Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture

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Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture

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05/31/2026

in 1921, one of the deadliest racial massacres in U.S. history began in the thriving Greenwood African American community of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dubbed “Black Wall Street,” the community—which contained churches, schools, and community organizations as well as around 200 Black businesses by 1921—was destroyed by a mob.

Our museum's collection holds objects relating to individuals and organizations associated with the Tulsa Race Massacre and its aftermath. Explore: https://s.si.edu/3MV2U5z

📸 1. Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1921. Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Cassandra P. Johnson Smith. 2. "Riot pennies" charred during the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Owned by George Monroe. Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Scott Ellsworth.

05/29/2026

As the American landscape shifted during and following the Interwar years, life shifted quickly and was of note for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Many HBCU students sat poised to take on leadership roles in new and expanding industries across the nation. Documenting those shifts became increasingly important, which included migration patterns, wars, social unrest, and new innovations, against their own racial and intellectual progress. Margaret Walker understood that capturing those moments through literature, art, commentary, and networking events would help future generations comprehend and appreciate Jackson State University history.

Walker gained national attention with her 1942 poetry collection, “For My People,” which earned the Yale Series of Younger Poets Award. She was later awarded the Houghton Mifflin Literary Fellowship for her historical novel, “Jubilee,” which drew upon oral histories and recollections from Walker’s family members. Walker, who was also an activist and Jackson State University faculty member, founded the Institute for the Study of the History, Life, and Culture of Black People in 1968. Walker’s literary acumen helped bridge new authors with celebrated writers while at Jackson State.

Jackson State University is part of the HBCU History and Culture Access Consortium (HCAC), a five-year pilot initiative Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture, collaborating with a select group of HBCU partners to strengthen museums and archives at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Visit the “At the Vanguard: Making and Saving History at HBCUs” exhibition, currently on view through July 19, to explore more nmaahc.si.edu/vanguard.

📸 White shell notebook journal owned by poet and writer Margaret Walker (1915-1998), who was a professor of English at Jackson State University and founder of the Institute for the Study of the History, Life, and Culture of Black People, now known as the Margaret Walker Center. Margaret Walker Center, Jackson State University.

05/25/2026

is the day that our nation takes a pause to honor the service and sacrifice of our military heroes who gave their lives to secure our freedoms. One of the earliest commemorations of what would later become Memorial Day was organized on May 1, 1865, in Charleston, South Carolina, at a former Confederate prison camp known as the Martyrs of the Race Course cemetery.

Pictured here are some of the African American Union soldiers who served in the 25th Regiment, United States Colored Troops (USCT), Company G. More than 179,000 African Americans served in the USCT, and soldiers of the USCT were an active part of the Charleston memorial service.

Learn more: https://s.si.edu/4drl9iL

📸 Photographs from the album of the 25th Regiment USCT soldiers compiled by William A. Prickitt, 1864-1865. Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Aneita Gates, on behalf of her son, Kameron Gates, and all the Descendants of Captain William A. Prickitt

05/22/2026

“In Slavery’s Wake: Making Black Freedom in the World” opened today at the Iziko South African National Gallery (Iziko Museums of South Africa) in South Africa. “In Slavery’s Wake” is a collaborative international exhibition that explores the history and legacies of slavery, colonialism and Black freedom-making.

Featuring objects and stories from around the world, including items connected to the story of the São José, it combines historical scholarship from curators on four continents with contemporary art and oral histories from the “Unfinished Conversations” archive. The exhibition includes 190 objects, 250 images and 10 multimedia interactives, and films.

The São José story is the result of long‑standing collaboration with South African partners through the Slave Wrecks Project. We are honored to continue this work through ongoing research and the exhibition.

Explore: https://s.si.edu/3VHimJo

05/21/2026

Yesterday a very important water ceremony took place in preparation for the opening of our traveling exhibition “In Slavery’s Wake" tomorrow at the Iziko South African National Gallery (Iziko Museums of South Africa) in South Africa. The ceremony took place near the wreckage of the São José slave shipwreck. Following the conclusion of a 10-year loan to our museum, wooden artifacts, including ship timber, from the São José slave shipwreck will return home to South Africa for long-term conservation and continued stewardship. This moment marks an important milestone in with the work being done through our Slave Wrecks Project (SWP). Using maritime archaeology, historical research, and the study of sunken slave ships, the Slave Wrecks Project takes a distinct approach to the study of global African enslavement and the history of the African Diaspora.

Learn More: https://s.si.edu/4tL0ta7

05/15/2026

📖 ️ Intern at one of Washington, D.C.'s most exciting museums!

Our museum provides a dynamic learning environment and access to supportive supervisors who help interns reach their educational and professional goals. Interns can gain practical museum skills and program development experience in various traditional and non-traditional museum careers.

"I’ve been very grateful for opportunities to explore my interest related to museum work including curation, collecting and museum education." - Jamie M., 2025

Learn more and apply before June 15: https://s.si.edu/434KJ4x

05/10/2026

To mothers and mother figures: thank you for everything, today and every day. Happy Mother’s Day! 💐

📸 1. 4. 5. Photographs by Moneta Sleet, Jr. 2. Photograph by Howard Simmons. 3. Photograph by Monroe Frederick II. 6. Photograph by Robert E. Johnson. 7. Photograph by G. Marshall Wilson. 8. Photograph by Maurice Sorrell. Johnson Publishing Company Archive. Courtesy J. Paul Getty Trust and Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Made possible by the Ford Foundation, J. Paul Getty Trust, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and Smithsonian Institution.

05/08/2026

Join us for a celebration at our museum on Friday, June 19! https://s.si.edu/4tZvPL1

This Juneteenth, our Community Day will honor the life, legacy, and enduring impact of Opal Lee, affectionately known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” as she celebrates her 100th birthday this October. Stop by for a joyful day of storytelling, music, art making, workshops, culinary offerings, and more.

Also, as part of our Juneteenth observance, we will debut two new fine arts exhibitions exploring how abstraction has shaped African American expression across painting, sculpture, printmaking, furniture, textiles, and lighting.

📸 Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Dr. T.R. Taylor and descendants of Geraldine A. Taylor, Proprietor, "Taylor's Playfair"

05/06/2026

Born Lula Mae Grant in Georgia, famed milliner Mae Reeves relocated to Philadelphia as part of the Great Migration. She set an example for African American women seeking economic independence and prosperity at the same time. After working in Philadelphia’s apparel industry, Reeves acquired a $500 loan from the Black-owned Citizens and Southern Bank in her name to open Mae’s Millinery Shop.

With her shop located along the famed South Street, Reeves became one of the first African American women to own a business in what was then Philadelphia’s commercial hub. Ella Fitzgerald, Eartha Kitt, Marian Anderson, and Lena Horne all visited the shop and wore hats she created.

Reeves’ hats are on display in our museum as part of our Power of Place exhibition, where you can step inside Mae’s Millinery Shop to hear about her life and impact in her own words and see a selection of more than 60 original Mae Reeves creations.

Learn more about Reeves’ life: https://s.si.edu/4920bRL

📸 Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from Mae Reeves and her children, Donna Limerick and William Mincey, Jr.

🎥 1. 3. Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. 2. 5. Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from Mae Reeves and her children, Donna Limerick and William Mincey, Jr. 4. Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Donna Limerick.

Address

1400 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington D.C., DC
20004

Telephone

+18447503012

Website

http://nmaahc.si.edu/

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