• Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle News
    • Build Your Legacy
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • Black Women in Hollywood
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence

Follow Us

Skip to content
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence
  • Celebrity
    • Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • AVEENO® Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle News
    • Build Your Legacy
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
  • News
    • News
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • Events
    • Black Women in Hollywood
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
Home · Culture

Before You Visit: Here's An Inside Look At The National Museum of African American History and Culture 

A century in the making, The National Museum of African American History and Culture will open its doors on Sept. 24 to generations waiting to celebrate, learn and heal by immersing in the Black experience in this nation. With over 40,000 artifacts -- including Chuck Berry's red Cadillac, scrubs worn by neurosurgeon Ben Carson and Harriet Tubman's hymnal -- the museum is a place to reflect on the contributions made by Blacks while remembering our past and our resilience. Here, we take an inside look at the museum to give you a guide on just a fraction of the exhibits you'll see while visiting. 

By Christina Coleman · September 16, 2016October 26, 2020
01
National Museum of African American History and Culture

Looking southeast from near Constitution Avenue NW in evening sunlight, the National Museum of African American History and Culture

The Washington Post/Getty images
02
National Museum of African American History and Culture

A Black Feminism exhibit is on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

The Washington Post/Getty images
03
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Visitors try out one of the interactive displays at National Museum of African American History and Culture
Bill Clark
04
National Museum of African American History and Culture
A visitor walks past a video montage of still and video clips at National Museum of African American History
Bill Clark/Getty images
05
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Exhibits, including one called “Taking the Stage,” are coming together in the fourth floor Culture Galleries of the National Museum of African American History and Culture,
The Washington Post/Getty images
06
National Museum of African American History and Culture
A visitor walks past a video montage of still and video clips at National Museum of African American History
Bill Clark/Getty images
07
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Rock ‘n’ Roll legend Chuck Berry’s candy-apple red 1973 Cadillac Eldorado is on display in the Musical Crossroads section of the fourth floor Culture Galleries
Chip Somodevilla/Getty images
08
National Museum of African American History and Culture
A statue of the political demonstration conducted by athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos during their medal ceremony at the 1968 Summer Olympics is on display in the Power of Place exhibit on the third floor Community Gal
Chip Somodevilla/Getty images
09
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Lifesize statues of sisters Venus and Serena Williams are on display in the Sports exhibit on the third floor Community Galleries at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture
Chip Somodevilla/Getty images
10
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Platinum records, orginal posters and other artifacts are on display in the Musical Crossroads section of the fourth floor Culture Galleries at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture
Chip Somodevilla/Getty images
11
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Nine of the 10 Olympic medals won by American track and field athlete Carl Lewis are on display in the Power of Place exhibit on the third floor Community Galleries at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American H
Chip Somodevilla/Getty images
12
National Museum of African American History and Culture
A set of Dr. Ben Carson’s operating scrubs, some of his photographers and other artifacts are on display in the in the third floor Community Galleries at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture
Chip Somodevilla/Getty images
13
National Museum of African American History and Culture
The Spirit of Tuskegee, a PT-13 Stearman biplane flown by Tuskegee Airmen training to fight in WWII, hangs from the ceiling above the concourse galleries at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture
Chip Somodevilla/Getty images
14
National Museum of African American History and Culture
A pair of slave shackles are on display in the Slavery and Freedom Gallery in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture
Chip Somodevilla/Getty images
15
National Museum of African American History and Culture
A technician adjusts the lighting on Harret Tubman’s shawl, given to her by EnglandÕs Queen Victoria, and a personal book of hymns in the Slavery and Freedom Gallery in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American
Chip Somodevilla/Getty images
16
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Guests sample dishes like Son-of-a-Gun stew, pan-roasted oysters, smoked haddock, corn croquettes with a gribiche sauce, slow cooked collards and other traditional foods at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture
Chip Somodevilla/Getty images
17
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Visitors to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture are able to add their stories to the museum’s archive in booths on the concourse level of the museum on the National Mall
Chip Somodevilla/Getty images
18
National Museum of African American History and Culture
A statue depicting USA track and field athletes Tommie Smith, C, and John Carlos, R, as they raised gloved fists during their medal ceremony at the 1968 Summer Olympics is housed in the Sports Galleries at the Smithsonian
The Washington Post/Getty images
19
National Museum of African American History and Culture
The P Funk Mothership is housed in the Cultures galleries at the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of African American History and Culture
The Washington Post/Getty images
20
National Museum of African American History and Culture
An art piece by African American abstract sculptor and artist Richard Hunt hangs in the lobby at the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of African American History and Culture
The Washington Post/Getty images
21
National Museum of African American History and Culture
A combination of video screens, printed information, photographs, posters and other artifacts fill the ‘1968 and Beyond’ History Galleries at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture
Chip Somodevilla/Getty images
22
National Museum of African American History and Culture
A combination of video screens, printed information, photographs, posters and other artifacts fill the ‘1968 and Beyond’ History Galleries at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture
Chip Somodevilla/Getty images

Read More

News
LA County Seeks To Return Bruce’s Beach Property Which Was...
music
Fan Shares How DMX Inspired Her To Forgive Her Father Who Di...
Culture
'DMX Showed Me There's Power When We Open Wounds In Art'
music
There Will Never Be Another Rap Icon Like DMX
Celebrity
Rapper DMX Dead At Age 50
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2021 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now