On September 21, 2004 after more than a decade of planning, preparation and design, marked along the way with a number of very public conflicts, the Smithsonian NMAI (National Museum of the American Indian) opened its doors. While the opening was perhaps not as marked by conflict as it might have been - it did generate a certain amount of controversy, some of which is ongoing. The story of the events and process(s) that led to this point an interesting and instructive.