National Museum of African Art Museum

Address: National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC (on the National Mall)

Website: https://africa.si.edu

Hours: Daily 11:30am-7:00pm

Admission: Free (Smithsonian)

The National Museum of African Art is a Smithsonian museum in Washington, D.C., dedicated to the study and display of African visual arts. The museum collects historic and contemporary works from across the African continent and its diasporas.

The museum joined the Smithsonian Institution to bring African art into a national museum setting and has expanded its collection and exhibition program over several decades. Its acquisitions and exhibitions reflect scholarly research and partnerships with artists and institutions in Africa.

Located in Washington, D.C., the museum is part of the Smithsonian family of museums and is accessible to visitors exploring the National Mall and nearby cultural institutions.

• Institutional affiliation: Operates as part of the Smithsonian Institution and focuses on art from across Africa and the African diaspora.

• Admission is free (it's a Smithsonian museum), so check the museum's website for current temporary exhibitions and any timed-entry requirements before you go to avoid disappointment.
• Visit on weekday mornings right after opening to avoid school groups and large tour crowds common later in the day; the collection is compact so you can see the highlights in about an hour.
• Most visitors focus on the permanent galleries-look for rotating temporary exhibitions and special talks/events listed on the museum calendar, which often reveal contemporary or less-seen works.