National museum of african american history and culture address

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Part of the Smithsonian Institution, this architecturally imposing building houses a remarkable museum exhibiting the diversity of the African American experience throughout history - see exhibits on slavery, segregation, as well as examples of visual and performance arts. Though the admission is free, you can enter only with a timed entry pass so plan your visit in advance.

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Constitution Avenue Northwest 1400, Washington D.C.

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This post is a guide to visiting Smithsonian’s National Museum of African-American History & Culture (NMAAHC), including information on tickets, tours, how to get there, and what to expect updated for 2022 and the new ticketing policies.

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The NMAAHC is OPEN!. Free timed passes are required. Can be reserved 30 days in advance for up to 6 people (groups larger than 6 prohibited). Tickets are released at 8am daily for 30 days out and are usually gone within the first 10 minutes.

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Plan Your Visit

The information in this section will help you plan an outing the National Museum of African-American History & Culture. This is where you will find details on how to get there, the best times to visit, security information, and what to expect.

WHERE IS THE NMAAHC

The NMAAHC is located on the National Mall at 1400 Constitution Avenue NW. It is between Constitution Avenue and Madison Drive, next to the American History Museum and the Washington Monument.

The NMAAHC is just across the street from the starting points of our National Mall and All in One Walking Tours!

There are many ways to get there and it is a short walk from many other destinations on the National Mall. We recommend this link for specific directions to the museum: https://www.si.edu/museums/african-american-museum

The nearest Metro Stations are Federal Triangle (Blue, Orange, and Silver line) and Smithsonian (Blue, Orange, and Silver line.) It is also a short walk (10-15 minutes) from Metro Center (Red Line.) The Circulator Bus drops at the Washington Monument, just across the street from the museum. For more information on navigating the Metro, check out our blog post HERE. 

Alternatively, many of the hop on hop off buses have a stop nearby to the NMAAHC.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The NMAAHC is the newest Smithsonian museum and a very in-demand tourist destination. It attracts large crowds throughout the year, especially on weekends, and is always busy. The museum opens at 10 am and by noon, it is quite crowded.

The best time to enter may depend on your timed entry passes but if you want to avoid crowds, we suggest planning a visit to the museum for the off-peak season (January-February and September-December.)

Typical weekdays during the off-peak months will be a little more manageable, especially if you arrive when the museum opens at 10am.

SECURITY SCREENING

Like all Smithsonian museums in D.C., you will encounter security at the NMAAHC. The following items are not permitted in the museum:

• Tripods, monopods, selfie sticks
• Guns
• 3D weapons
• Knives of any size
• Pets
• Food and drink (other than bottled water)
• Scissors
• Aerosol cans, including pepper spray and mace
• Tools

There is nowhere to check bags or coats, so we suggest packing light for the museum, to speed through security and be most comfortable in the galleries.

You are more than welcome to bring strollers, walkers, and wheelchairs into the museum and it is completely ADA-compliant. Smartphones are also permitted and you may take non-flash, non-commercial photography in the galleries, unless otherwise posted.

A GUIDE TO VISITING NMAAHC

Once you clear security, the museum itself is self-guided. All guests enter the museum in Heritage Hall (Floor L1.) We suggest taking the escalators (or elevator) downstairs to the lower level, known as the Concourse. This is where you can access the three floors of history galleries (Floors C1-C3) and it is the only way to enter that portion of the museum.

You can expect there might be a line at this point, especially during peak season. The history gallery experience begins in an elevator that takes you to the lowest level of the museum. The first exhibit highlights the Atlantic Slave Trade and it works its way chronologically up to 2008 and the election of the first African-American President.

The history galleries empty you right next to the Contemplative Court, a perfect spot to reflect and relax before heading upstairs. On the upper levels (Floors L2-L4), you will find exhibitions highlighting the cultural contributions of African-Americans, community galleries, and more. You can find a detailed breakdown of the museum here: https://nmaahc.si.edu/visit/maps

This museum is HUGE! It has 85,000 square feet of exhibition space with nearly 3,000 objects and 183 videos. The average guest visit time at most museums in D.C. is 2 hours - the average guest visit time at NMAAHC is 5 hours. Of course, much will depend on your pace, your level of interest, and how crowded the museum but know that you won’t likely be able to see it all in one visit.

In order to make the most of your visit, we suggest downloading the museum’s free mobile app, which will help you familiarize yourself with the layout, exhibits, and objects that you might want to see during your visit: https://nmaahc.si.edu/connect/mobile/apps. The app also has information in Spanish and French (printed brochures in those languages are available at the welcome desk as well.)

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Guided Tours

There are no guided tours inside the NMAAHC at this time. Museum volunteers and staff are at the welcome desk in Heritage Hall and at highly trafficked points in the museum to answer questions and give you guidance on your visit. You can see a list of upcoming museum events here: https://nmaahc.si.edu/calendar/upcoming

While we do not offer guided tours inside the NMAAHC, our National Mall and All-in-One tours begin right across the street from the museum. Our guides are happy to provide detailed guidance on getting the most out of your visit and can answer any questions you have.

Free Tours by Foot offers guided tours of many of the other Smithsonian Museums, however.

If you're interested in the black American history of Washington DC, we have two self-guided tours that focus on this area.

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Exhibit Highlights

This museum, like all the Smithsonian museums, is massive! You could spend days here and not see every artifact on display. We highly recommend spending a few minutes at the welcome desk to get recommendations on objects and exhibits that will most fit your interests. If possible, review the museum map before you arrive here (https://nmaahc.si.edu/visit/maps) and familiarize yourself with the exhibits.

For a first visit to the museum, these are what we consider the must-see areas:

C3: Slavery & Freedom (1400-1877)

This is where the history exhibits begins and it works its way chronologically through the Atlantic slave trade into the American Revolution, the American Civil War, and the Reconstruction era . Be sure to see the Edisto Island slave cabin, which was brought from South Carolina to be installed whole in the gallery’s main hall as well as the lace shawl Queen Victoria gifted to Harriet Tubman.

C2: Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom (1876-1968)

This is a continuation of the history exhibits, focusing on the century of Jim Crow laws and racial division across the nation. A Southern Railway passenger coach with segregated compartments is a must-see. Right across from the railcar is an interactive element that put you in the position of protesting and organizing - you can sit in a modern recreation of the Woolworth’s lunch counter and explore critical actions that were taken during the Civil Rights movement. A guard tower from Camp H at Louisiana State Penitentiary is at the end of the lunch counter - you will usually see a line wrapping around the tower. That is the Emmett Till Memorial, one of the most moving exhibits in the museum. Till’s murder at the age of 14 in 1955 was a defining moment in the Civil Rights movement, particularly after his mother insisted that her son be displayed in a glass topped casket for the world to see. The original casket is on display, as well as an exhibit about Till’s life, death, and legacy.

Note: Photography is not allowed at all in the Emmett Till Memorial exhibit.

C3: A Changing America (1968 and Beyond)

This is the final floor in the history exhibits and brings the story of the museum into the present day. The year of 1968 is highlighted, as a landmark year for Civil Rights, with exhibitions highlighting the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The exhibit looks at both advances and setbacks in the fight for equality, including pop cultural items such as the set for the Oprah Winfrey show and the boombox carried by Radio Raheem (portrayed by Bill Nunn) in Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing. Be sure to look for the black and red dress worn by First Lady Michelle Obama during the ceremony to mark the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington, 1963.

Concourse Level 

You’ll find the Contemplative Court as you exit the history galleries - this peaceful space is meant for reflection and contemplation as you transition out of the history galleries and back into the museum. You might recognize this from the final season of the TV show Scandal - Kerry Washington actually filmed here at the museum!

Heritage Hall 

You’ll find the gift shop, restrooms, and welcome desk here. The Corona Pavilion is currently screening a film by award-winning filmmaker Ava Duvernay here. The film, titled August 28th, looks at one date through multiple years to tell the story of Emmett Till, Motown music, Martin Luther King Jr, Hurricane Katrina, and more.

L2: Explore More 

This level primarily offers resources for researchers, educators, and those wishing to learn more about their own family history. These are a series of rotating interactive activities in this space and is a good place to stop with children who want to get hands-on with the museum.

L3: Community Galleries 

The exhibits here focus on African-American contributions to the military and sports as well as the building of communities across the nation. Highlights include information on all 89 African-Americans who have been awarded the Medal of Honor, the flight jacket of Lt. Col. Woodrow W. Crockett (one of the Tuskegee Airmen), and the efforts taken to desegregate the armed forces. In the sports gallery, be sure to look for the blazer worn by Althea Gibson, one of the first African-American tennis stars, Jack Johnson’s boxing gloves, a pair of 1985 Air Jordans, and the leotard belonging to gold medal Olympian Gabrielle Douglas.

L4: Culture Galleries

This floor shifts the focus to popular culture, with music galleries, stage, screen, visual art, and cultural expressions. At the entrance to the music gallery, you’ll see the red Cadillac El Dorado belonging to Chuck Berry, one of the pioneers of rock n’roll. You’ll also see the famed Mothership, the centerpiece prop for George Clinton and his bands. You’ll also see items belonging to movie stars, like the tap shoes of Sammy Davis Jr., and stage performers, like the original costumes from the Broadway hit The Wiz.

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Be sure to check out our comprehensive list of things to do in DC as well as these related posts:

• American History Museum
• Air and Space Museum
• Natural History Museum
• Smithsonian Museum Tours

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