Attraction
National Air and Space Museum
The Smithsonian's flagship aviation and space museum on the National Mall, home to the Wright Flyer, the Spirit of St. Louis and the Apollo 11 command…
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
The Smithsonian museum devoted to African American history and culture, opened in 2016 in a bronze-coloured building beside the Washington Monument.
At a glance
- Type
- History museum
- Area
- National Mall, Washington DC, United States
- Opening
- Open daily
- Official site
- nmaahc.si.edu
Good to know
- Free entry
- Timed-entry passes
- Sweet Home Café
- Free Wi-Fi
- Museum store
Why we recommend it
The National Museum of African American History and Culture opened on 24 September 2016, when President Barack Obama formally dedicated it on the National Mall. Its building, designed by the Freelon Group, Adjaye Associates and Davis Brody Bond, is easy to recognise: a stepped, three-tiered form wrapped in a bronze-coloured metal screen whose patterns draw on historic ironwork from Charleston and New Orleans.
The visit is best done from the bottom up. The History Galleries begin below ground with the transatlantic slave trade and slavery, in deliberately tight spaces, then rise through the Civil War, segregation and the civil rights movement towards the present. Objects on display include Emmett Till's glass-topped casket, a Pullman railway carriage from the segregation era, a training aircraft used by the Tuskegee Airmen, items that belonged to Harriet Tubman and Chuck Berry's red Cadillac.
Entry is free, but everyone needs a timed-entry pass, booked through a Smithsonian account. Advance passes are released on a rolling basis up to 30 days ahead, and a small number of same-day passes go online at 8:15am Eastern time. Veterans, active-duty military and first responders can enter without a pass by showing ID. The museum is open from 10am to 5:30pm Tuesday to Sunday and from noon on Mondays, with last entry at 4pm. It closes on 25 December.
The museum notes that the History Galleries alone take about two hours and a mile of walking, so eat beforehand and plan a full half day if you want to see more. Weekend afternoons are the busiest time, and under-18s must be accompanied by an adult. The subject matter is serious and in places upsetting, so parents may want to look at the galleries' themes before bringing younger children.
The museum's Sweet Home Café is open from 11am to 3pm (noon to 3pm on Mondays) with a limited menu, and separate Dine and Shop passes, released a week ahead, give access to the café and store only. Free Wi-Fi is available for visitors.
The entrances are on Madison Drive and Constitution Avenue NW, and the nearest Metro stations are Smithsonian and Federal Triangle. The Washington Monument is next door, so the two make an easy pairing, and the rest of the Smithsonian museums on the Mall are within walking distance.
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture FAQs
Do I need a ticket?
Entry is free, but all visitors need a timed-entry pass, reserved through a Smithsonian account.
When are passes released?
Advance passes are released on a rolling basis up to 30 days ahead, and same-day passes go online at 8:15am Eastern time.
What are the opening hours?
Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5:30pm, Monday noon to 5:30pm, with last entry at 4pm. Closed on 25 December.
How long does a visit take?
The History Galleries alone take about two hours and around a mile of walking, so plan for at least half a day.
Is there somewhere to eat?
Yes. Sweet Home Café is open 11am to 3pm, and from noon on Mondays.
Can children visit on their own?
No. Visitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
What is the nearest Metro?
Smithsonian and Federal Triangle stations are both within walking distance.
When is it busiest?
Friday to Sunday between noon and 4pm, and on public holidays.