The opening of the new Museum of the American Indian was, by all accounts, a smoothly orchestrated and historic affair, with tens of thousands of Native Americans and other members of the public participating in a day-long opening celebration.

Colorado Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell was so tightly scheduled he had to go directly from the opening ceremonies to the floor of the U.S. Senate dressed in his full traditional regalia as a chief of the Northern Cheyenne. The senator explained to the AP he didn't have enough time to change.

In local media, NBC4 has video clips and photos and News8 has a story and video from today's opening, and WUSA9/Gannett Online has a full special page about the museum, including a special top ten list of things to see.

Their list includes a Wall of 408 gold objects, a panel of treaties, a Tlingit totem pole, Geronimo's rifle, and more than 150 species used to landscape around the museum.

A six-day "First Americans Festival" on the national mall, pictured to the left, runs through Sunday. The festival includes a marketplace, a variety of performers and programs, and nightly concerts.

Photos by Rob Goodspeed