Anacostia Community Museum

The Anacostia Community Museum is a Smithsonian Institution museum in Washington, D.C., dedicated to documenting and interpreting the history and culture of urban communities, particularly the Anacostia neighborhood. Established in 1967, it was created to bring museum resources directly into a local community setting.

Exhibitions and programs examine local history, civic life, arts, and contemporary social issues through collections, oral histories, photographs, and community partnerships. The museum emphasizes engagement and participatory projects tied to neighborhood concerns and cultural memory.

Over the decades the museum has specialized in grassroots documentation and has adapted its exhibitions to reflect changing community priorities while remaining a Smithsonian research and outreach center.

Located in the Anacostia neighborhood of southeast Washington, D.C., the museum sits steps from residential streets and community institutions and serves as a local cultural hub.

• Smithsonian and founding: Founded in 1967 as the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum and now part of the Smithsonian Institution, it focuses on African American history and the social and cultural life of Washington, D.C.'s communities.
• Community focus: Programs and exhibits center on community-based history and contemporary issues, with strong outreach to local schools and residents.