The Heart of American History: The National Museum of African American History and Culture

Posted on by Jody Arneson

Located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) showcases the rich tapestry of African American history, culture and resilience. Importantly, the museum restores African American presence to our shared history.

The museum amplifies the African American narrative and how it shaped American history and culture. Its exhibits also foster understanding, promote dialogue, and encourage appreciation of the African American experience. A relatively new Smithsonian museum, the NMAAHC opened on September 2016. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in how we understand and appreciate the African American narrative. During your time at the NMAAHC, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of the African American experience. But be forewarned: you’ll need more than a day to thoroughly read and explore all the exhibits.

Right next to the NMAAHC is the National Museum of American History!

What to Expect at the NMAAHC

From first sight, you know this will be an experience. The building itself is a striking addition to the National Mall. The three-tiered, bronze-colored exterior draws inspiration from the Yoruban caryatid, a traditional West African structure, symbolizing strength and resilience. The museum encourages you to engage in conversations about race, identity, and social justice. It also inspires us to become more active in promoting equality and understanding in their own communities.

Inside, the museum houses a vast collection of artifacts, documents, photographs, and multimedia displays over seven levels. Key exhibitions cover a range of topics, including slavery, the Civil Rights Movement, African American military service, sports, music, visual arts, and cultural expressions. Notable artifacts include Harriet Tubman’s shawl, a Jim Crow-era railway car, Chuck Berry’s Cadillac, and a dress sewn by Rosa Parks. But there’s also a guard tower from the infamous Angola Penitentiary, when convict labor was a substitution for slave labor after the Civil War (and through the Civil Rights era), an WW1-era plane flown by the Tuskegee Airmen, and a slave cabin.

Messages of Hope and Resilience

Visitors to the museum often find themselves deeply moved by the interactive exhibits and immersive storytelling. Interactive exhibits and personal stories allow visitors to connect emotionally with the experiences of African Americans throughout history. I know I left with a deeper empathy and a greater awareness of the ongoing struggles for equality and justice.

The museum’s chronological narrative contextualizes historical events and their impact on contemporary society. As you move through the exhibits, especially in the history exhibits, you shift between compressed, almost oppressive spaces to cathedral halls, allowing hope and inspiration to rise.

The NMAAHC conveys a powerful message of hope through stories of triumph over adversity. Despite centuries of enslavement, segregation, and systemic discrimination, African Americans and their allies have continually fought for and achieved significant milestones in the quest for freedom and equality. The museum celebrates the rich cultural heritage and immense contributions of African Americans to every facet of American life: visual arts, television, sports, music, education, religion, science…

Learning about the complexities of African American history and culture empowers us to become advocates for equality and justice. Exhibits dedicated to leaders, activists, and innovators like Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, and Rosa Parks inspire us. Just one individual doing the right thing at the right time can profoundly impact the course of history.

For African Americans, the museum provides a space to see their history and culture honored and celebrated, fostering a sense of pride and belonging. For all visitors, it offers an opportunity to learn, respect, and appreciate the diverse tapestry that makes up the American identity and our shared history.

Know Before You Go

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is one of the most popular museums on the National Mall, so expect crowds. Free timed entry passes are required, which you can find at the museum’s website below. Plan enough time at the museum to really be able to soak up the information — this is a museum where you can spend the whole day, or longer! This is a huge museum. Just walking straight through the history exhibits, you will travel 1 mile. Wear comfortable shoes!

The museum’s cafeteria, Sweet Home Café, showcases the rich culture and history of the African American people with traditional, authentic offerings as well as present-day food traditions.

Parking near the museum is dicey and your best option is to use public transportation. The two closest Metro stations are Federal Triangle and Smithsonian (Mall exit).

Getting there: 1400 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC
Hours: Mondays, noon – 5:30 p.m., Tuesdays – Sundays, 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Open 10 a.m. on Mondays observed as Federal Holidays. Closed on December 25. Last entry for all visitors, including groups, is 4 p.m.
Website: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Check out other attractions on the National Mall in the articles below:

Interested in visiting the sites important to other Black and African American heroes? Be sure to read about these daytrip destinations:

African American history National Mall National Museum of African American History and Culture NMAAHC Smithsonian