One of the chief reasons I wanted to visit Washington D.C. was to visit the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History. It was opened in 2016 to much acclaim, a gorgeous building and an important collection.
After three years the crush of visitors is still so great that timed passes are needed for admission on weekends. Luckily for us we could arrive without a pass on our last full day in Washington; unluckily, we were bone tired by the time we got there. And it’s a museum that warrants more than a single day trip.
We began our visit on a top floor with African American contributions to U.S. culture. Music, drama, dance. And insights into African American culture and life. We thought we’d work our way down from the top.
There was so much to see. At lunch we discovered we were going in the wrong direction. History began with two underground concourses that gradually rose to ground level. By the time we emerged we were glassy eyed. I wish we’d had much more time but it’s a great excuse to go back.
Click here for more information on the building and its history.