National museum of african american history and culture exhibits

A moving tribute to African American history and culture that requires advance planning.

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More To Discover
NAAMCC Updates:
Currently On Exhibit:
African Americans Fighting for a Double Victory
Behind the Mask: Black Power in Comics
Queens of the Heartland
Rhythm of Revolution-The Transformative Power of Black Art 1619 to the Present
What’s in Your Attic? Selections From Our Permanent Collection
How many stories is the National Museum of African American History and Culture?
How long does it take to walk through the African American museum?
How many artifacts are in the African American museum?
Why is the National museum of African American history closed?

Zoom out. What’s this place all about? It’s hard to imagine improving upon the grandeur of the historic National Mall, miles of greenery surrounded by world-class monuments and museums. But in September 2016, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture did just that. This relatively new addition to the iconic landscape rises over everything. Its three-tiered Greco-Roman-style architecture blends design elements from African and American cultures; the metal latticework covering the building is an homage to the ironwork of slaves in the American South. What's in the permanent collection? The National Museum of African American History and Culture houses artifacts, photography, and other media that reflect African American culture and experiences. Here you’ll find Harriet Tubman’s personal hymnal, and silk, lace, and linen shawl, a bill of a sale for a young enslaved girl, Louis Armstrong’s trumpet, photos capturing the participation of black women during the Civil Rights Movement, and a collection of costumes from ‘The Wiz,’ the Tony Award–winning musical that made Broadway history with its African American–led cast and crew. And how about the temporary exhibits? Exhibitions give the museum the opportunity to expand upon its diverse forms of storytelling. These might include a collection of hip-hop photography or an exhibit on the African American military experience from the Revolutionary War to the present. Beyond the formal collection and exhibitions, the museum also offers panel discussions, film screenings, performances, and workshops. What did you make of the crowd? If the difficulty of scoring a timed entry pass is any indication, the excitement over the NMAAHC has barely abated since it opened in 2016. For weekend or peak season (March–August) visits, plan ahead: Advance timed entry passes are released on the first Wednesday of the month, three months before your visit. Same-day timed passes also are available for the lucky—and the flexible. Your chances of scoring a walk-in ticket rise significantly on weekdays, particularly during the shoulder season. Plan ahead: Advance timed entry passes are released on the first Wednesday of the month, up to three months before your visit. Same-day timed passes also are available for the lucky—and the flexible. Gift shop: obligatory, inspiring—or skip it? The NMAAHC’s gift shop is stocked with art and history books, handicrafts from communities in Alabama and South Carolina, a section inspired by Gullah cuisine, and more; don't miss it. Is the café worth a stop, or should we just plan on going elsewhere? With celebrity chef Carla Hall, an alum of "Top Chef" and "The Chew"—as its culinary ambassador, the Sweet Home Café is certainly worth a stop. Explore African American culinary traditions through dishes like shrimp and grits and a “smoking hot” pepper pot. Any advice for the time- or attention-challenged? Given the scope and size—85,000 square feet of exhibition space—you're not going to be able to get through it all unless you devote an entire day to it. However, the museum’s free mobile app will help by pointing out key works and sharing first-person stories for extra context.

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NAAMCC Updates:

Regular Museum Hours-We are open Wed – Sat from 9 am – 4 pm. NAAMCC will present a combination of live and online programming through our Historically Speaking Lecture Series. Register for these free programs to explore African American historical figures and events through presentations from historians, educators and community leaders.

Average visit time: Allow 1+ hours
We’re excited to announce the annual Drum Circle at Poindexter Village will return this year on August 13. Visit here for more information.

Currently On Exhibit:

African Americans Fighting for a Double Victory

Now through 2024
Explore the many ways that African Americans served our country in the military and on the home front during World War II, through this exhibit of World War II materials from National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center collections. Discover the art of Charles Alston, commissioned by the Office of War Information to promote the war effort among African Americans, explore stories of the Tuskegee Airmen, the Red Ball Express, the Triple Nickels and Wilberforce-area veterans, and get a look at the impact World War II veterans had on the advances in civil rights that followed the war.

Behind the Mask: Black Power in Comics

Now through 2024
Newly updated and expanded, Behind the Mask: Black Power in Comics explores the painful and triumphant history of African Americans in comic books. The exhibit delves into the history of black comic book characters who, in the past, were rarely featured as heroes. Black comic book creators are now emerging to establishing superheroes of their own, reflecting a truer self-identity and cultural pride.

Queens of the Heartland

Now through 2024
The Queens of the Heartland-the exhibit is part of the Ohio History Connection and National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center Women’s Suffrage Centennial celebration. The exhibit will feature the stories of 30 Ohio African American women who were a significant influence in the Suffrage and Civil Rights Movements. The Queens of the Heartland exhibit will tell the stories of pioneering women through panel text as well as three-dimensional objects. This exhibit will also feature portrait illustrations of these historical figures by New York artist Nichole Washington whose current work focuses on identity and celebrates African American women.

Rhythm of Revolution-The Transformative Power of Black Art 1619 to the Present

Now through 2022
The National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center in Wilberforce, Ohio, presents a new exhibit called Rhythm of Revolution-The Transformative Power of Black Art 1619 to the Present. The exhibit maps the visual flow of artistic, cultural, social, and political change in America from 1619 to the present day. Using three-dimensional objects from the NAAMCC collections, Rhythm of Revolution explores how Black artists, religious leaders, and activists worked within their spheres of influence to transform Ohio and our nation. Over time, these known and unknown change agents connected deeply rooted African traditions, interpreted those traditions to attempt to solve contemporary challenges, and worked to pave the way forward into a better future.

What’s in Your Attic? Selections From Our Permanent Collection

Now through 2022
When the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center (NAAMCC) opened its doors in 1988, it was on the vanguard by being one of the first national museums dedicated to African American history. Today, NAAMCC houses over 8,000 artifacts, 600 linear feet of archived materials, and remains a pioneer in preserving and presenting African American history and culture. Learn more about the stories behind the collections and artifacts of the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center.

History

The National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center opened to the public in April 1988 and is celebrating its 30th anniversary. The museum is the permanent home of one of the nation’s largest collections of Afro-American materials, with over 9,000 artifacts and artwork, 350 manuscript collections, and thousands of photographs. Items include Alex Haley’s typewriter and his final draft of Roots, a buffalo hide coat worn by a Buffalo Soldier, Gregory Hines’s tap shoes, collections representing the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s, and a vast collection of Black dolls, including the recently donated Lillian Bartok Collection.

NAAMCC currently has two pieces of art on exhibit in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D. C. These rare pieces, Let Me Entertain You by Betye Saar and New Orleans Niggah by Barkley L. Hendricks, will be included in their inaugural exhibit Visual Art and the American Experience through 2021. The artwork most frequently requested over the last several years is Freedom Now! by Reginald Gammon. It was recently in The Color Line exhibit at the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris. It is now on loan to the Tate Museum in London for their exhibit Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power until February 2019.

Over the years, thousands of visitors have enjoyed the museum and its exhibits. The museum has also hosted numerous dignitaries including former President George H. W. Bush, heavyweight-boxing champion Muhammed Ali, historian and Ebony Magazine editor Lerone Bennett, Jr., acclaimed artist Benny Andrews, musician Winton Marsalis, Hall of Fame basketball coach John McLendon, educator Dr. Alvin Poussaint, and Hall of Fame basketball player Oscar Robertson.

How many stories is the National Museum of African American History and Culture?

The 400,000-square-foot museum spans ten floors, five of which are underground, or 'below grade'—and with so much to see, it can be tough to know where to start.

How long does it take to walk through the African American museum?

Touring the Museum Please be aware that touring the History Galleries in their entirety will take approximately 2 hours, and will require about 1 mile of walking.

How many artifacts are in the African American museum?

It was established by an Act of Congress in 2003, following decades of efforts to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans. To date, the Museum has collected more than 40,000 artifacts and nearly 100,000 individuals have become members.

Why is the National museum of African American history closed?

Due to the global coronavirus pandemic, the National Museum Of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) museum and other Smithsonian museums were closed down in 2020. But now, providing additional health and safety measures, the Washington D.C. museums are set for reopening in May.