National Museum of African American History and Culture

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a Smithsonian museum on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., that opened on September 24, 2016. It houses a large, multidisciplinary collection documenting African American history and culture.

The museum’s permanent exhibition galleries trace more than four centuries of African American history, from the transatlantic slave trade through Reconstruction, Jim Crow, the civil rights movement and contemporary life, presented across multiple floors of interpretive displays and artifact installations. The collection includes tens of thousands of objects, photographs and oral histories that illustrate social, cultural and political themes.

Special exhibition spaces and community galleries host rotating displays, temporary loans and community-curated installations that change regularly. The building’s upper galleries and terrace offer framed views over the National Mall toward the Washington Monument, which many visitors use as a photo and orientation point.

Congress authorized the museum as part of the Smithsonian Institution after decades of advocacy; construction was completed in the 2010s and the museum opened in 2016. The building was designed by a team led by Adjaye Associates, with collaborators including Freelon Group and Davis Brody Bond.

Located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the museum sits among other Smithsonian museums and memorials and is within walking distance of the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol.

• Admission and access: Admission is free as a Smithsonian museum; timed-entry passes are often recommended during peak periods.
• Architecture feature: The building's bronze-colored exterior was designed to reference West African craftsmanship and features a distinctive corona form.

What to See #

• Exhibition Galleries: Permanent galleries run chronologically from the 15th century transatlantic slave trade to the present, including sections on segregation, the civil rights movement, and contemporary culture.
• Top-level terrace and viewpoints: The top-level terrace and upper galleries provide framed views toward the Washington Monument and the National Mall.
• Collections: Contains a large collection of artifacts, photographs, oral histories and manuscripts documenting African American life and culture.