National Museum of African American History and Culture, National museum of African-American history and culture on the National Mall, Washington, D.C., United States
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a Smithsonian museum on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., dedicated to African-American history and culture. Its 350,000-square-foot building, designed by Freelon Group, Adjaye Associates and Davis Brody Bond, has ten stories, five above ground and five below. The three-tiered upper bands, clad in a dark bronze-colored perforated lattice, widen as they rise and overhang a glass-walled ground level.
Congress approved the creation of this institution in 2003 following decades of advocacy by citizens and organizations. The building opened its doors in September 2016, making it the most recent addition among the Smithsonian museums.
The building's name reflects its mission to document the experiences and contributions of Black communities across the country. Visitors encounter everyday objects from past generations that show how people preserved and passed on their culture and knowledge despite difficult circumstances.
The building sits on Constitution Avenue near the Federal Triangle metro stop and opens daily from 10 AM to 5:30 PM. Visitors should note that the facility can be crowded at certain times, especially on weekends and holidays.
The filigree screen reproduces the openwork ironwork of enslaved and freed black craftsmen, notably from Charleston and New Orleans. Its three tiers echo a Yoruba crown: a corona, or crown, atop a caryatid figure. The pattern is cut so light passes through it, and at night interior lamps turn the whole facade gold.
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