A People’s Journey, A Nation’s Story
Since opening our doors on September 24, 2016, the museum has engaged millions of people worldwide, sharing the unvarnished truth about African American experiences, advances, and contributions. This month, we celebrate nine years of living history through the stories that connect our past to our present—and our future.
Welcome Home: Our Legacy Continues
"Lifting as We Climb," March 2024
More than 300 public programs
Set of wrought iron leg shackles, before 1863
More than 45,000 permanent collections
Students at St. Augustine High School, 1961
24,000 student groups have visited
Tony Award for Best Play, "Fences," 1987
95+ awards won since opening
NMAAHC's 12 millionth visitor (left), March 2025
More than 12.6 million visitors from 199 countries worldwide plus all 50 states and DC
Typewriter used by B.C. Franklin, 1947
56.3 million visitors to the website
Nautical clock gifted from President Theodore Roosevelt to William L. Houston, 1905-1919
2 hours is the average time spent at the museum
Our mission is to capture and share the unvarnished truth of African American history and culture. We connect stories, scholarship, art and artifacts from the past and present to illuminate the contributions, struggles and triumphs that have shaped our nation. We forge new and compelling avenues for audiences to experience the arc of living history.
Our Legacy Continues
