When you plan a visit to the Smithsonian African Museum in DC be sure you arrive at the correct museum. You may not realize that there are two African Museums in the Smithsonian system, both in DC.
The National Museum of African Art (NMAfA) was the first museum in the United States with a sustained focus on modern and contemporary African art and a mission to teach visitors how to look at African art.
NMAfA is located on Independence Ave. near the Smithsonian Castle. In 1964, it was started by a U.S. Foreign Service officer as a private cultural education institution in the former Capitol Hill home of Frederick Douglas.
The museum became part of the Smithsonian Institution in 1979 and opened to the public in a new facility on the National Mall in 1987.
Visit the museum to learn about the art in the six current exhibits or connect to the two online exhibits. It is open every day 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is FREE!
The other more widely known museum is the newer National Museum of African American History and Culture. It is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive cultural destination devoted exclusively to exploring, documenting and showcasing the African American story and its impact on American and world history.
The Museum first opened to the public as the 19th and newest museum of the Smithsonian Institution on September 24, 2016. The distinctive four-story 85,000 sq ft building is located at 14th and Constitution Avenue N.W. Navigating the entirety of the NMAAHC would be very difficult to accomplish in one visit, and the breadth of its exhibits is astonishing. There are over 35,000 items in the museum collection with 3,500 items on view, including the historic Sims-Jones house from Jonesville, right here in Poolesville.
The National Museum of African American History and Culture’s hours of operation are Tuesday – Sunday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., and 12:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m. on Mondays. On Mondays that are observed as Federal Holidays, the museum will open at 10:00 a.m. The museum is closed on December 25. Timed-entry passes are released up to 30 days in advance on a rolling basis.
You can plan your visit and see current events at: