through art, photography and essay.

Housed in two of historic Fort Tuthill’s original buildings the Fort Tuthill Military Museum traces the 154 year history of the 158th Infantry Regiment “Bushmasters” and the Arizona National Guard with an extensive display of weapons, pictures, and documents. The 16-panel exhibition documents 250 years of Native peoples’ contributions in U.S. military history and remains on view from Friday June 28, 2019, through July 21, 2019 (weekends only) 10AM-4PM at the Fort Tuthill Military Museum, 2446 Fort Tuthill Loop Rd. Flagstaff, AZ 86005.

The exhibition will also travel throughout the country to:

• June 28–July 21, 2019 Fort Tuthill Military Museum
  2446 Fort Tuthill Loop, Flagstaff, AZ
• July 1–September 2, 2019 Fort Atkinson State Historical Park
  201 S. 7th, Ft. Calhoun, NE

• September 4–October 9, 2019 Bushwhacker Museum/Vernon County Historical Society
  212 W. Walnut Street, Nevada, MO

• October 14–November 18, 2019 Mineral Area College
  5270 Flat River Road, Park Hills, MO

• November 1–December 20, 2019 Sheridan College Kooi Library
  1 Whitney Way, Sheridan, WY

• November 9–December 10, 2019 St. Louis County Historical Society
  506 W. Michigan St., Duluth, MN

• November 20–December 27, 2019 MO American Indian Cultural Center/Van Meter State Park
  32146 N Hwy 122, Miami, MO

• January 3–February 7, 2020 Crawford County Library District
  210 S. 4th Street, Steelville, MO

• February 11–March 17, 2020 Kansas City Public Library, Plaza Branch
  4801 Main Street, Kansas City, MO

• March 26, 2020 National World War I Museum & Memorial
  2 Memorial Drive, Kansas City, MO

Diné [Navajo] code talkers Corporal Henry Bahe, Jr. and Private First Class George H. Kirk. Bougainville, South Pacific, December 1943.

National Archives and Records Administration 127-MN-69889-B

“Tens of thousands of Native Americans joined the U.S. armed forces during World Wars I and II. Forty-four thousand Native Americans served in World War II; the entire population of Native Americans was less than 350,000 at the time. They are Purple Heart recipients and Bronze Star medal honorees. Many have been recognized with the Congressional Medal of Honor, the United States’ highest military award.”

~Herman J. Viola, curator emeritus of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History and curator of “Patriot Nations.”

“Patriot Nations” also calls attention to the creation of the National Native American Veterans Memorial on the grounds of the museum on the National Mall. Congress has charged the museum with building the memorial to give “all Americans the opportunity to learn of the proud and courageous tradition of service of Native Americans in the Armed Forces of the United States.” Working together with the National Congress of American Indian, Native American veterans, tribal leaders, historians and cultural experts, the museum will complete the memorial by Veteran’s Day 2020. For more information about the memorial, visit AmericanIndian.si.edu/NNAVM.

“Patriot Nations: Native Americans in Our Nation’s Armed Forces” is made possible through the support of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

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About the National Museum of the American Indian

The National Museum of the American Indian is committed to advancing knowledge and understanding of the Native cultures of the Western Hemisphere—past, present and future—through partnership with Native people and others. Located on the National Mall at Fourth Street and Independence Avenue S.W., the museum is open each day from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). It is accessible from L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail station via the Maryland Avenue/Smithsonian Museums exit. Follow the museum via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To learn more about the museum’s mission, visit AmericanIndian.si.edu

About Fort Tuthill Military Museum

A Military History Museum in Northern Arizona located within the historic Ft. Tuthill county park. Our exhibits trace the history of the 158th Infantry Regiment from it's organization in 1865 as the 1st Regiment Arizona Volunteers to present day Afghanistan deployment of 1st Battalion 158th Infantry. Features include military artifacts from 1865, site tour of historic Ft. Tuthill, the 158th Infantry Regiment, "Bushmasters " story and Arizona's National Guard. Follow the Fort Tuthill Military Museum via social media on Facebook and Twitter. To learn more about the museum’s mission, visit Forttuthill.org

Fort Tuthill Military Museum presents the Smithsonian Institution’s exhibition – Patriot Nations: Native Americans in our Nations Armed Forces, made possible by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. Exhibits document 250 years of Native American contributions to Military History. A Number of Arizona Tribes will also provide exhibits illustrating their respective military history.

When: Weekends June 28th to July 21st. 10:00AM-4:00PM.

Where: 2446 Fort Tuthill Loop Flagstaff AZ. Take I-17 to exit 337 west to park entrance and follow the signs.