Nmaahc A Museum For Everyone
I highly recommend that everyone who has the opportunity visit the National Museum of African American History & Culture. As I said before, the African American experience is truly the American experience. While everything in the museum isnt easy to handle, that is what history is taking the good with the bad.
Another great thing about the museum there was such a wide selection of ethnic cultures and nationalities visiting. We heard a variety of languages being spoken around us so its wonderful that visitors from other countries are finding the museum such a great experience.
If you visit be sure to plan to spend all day there. We never made it to see every exhibit and Ive heard it can take two or three visits to see it all. I cant wait to return and learn even more!
Here’s What’s New In Version 2 Of The App
- New search feature, look for the magnifying glass to begin searching stories and objects
- Zoomable maps with location details help you explore the Museum on your visit
- Featured Museum tours highlighting themes from our inaugural exhibitions
- Zoom in on images of featured objects to discover amazing details
- Performance enhancements to improve your app experience
What You Can Expect
Delve into the African American heritage of the United States and its capital city on this local-led tour of D.C. Visit landmarks like Frederick Douglass’ house and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and get free tickets at the end of your tour to visit the powerful new National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Meet your guide and group and climb aboard a comfortable, air-conditioned coach to set off through D.C. Drive to the home of Frederick Douglass, which he named Cedar Hill, and spend some time visiting the grounds and visitor center. From there, make your way back into the city, exploring historic neighborhoods around Capitol Hill as you seek out landmarks like the statues of Mary McLeod Bethune and Abe Lincoln in Lincoln Park.
Pass by the Howard Theater , one of the first theaters in the country to be built specifically for African American audiences to attend, and see Dunbar High School, one of the first black high schools in the US. Ride down U Streetthe old Black Broadwayand pass the campus of Howard University. At the White House, hear the stories of the African American men and women who built this presidential estate and labored within its walls, and then make a stop at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and the African American Civil War Memorial.
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We Are Excited To Welcome Groups From Around The Country And The World
The National Museum of African American History and Culture welcomes groups of 10 or more to reserve free timed-entry passes. Please be aware we are operating at a reduced capacity for visitation. To help you prepare for your visit, we have provided the following guidance when planning your visit.
- Large groups must form smaller group of 10 to enhance your experience and maximize safety.
- Children ages 16 and younger must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
- One chaperone is required for each group of 10 students.
- Weekdays, Monday through Thursday, are our least crowded days.
- Visits after 2:00 p.m. can be less crowded.
- Visitors are able to enter the museum until 4:00 p.m.
- The museum is open until 5:30 p.m.
Tour Operators
We look forward to welcoming your visitors to Washington, DC. Please keep in mind that we are gradually returning to our previous visitation capacity. We encourage you to review information on our maximum daily group size and entry time when reserving free timed-entry passes.
When You Are At The Museum Talk To The Helpful Staff
When we first entered the lobby, there was a museum staff member with a microphone who went over the layout of the museum and shared where the sensitive exhibits are and answered any questions. My 8 year old asked if they have an exhibit on Kamala Harris and the nice staff member said, not yet! Shes making history right now!
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The Wildly Popular Smithsonian Museum Is About To Become Easier To Visit
Have you been waiting to visit the National Museum of African-American History and Culture as you watch the elusive timed-entry passes sell out online? Getting into the popular museum just became easier.
This month, the museum will start allowing visitors without passes on weekdays as part of its off-peak season. The museums new guidelines created the peak and off-peak times for 2019, expanding the hours visitors can walk in without the highly-coveted timed-entry passes.
Visitors can now walk in at any time during the museums hours on Mondays through Fridays from 10 AM to 5:30 PM. Entry didnt begin until 1 PM in previous years and during the peak season in the summer.
A representative for the museum says that the museum hasnt seen any increases in walk-in visitors this month yet, in comparison to past years. The representative credits the typical fall in visitation to the start of the off-peak season.
For those working during the week, weekend visitors still need to obtain a timed-entry pass on the museums website ahead of time. The off-peak season will end in February, and visitors will need either a timed-entry pass or a same-day pass starting in March.
The museum advertised the off-peak times in the last copy of the Washington Posts Express paper, which folded Thursday.
All You Can Eat Menus
Saturday Dinner featuring:
Broiled Fish, Choice of Chicken, Macaroni & Cheese, Scalloped Potatoes, Green Beans, Corn, Salad, Roll & Butter, Chocolate & Vanilla Cake, Assorted Cookies
Sunday Breakfast featuring:
Cinnamon French Toast or Pancakes with Maple Syrup, Pork & Non-Pork breakfast meats, Scrambled Eggs, Breakfast Potatoes, Fruit Salad Bowl, Assorted Danish, Coffee, Tea, Milk & Juices
Menus may differ slightly from tour to tour
OPEN BAR
11:00 PM 1:00 AMHennessy, J& B, Dewars White Label, Bacardi Silver, Seagrams 7, Heineken, Wine, Mixers & More.
*Times and brands may differ slightly from tour to tour
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When Are These Tickets Available
Same day online passes are released every morning on the museum website at approximately 6:30am. The good news is that they are fairly easy to get. The bad news is that you have to wake up early to do it. These tickets are in high demand and they go quickly. Log on at exactly at 6:30am to make sure you dont miss out! This is the easiest and surest way that you can see the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Construction Of The Museum Building
The museum’s groundbreaking ceremony took place on February 22, 2012. President Barack Obama and museum director Bunch were among the speakers at the ceremony. Actress Phylicia Rashd was the Master of Ceremonies for the event, which also featured poetry and music performed by Denyce Graves, Thomas Hampson, and the Heritage Signature Chorale.
Clark Construction Group, Smoot Construction, and H.J. Russell & Company won the contract to build the museum. The architectural firm of McKissack & McKissack provided project management services on behalf of the Smithsonian, and acted as liaison between the Smithsonian and public utilities and D.C. government agencies. Guy Nordenson and Associates and Robert Silman Associates were the structural engineers for the project.
The NAAMHC became the deepest museum on the National Mall. Excavators dug 80 feet below grade to lay the foundations, although the building itself will be only 70 feet deep. The museum is located at a low point on the Mall, and groundwater puts 27.78 pounds per square inch on the walls. To compensate, 85 US gallons per minute of water were pumped out every day during construction of the foundation and below-grade walls, and a slurry of cement and sand injected into forms to stabilize the site. Lasers continually monitored the walls during construction for any signs of bulging or movement.
The 350,000 square feet building has a total of 10 stories .
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Review The Museum Map Ahead Of Time
The NMAAHC is the newest Smithsonian and in my opinion, the most innovative in terms of architecture communicating meaning. The museums history exhibits start 3 levels underground beginning in the 1400s and then as you move through history you rise up through the levels. The ground level has the Contemplative Court and then the 3 above ground levels focus on the cultural and historical achievements.
No Ticket Weekdays September Through February
The biggest shift for 2019 museumgoers is that on weekdays, in the off-peak fall and winter months from September to February, no tickets are required. This policy goes into effect January 2019. The museums designated walk-up entry policy will be offered throughout the work week, Monday through Friday, but timed-entry passes or tickets will still be required on weekend days.
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Film Screening Ticket $10
Tickets to individual film screenings are still available for purchase. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each ticket purchased provides access to one film screening. See the festival schedule for information on all screenings.
Where And What Is The Smithsonian National Museum Of African American History
The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture is located at 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW on the National Mall. The four-level museum opened on Sept. 24, 2016, becoming the only national museum solely dedicated to the documentation of African American life, history and culture. This Smithsonian Institution museum is an architectural marvel that features numerous interactive exhibits.
The museum is currently open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. 4 p.m. The easiest way to get there is via Metrorail or the DC Circulator. The closest Metro stop is Federal Triangle on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines. The DC Circulators National Mall route is your best bus option, and it will be easy to continue your exploration of the National Mall afterwards. The facility is handicap-accessible.
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How To Get Timed
Timed-entry tickets are made available online up to three months in advance of a visit date. Visitors can apply for newly released dates on the first Wednesday of each month at 9 a.m. These advance passes can be claimed both online and by telephone. Museumgoers can obtain same-day passes online starting at 6:30 a.m.
National Museum Of African American History And Culture Tours And Activities
The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum in the United States devoted to the African American experience. Its unique architectural structurewrapped in an ornamental bronze-colored metal latticehouses 12 galleries and 13 interactive exhibits. The 36,000-object collection tells the American story through the African American lens, covering themes from history, politics, religion, slavery, and segregation to music, sports, fashion, and art.
National Museum of African American History and Culture
The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum in the United States devoted to the African American experience. Its unique architectural structurewrapped in an ornamental bronze-colored metal latticehouses 12 galleries and 13 interactive exhibits. The 36,000-object collection tells the American story through the African American lens, covering themes from history, politics, religion, slavery, and segregation to music, sports, fashion, and art.
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Are The Smithsonians Free
Throughout the Washington, D.C., region, you will be able to visit all Smithsonian museums. The program is free to download. There are two museums in downtown Washington: The Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery . to 7 p. daily. At the back of the Smithsonian Institution Building, called The Castle, there is a central location for providing information.
Notable Items In The Collection
The Smithsonian Institution listed the number of items in the museum collection in 2012 as either more than 18,000 pieces or more than 25,000 pieces.CBS News reported in May 2015 that the collection size had grown to 33,000 objects, although this had risen to more than 40,000 objects by May 2019. About 3,500 items are on display to the public.
Items obtained by the museum initially were received, conserved, and stored at the Smithsonian Museum Support Center in Suitland, Maryland. Dozens of permanent curatorial staff and temporary contractors accessed the items, repaired them, and conserved them in a temperature- and humidity-controlled environment. Renée Anderson, the NMAAHC’s head of collections, oversaw the effort. After artifacts were selected for display, graphics and labels for each item were manufactured. Display cases for each item were also purchased, and exhibiting mounts or specially designed cases handcrafted for particularly fragile, important, or unusually sized objects. Museum officials said all artifacts and displays will be moved into the new museum in the summer of 2016, along with the museum’s 175 full-time employees.
In November 2016, NBA player LeBron James donated $2.5 million to support the museum’s exhibit on the accomplishments of boxer Muhammad Ali.
As of September 2016, notable items in the collection included:
Pre-20th century
20th and 21st centuries
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National Museum Of African American History And Culture Washington Dc: Hours Address National Museum Of African American History And Culture Reviews: 5/5
- Federal Triangle 6 min walk
- Smithsonian 7 min walk
Consider Checking Out The Museum Gift Shop
The last tip is to consider visiting the Museum Gift Shop. We usually skip museum gift shops to save money but this shop has a great selection of kids books and other great items! It might be a good way to continue some of the learning at home!
And if you want more Things to Do in DC with Kids, check out my full Washington DC Kids page with the best DC playgrounds, Things to do with Babies and Kid-Friendly Restaurants in DC.
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Certain Days Dont Require Tickets
The National Museum of African American museum has two seasons: peak and off-peak. Peak is from March-August. Off-peak is from September-February.
During off-peak dates, you can walk up after 10am Monday-Friday and head into the museum without tickets. On peak dates, you can walk up after 1pm Monday-Friday and head into the museum without tickets. Walk-up entry is not available on Saturdays or Sundays during either peak or off-peak dates due to the high demand.
Start With The History Gallery
You enter the main exhibit by heading down to subterranean three levels of concourse galleries. Symbolically it feels like descending into the hold of slave ship, with each subsequent step taking you deeper into the African-American legacy.
Theres so much information here that you could literally spend days absorbing the information.
Galleries include shackles, a slave auction block and Ku Klux Klan robes. A statue of Thomas Jefferson is flanked with bricks listing the humans he owned. Its all offered factually with extensive documentation, all of which makes the impact all the stronger.
But for many the emotional pivot of the entire museum is the casket of Emmett Till Jr. Visitors line up as theyre at a funeral home visitation to pay honors to the 14-year-old boy, who was brutally murdered in northern Mississippi. His mothers courageous decision to hold an open-casket funeral in Chicago, shocked the nation when images were published in Ebony magazine. Tills horrific murder, scholars believe, was the start of the modern Civil Rights movement, and for that we still owe Mamie Till our gratitude.
Now, decades later, its still a heart-rending experience. The curators included a contemplation area for reflection. Take a moment to do just that.
Finally, the galleries touch on modern history with election of Barack Obama and the start of the Black Lives Matter movement.
When you step back outside, youll feel like youve taken a journey. In reality, you have.
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If Sensitive Kids 2 Options For The History Galleries:
There are 2 great options if you have sensitive kiddos for going through the galleries. The first option, which we did when the kids were younger, was to skip the 3 below ground History Galleries. This covers the years 1400-present day. The 3 above ground Culture Galleries are great for kids
The other option, which we took this time, is to move quickly through the History Galleries. The museum has a red box over particularly difficult/sensitive material which you can see from afar and not go up close and read.
When you first exit the elevator the first exhibit is entitled 15th 19th centuries: The Making of the Atlantic World. It has a beautiful picture of Queen Nzingha Mbande of present day northern Angola. This reminds you of the history and culture prior to the transatlantic slave trade. The next spot we stopped at was the Paradox of Liberty which talks about the Declaration of Independence and the 12 of the first 18 presidents who owned slaves. There is a shackles artifact right next to the statue of Thomas Jefferson. He owned 609 slaves in his lifetime which are represented by bricks surrounding his statute.
- Paradox of Liberty, chains next to Declaration of Independence.
