National Museum of African American History & Culture

The only national museum dedicated to the recording of African American life, history, and culture is the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Following decades of initiatives to promote and showcase the contributions of African Americans, it was established by an Act of Congress in 2003. Almost 40,000 objects have been acquired by the Museum thus far, and almost 100,000 people have joined as members. The Museum became the 19th museum of the Smithsonian Institution and welcome visitors on September 24, 2016. The Museum building is a visible representation of African American history and culture on the US National Mall. Its setting and design serve as tangible and metaphorical representations of the past, present, and future of the African American experience. Every organization that wants to hold a gathering at the Museum must submit an application for approval to the NMAAHC Office of Special Events. An application may be submitted by the group sponsoring the event or by an event manager working on their behalf.