

Popularly known as the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the African American Museum has recently reached the mark of 3.5 million visitors. It is a Smithsonian Institution Museum. You can also read about the Smithsonian Art Museum here. The museum houses 37,000 items. These are related to subjects such as religion, slavery, civil rights, and the visual and performing arts. The museum exhibition space extends over a space of 85,000 feet. The museum’s most celebrated event was its inauguration done by Barack Obama. It gained a lot of popularity for the museum and its events.
The American African Museum just like its events houses some permanent features and exhibitions.
Some of the most significant features of the museum are:
- A Century In The Making: It highlights the history of the museum. The museum was established after a lot of milestones and hardships. This feature is a tribute to all those.
- A Changing America: this feature explores the contemporary life of the African Americans. It is done through their stories of social, political, cultural, and educational encounters.
- City Of Hope: This feature sheds light on the Resurrection City and the Poor People’s Campaign held in 1968. The Campaign was organised by Dr Martin Luther King Jr. and Ralph David Abernathy.
- Cultural Expressions: This exhibition introduces you to the five ways through which the diaspora of African American culture can be expressed.
- Double Victory: Double Victory explores the depth and vitality of the service of the military to the United States. It highlights the loyalty provided by the military towards the nation.
The museum has a huge space for over 12 exhibitions. Some of the best events in the museum are:
The Power Of Place (October 20, 2018)

Southeast corner of the Corona with the Washington Monument in the background. Photo credit: Alan Karchmer/NMAAHC
The Power of Place event was held on Saturday from 11:00 am- 04:00 pm. The event location was Heritage Hall and outside premises. The entry to the event was free, you just need to pay for activities happening inside the event.
The event is inspired by the ‘Power of Place’: An exhibition in the museum. It explores the overall geography of a place. Some of the many places that shape our identity as a person are the school playground, the school, the outdoors, and the sports field. This event celebrates these places and the geography along with some fun elements.
Smithsonian African American Film Fest (October 26, 2018)

Plaza around the Oculus, which filters light into the belowground Contemplative Court. Photo credit: Alan Karchmer/NMAAHC
The Smithsonian African American Film Fest was held on Wednesday from 10:30 am- 10:00 pm. The event aimed on shedding some light on the historical as well as contemporary works that portray the diasporic experiences of the African Americans and Africans. It celebrated the African American culture of visual arts and movies.
The event featured works from some of the veteran filmmakers as well as emerging artists. It also gave access to some of the rare and lesser-known movies from the Museum’s collection. The event was organised around the already existing exhibitions in the Museum and inaugural exhibitions.
An Evening With Alice Walker

Looking down from the Washington Monument onto the Museum’s roof.Photo credit: Alan Karchmer/NMAAHC
Alice Walker is an internationally renowned author. She is also a poet and activist. Her works mainly include children’s books, short fiction, and plenty of essays and novels. Her book The Color Purple has won her the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and National Book Award in 1983. The event was held in Oprah Winfrey Theater and the cost is free.
The event is related to the exhibition named cultural expressions. Alice Walker interacted with Andy Shallal, founder of a cultural hub based in Washington DC. the main point of discussion was a published collection of poems named Arrow Out of the Heart.
NHD In 1-2-3: Analysing And Identifying Sources (October 13, 2018)

NMAAHC illuminated at night. All photos credit: Alan Karchmer/NMAAHC
The NHD in 1-2-3 event took place on Saturday from 09:00 am- 02:00 pm. It took place in the 2nd floor classrooms. The workshop was free, however, registration for the event was mandatory. This workshop aimed on guiding students who are taking part in National History Day Project. It trained them on finding and utilizing the primary and secondary sources.
It targeted on stimulating the abilities of the students to research on a historical project by an interactive research experience. Students were also accompanied by their parents/guardians. The students had a great learning experience at this event.