Back to museums

National Museum of African American History and Culture

ArtHistoryOpen until 5:30pmFreeFederal Triangle (Metro Blue/Orange/Silver)

Opened in September 2016, the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum devoted entirely to documenting African American life, history and culture. The 350,000-square-foot building, designed by a team led by David Adjaye with Philip Freelon and Davis Brody Bond, is wrapped in a three-tiered bronze-coloured scrim whose perforated pattern recalls the ornamental ironwork made by enslaved craftsmen in the American South. Ten storeys — five of them below ground — send visitors to the bottom first, where the History Galleries begin with the transatlantic slave trade and ramp upward through segregation to the present, before the Community and Culture galleries above. Roughly 3,500 of the museum's 40,000-plus objects are on view, from a walk-through Jim Crow railway coach to Parliament-Funkadelic's Mothership.

What's On

Now
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar

Permanent Collections

Plan Your Visit

Getting there

1400 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20560, United States

Nearest station: Federal Triangle (Metro Blue/Orange/Silver), Smithsonian (Metro Blue/Orange/Silver, Mall exit), L'Enfant Plaza (Metro Green/Yellow/Blue/Orange/Silver)

Show on map

Hours

Mon12:00–17:30
Tue10:00–17:30
Wed10:00–17:30
ThuToday10:00–17:30
Fri10:00–17:30
Sat10:00–17:30
Sun10:00–17:30

Admission

Free

Admission is free, but a free timed-entry pass is required for every visitor regardless of age. Advance passes are released 30 days ahead on a rolling basis; same-day passes go online at 8:15 a.m. ET. Up to nine passes per reservation. Last entry 4:00 p.m.

Nearby

National Museum of American History

HistoryFree3 min walk

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

HistoryFree6 min walk

National Museum of Natural History

ScienceFree7 min walk

National Museum of Asian Art

ArtFree7 min walk

Visitor Information

Is National Museum of African American History and Culture free to visit?
Yes, general admission to National Museum of African American History and Culture is free. Admission is free, but a free timed-entry pass is required for every visitor regardless of age. Advance passes are released 30 days ahead on a rolling basis; same-day passes go online at 8:15 a.m. ET. Up to nine passes per reservation. Last entry 4:00 p.m.. Some special exhibitions may charge a separate ticket, so check the museum's website before visiting.
What are the opening hours of National Museum of African American History and Culture?
National Museum of African American History and Culture is open Monday 12:00–17:30; Tuesday–Sunday 10:00–17:30. Last entry 16:00. Closed 25 December. Free timed-entry passes required for all visitors.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is National Museum of African American History and Culture?
National Museum of African American History and Culture is located at 1400 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20560, United States, in the National Mall area of Washington, DC. The nearest stations are Federal Triangle (Metro Blue/Orange/Silver), Smithsonian (Metro Blue/Orange/Silver, Mall exit), L'Enfant Plaza (Metro Green/Yellow/Blue/Orange/Silver).
What can I see at National Museum of African American History and Culture?
A bronze corona on the National Mall: five underground floors climb from slavery to freedom, then rise into music, sport and the Mothership. Current highlights include Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: Era of Segregation 1876–1968, Making a Way Out of No Way, Musical Crossroads.
Do I need to book National Museum of African American History and Culture in advance?
National Museum of African American History and Culture is free to enter and most days you can walk in. Admission is free, but a free timed-entry pass is required for every visitor regardless of age. Advance passes are released 30 days ahead on a rolling basis; same-day passes go online at 8:15 a.m. ET. Up to nine passes per reservation. Last entry 4:00 p.m.. For special exhibitions, weekends, and school holidays, booking a timed slot can help you skip queues. Check the museum's website for current requirements.
When is the best time to visit National Museum of African American History and Culture?
Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.

Fuzheado, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

DirectionsVisit Website