Smithsonian African American Museum Guide (2023)

Are you planning a visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C.? I have the best guide for you.

Opened in 2016, it is the Smithsonian's newest museum and quite spectacular.

The museum is a unique destination for learning about the complexity and rebellious nature of African American life and experiences, with all its ups and downs.

It is a culture with a long history of pain and pride. Even if you know the historical background, you'll likely find the museum chock full of facts informative, disturbing, and uplifting.

The museum is located on 12 acres of prime land adjacent to the Washington Monument. During his keynote address, President Obama delivered the keynote address. Oprah Winfrey and actor Will Smith also gave speeches.

African American Museum Guide: general description

Let's begin our guide to the National Museum of African American History and Culture with an overview of the museum and its contents.

The construction of the museum took a long time. Beginning in 1915, African-American citizens proposed a museum to pay tribute to African-American history. In the 1960s there was another push towards creating a museum.

Finally, in 1990, the Smithsonian created a commission to study the potential of a museum. In 2003, legislation was passed establishing the current museum, which opened in 2016.

The museum is housed in a beautiful temple-like building with African influences. Tanzanian-born architect David Adjaye led the design team. The building cost more than $500 million and was paid for with federal and private funds.

The beautiful facade has a "skin" or "crown" that covers a glass box. It consists of 3,600 filamentary bronze-colored aluminum plates arranged in three inverted pyramids.

The look was inspired by an African Yoruba sculpture with a three-tiered crown on its head.

The open design is meant to evoke the look of ironwork done by free and enslaved craftsmen in the 19th century. It also serves to moderate the amount of light and heat that enters the building.

When it was first revealed, some hated the structure. I found it a nice and attractive contrast to the profusion of marble and concrete neoclassical buildings in the area.national mall.

Any visitor, including a child, requires a timed admission ticket to enter the museum. Before it was impossible to get a ticket.

But things have calmed down a bit, especially during the week. You can book a ticket online in advance.Here.

The first floor is a large atrium called Heritage Hall. You will see a beautiful art installation made of bronze, copper and brass. Chicago sculptor Richard Hunt, who donated it to the museum.

There is also a trio of sculptures by Elizabeth Catlett. They serve as the "gatekeepers of the black narrative."

Here you can pick up a paper map of the museum or scan a QR code to get a map.

There are free lockers and restrooms on this level, as well as a well-stocked museum gift shop with everything from hot sauce to T-shirts and history books.

The museum exhibits were designed by Ralph Appelbaum Associates. They are divided into three subject areas: (1) history; (2) community; and (3) culture. You'll discover artifacts that illustrate the complexities of the African-American experience over time.

There are newspaper clippings, posters, memorabilia, historical artifacts, videos, theater, touch screens, and mobile exhibits. There is a large collection of photographs documenting historical events and portraying famous people.

Sometimes the museum feels like cacaphony when TVs, videos, and pre-recorded voiceovers play simultaneously. Printed material is everywhere you look. The museum is an exhilarating place, almost overwhelming in its collage style.

I think you should visit the museum in more or less chronological order. This means that you start your visit underground in the history section, the most important part of the museum.

It is divided into 3 exhibitions/floors: (1) Slavery and Freedom; (2) the age of segregation; and (3) a changing America. (If history is too much for you, you can skip this section and visit the brighter galleries on floors 3 and 4.)

To get to the history department, take the escalators or the impressive spiral staircase from the first floor to the Bill & Melinda Gates Concourse. There, look for the "History" elevator.

There is only one elevator, which can cause bottlenecks. It takes you 70 feet down to the C3 level and the beginning of the story section.

As you descend, you'll see glass walls with dates depicting time travel. The elevator symbolizes the hold of the slave ship.

The history area is only accessible via walking ramps in the exhibition rooms. There are no exits on the road. At the end you are back in the lobby.

Then go to the third floor to the common area (sports, military, etc.). Then end your visit strong on the fourth floor of the culture department (film, television, music, food).

Smithsonian National Museum of African History and Culture Guide: What to See

When the Smithsonian Museum was founded, many wondered if it would be possible to amass enough exhibits to form a national collection. Given the country's history of slavery and oppression, this seemed like a daunting task.

The museum had to practically build its collection from scratch. In response to a nationwide call for donations, we are pleased to welcome thousands of donors.

Many of them were ordinary people who made valuable individual gifts and family heirlooms to help the museum fulfill its mission.

Many of the items are associated with the biggest stars and businessmen in the African-American community. But there are also everyday objects from people's daily lives. You can feel the very human stories behind it.

history section

The opening display is one of (mostly) undiminished violence and pain. It has the oldest and most valuable exhibits and begins its narration in 1400.

slavery and freedom

The historical part begins centuries ago with the transatlantic slave trade, the largest forced migration in history. It faces American oppression and black slavery from 1619 to 1865 and is therefore rather dark in tone.

The exhibition ignores the miserable conditions suffered by people on slave ships, perhaps an unfortunate oversight and something that sets this museum apart from Boundless.Holocaust Museum.

You'll see an auction block where slaves, handcuffs, an iron neck ring with a padlock, a whip used on slave ships, a crumpled Nat Turner Bible, and Confederate slave ID cards were sold.

There is also a proper statue of Thomas Jefferson facing a brick wall with the names of the people he owned as slaves. Below is the headline "The Paradox of Freedom."

Further afield is a reconstructed slave hut from a plantation on Edisto Island, South Carolina. It dates from the first half of the 19th century.

Other exhibits are more uplifting, a theme of resilience that the museum sees as part of its mission. After all, despite slavery and discrimination, African Americans thrived, survived, and prospered.

For example, there is a section dedicated to Harriet Tubman. She was a former slave who escaped in the 19th century and helped others secure her freedom via the Underground Railroad.

You can see her portrait, a personal hymnbook, and a lace shawl given to her by Queen Victoria of England in 1831.

In 1863, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves. You can see an inkwell that he used to write parts of the document.

The age of segregation

This second section is no less heartbreaking and you might be surprised by the heartbreaking elements on display. They show that the word 'freedom' was used rather loosely in practice.

He was very disgusted by the display of the Ku Klux Klan hood and uniform along with photos of lynchings. In some photos, white citizens stand over mutilated bodies. True symbols of hate...

There is also the haunting coffin that once contained the mutilated body of Emmett Till, which was placed in his own room. He was a young teenager who was brutally murdered in Mississippi in 1955 for the "crime" of whistling at a white woman.

His murder and burial in an open casket was a catalyst for the civil rights movement. A video about his life and death accompanies it. Photos cannot be taken in this room.

You can also sit at a restaurant run by Woolworth's in Greensboro N.C. it is separated. (it was quite busy).

You'll get an in-depth look at the impact of the civil rights movement on a Jim Crow society. There is a 45 inch projection screen for pictures and stories.

Other exhibits include whites-only doors and rooms, the dress Rosa Parks wore on the day of her arrest, a 21-foot concrete watchtower, and a separate Pullman passenger car that once traveled from Washington DC to New Orleans.

The museum was built around the 77-ton wagon. You can walk and see the separate sectors for blacks and whites paying the same ticket.

a world in transition

This section focuses on the recent social upheaval.

Above all, this floor documents the civil rights movement, a time of protest, change and the fight for human rights. It charts the rise and importance of pioneering figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and the Black Panthers.

There is a small section on President Obama with excerpts from various speeches. I was honestly surprised I didn't see more.

As you exit the history galleries, you'll see a biplane used to train the Tuskegee Airmen, the African-American military pilots who fought in World War II.

To her left is a quote from the black poet Langston Hughes in large letters: "I am America too."

When you are done with the history section of the museum, you can visit the Contemplative Courtyard on the Esplanade level. It is a room designed to help you transition from the dark historical themes below to the more rejuvenating themes above in what is known as the 'Attic'.

The patio is a beautiful space with glass lattice walls. A central basin contains rainwater cascading from an upper oculus.

community area

This part of the museum is not arranged strictly chronologically. Examines the achievements of African Americans in fields such as the arts, sports, and the military.

The sports section is an ode to incredibly prominent athletes in major sports: Jackie Robinson, Willy Mays, Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis, Mohammed Ali, Serena and Venus Williams, Arthur Ashe, Gabby Douglas, and Simone Manuel. The sport was one of the first major fields to accept African-Americans due to relative equality.

Among other things, you will be able to marvel at:

• Bespoke Carl Lewis Olympic Shoes and Medals
• Mohammed Ali's boxing gloves and headgear
• an exhibition on the famous "footprint" of Willy May in the world series
• a Hank Aaron shirt
• a Kareen Abdul Jabar shirt
• a room and a sculpture of Michael Jordan
• The white blazer of the tennis player Althea Gibon
• Medias Gaby Douglas

You'll see a group of life-size sculptures depicting the famous black power salute from the 1969 Olympics.

Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their black-gloved fists as the US national anthem was played during the awards ceremony. They were quickly eliminated from the rest of the games.

There's also a display of stunning gowns made by pioneering seamstress and fashion designer Anne Lowe.

His Manhattan salon was the place to be for celebrities. She designed Jackie Kennedy's wedding dress in 1953.

Department of Culture

The cultural section on the fourth floor is dedicated to the African-American influence in film, television, theater, dance, and the visual arts. From this level you have an excellent view of the monuments and monuments through the windows.

You enter a circular gallery with a top ring that constantly plays videos. They relate to topics such as food, clothing, style, and language.

In the center is the wooden pillar sculpture that inspired the museum's design, carved by the great folk artist Olowe of Ise.

The musical section is deep and above all fun.

You'll see Chuck Berry's red 1973 Cadillac, Michael Jackson's hat and jacket, the P-Funk mothership (pop music's most iconic stage accessory), lots of music posters, Louis Armstrong's trumpet and vest. Jimi Hendrix sequined afghan style.

Unfortunately, the museum houses exhibits and video clips about the disgraced comedian Bill Cosby. The museum felt that he was too important a figure in the African-American presence on television to be left out.

If I think. But there should have been more than one sentence about her disgusting penchant for sexual assault. Otherwise, by not deleting Cosby, delete the women's history.

There was also no mention of Jackson's history of child abuse, a significant omission.

Of course, there is a room dedicated to the storied legacy of Oprah Winfrey and her legendary daytime talk show. And you can see the red Starfleet uniform worn by Nichelle Nichols as Lieutenant Uhura.Star Trek.

In the section "Get on stage" you can see clothes and posters of theater and dance pieces. The photos of Alvin Haily's performances and artists are gorgeous.

There is also a small exhibition of plastic arts with paintings and sculptures. My favorite pieces weredancer, an abstract sculpture by Sargent and Claude JohnsonSpring - Beautiful flower bed, a painting by Alma Thomas.

Another room documents the presidency of Barack Obama with excerpts from some of his speeches. It should be some kind of happy ending for the museum.

But Obama is not the end of the story for African Americans.

There are also artifacts that reflect recent events, such as the Black Lives Matter protests, which highlight the current inequality and police brutality that continues to this day.

Practical guide and tips for visiting the Museum of African American History and Culture

Here are some tips and information on how to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

ADDRESS: 1400 Constitución Avenue NW

Standard: Open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Last admission is at 4 p.m.

Appetizer:

Admission is free, but a timed ticket must be reserved. ClickHereto reserve one. You can do it up to 30 days in advance.

You may want to book a guided tour if you're in a hurry or want to make sure you see everything. He3.5 hoursThe tour takes you to the museum and various monuments.

restaurant: The museum houses the Sweet Home Cafe, which serves southern food. I found it quite mediocre and expensive. If you don't like southern food, I would plan to eat elsewhere.

pro tips

Be sure to check the map before you start your visit. The museum has a tangle of elevators, escalators and ramps that can be confusing.

You can download those tooNMAAHC Application. You'll get access to information about the exhibits, explore stories, and watch videos.

Many of the museum's walls and ceilings are naturally black. This makes the museum feel quite dark and you may want more lighting, especially in the history section.

There are lockers in Heritage Hall to store your belongings during your visit.

how long to visit

The museum is just loaded with information. The walls are covered with thousands of panels of text.

Reading all this would take many hours or even days. This is a museum that rewards multiple visits.

After all, there are more than 100,000 square meters of exhibition space. It's hard to take it all in at once, especially when other attendees are waiting to see the exhibits.

Where to stay near the African American Museum?

There are some good hotels within walking distance of the museum, including this one.Willard InterContinental Washington, oHilton National Mall,Kimpton Hotel Monaco,Hotel Hilton Garden, It's inHay-Adams.

I hope you enjoyed my guide to the Smithsonian African American Museum in Washington D.C. please. You can check out these other Washington D.C. travel guides and resources. enjoy:

• Washington DC 2-Day Itinerary
• Guide to the National Mall
• Holocaust Museum Guide
• National art gallery guide
• Guide to the National Portrait Gallery
• Hirshhorn Sculpture Gallery Guide
• Phillips Collection Guide

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