A People’s Journey, A Nation’s Story

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.

Plan Your Visit

Reserve Passes!

Cover of a report celebrating Women's History Month, featuring diverse women and historical achievements in a vibrant design.

March Events & Programs

Join the museum for a wide range of programs celebrating Women’s History Month Honoring Black Women.

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Women Lead Sweet Home Café

Chefs tell stories from their heritage through exquisite curated menus in the Sweet Home Café kitchen.

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Flags displayed prominently with a sign stating "Death of Liberty," conveying a powerful commentary on the state of freedom.

Making Black Freedom in the World

Our latest exhibition, "In Slavery’s Wake: Making Black Freedom in the World," immerses visitors in the freedom-making practices of Black communities, navigating both the histories and the legacies of racial slavery and colonialism.

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Exhibition Explores Mary McLeod Bethune's Legacy

“Forces for Change: Mary McLeod Bethune and Black Women’s Activism" connects Bethune’s legacy across time to other Black women who have been inspired by and built upon her work.

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Cover of the new art book by the museum featuring a picture of Harriet Tubman

Museum Debuts Its First Visual Art Publication

Featuring nearly 100 artworks, this 224-page hardcover book explores how visual art has provided a rich outlet for protest, commentary, escape and perspective for African Americans.

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A round room filled with an assortment of furniture and framed pictures, creating a cozy atmosphere.

Space Devoted to Black Design Now Open

The new exhibition features chairs and other works by designers who engage with ideas related to rest, repose, and the history of labor and leisure.

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Image of Charlotte Lyons in the Ebony Test Kitchen, featured in the November 1992 issue of Ebony magazine. Lyons is shown leaning frontward over a counter

Iconic Ebony Test Kitchen Finds a Home at Our Museum

Built in 1972 as a prominent feature of the Johnson Publishing Co. building in Chicago, the Ebony Test Kitchen is where recipes were tested and prepared before they were published in Ebony magazine for home cooks around the country.

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What's Happening at the Museum

A look at all the upcoming programs and events

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Searchable Museum

Mary McLeod Bethune and the National Council of Negro Women

Learn how educator and reformer Mary McLeod Bethune (1875–1955) dedicated her life to empowering Black women to work for equality by visiting our online Searchable Museum.

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Valerie Thomas in 1979 standing with a stack of early computer equipment.

Smithsonian Learning Lab

Inventor Valerie Thomas and the Illusion Transmitter

Although her father recommended that she stick to "girly things," Valerie Thomas later developed 3D imaging technology used in surgery, TVs, and video screens daily.

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Legendary community organizer and civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer

Our American Story

How Fannie Lou Hamer Challenged a Nation

A key voice and political strategist of the civil rights era, Fannie Lou Hamer was also known for singing freedom songs during mass meetings and marches.

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Upcoming Events

Saturday Mar. 22, 2025 | 11:00am - 3:00pm

Plan Your Visit

Museum News & Highlights

March Events & Programs

Women Lead Sweet Home Café

Making Black Freedom in the World

Exhibition Explores Mary McLeod Bethune's Legacy

Museum Debuts Its First Visual Art Publication

Space Devoted to Black Design Now Open

Iconic Ebony Test Kitchen Finds a Home at Our Museum

What's Happening at the Museum

Mary McLeod Bethune and the National Council of Negro Women

Inventor Valerie Thomas and the Illusion Transmitter

How Fannie Lou Hamer Challenged a Nation

Upcoming Events

Community Day - Black Women: A Force for Change

Connecting our Past & Present with Thread: Angela Davis

Sweet Home Café Chef's Table with Chef Kamat Newman

Recent News

National Museum of African American History and Culture Celebrates Black History Month 2025

The National Museum of African American History and Culture Celebrates Holiday Traditions from Kwanzaa to Watch Night in December Programming

National Museum of African American History and Culture Presents Its November Programming