Going to this museum was a must for me. I had heard wonderful things about it since its opening in 2016. I had no idea what to expect yet the few hours I was able to spend there exceeded my expectations.
The tag line for the museum is “A People’s Journey, A Nation’s Story” and I think that’s an apt description. This museum is an American History museum. The museum features historical and well as modern day exhibits. I was blown away by some of the information learned.
This is another free attraction but you do have to register online for a day and time to enter the museum. The line was frightfully long but it moved quickly and efficiently.
EXHIBITS
There were so many exhibits that I didn’t get to or didn’t get to spend much time at. These photos represent a small sampling of what I experienced.
This first photo is a quilt of Harriet Tubman. And the 2nd is a painting called “But I’m Still Fly (2014)”
Another beautiful quilt and the costume for the Tin Man from the Broadway musical, The Wiz, which premiered in Baltimore in 1974. In 1975, the show moved to New York.
Here we have two clothing pieces from a couple of iconic shows. On the left is the dress that Esther Rolle wore in the sitcom, Good Times. The white coat was worn by Kerry Washington on the television show, Scandal.
The 2nd photo features magazine covers from Ebony Magazine which was very popular magazine which first appeared in 1945.
Sports
There are so many sections and exhibitions in the museum. These next photos feature some from the sports world.
A bronze statue of the tennis playing Williams sisters and a statue from a very famous photo. These three men won medals in the 1968 Olympic games. The two black men raised their fists in a “black power” salute during the playing of the national anthem.
The sports exhibit not only highlights the accomplishments of many African American athletes but also showcases the often fraught relationship between talented players, sports team owners and racism often imbedded in all different sports.
The 1st photo is of Jackie Robinson who was the 1st Black player in Major League Baseball. The 2nd photo is of Jesse Owens who won 4 gold medals in track and field events during the Olympics in 1936. Hitler was quite ticked off about these victories as he had hoped that the games would showcase the supremacy of the “master race.”
Inventors and Community Groups
Inventors, entrepreneurs, community groups, business owners and many others are featured in the museum.
This bed was made by designer, Henry Boyd. The bed was known for its design for having fewer places for vermin to reside. It is absolutely gorgeous.
This 2nd photo is of a quote from Mary McLeod Bethune who is one of the first presidents of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) which still exists today.
Garrett Morgan is a name some are familiar with. This display is one of his famous inventions-the gas mask. Another invention that everyone world wide is familiar with: The traffic light.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this trek through Washington, D. C. me. I cannot do this museum justice in a few pictures. It is a place that requires several hours to experience all of it and the exhibits are really well done.
If you’ve been to this museum, let me know what you liked (or didn’t) about the experience.
