The National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., displays more than 3,000 items that cover nearly every aspect of the black story in America, from slavery to celebrity.
Visitors enter the Museum at street level into Heritage Hall. From there you can decide whether to explore the below-ground History Galleries or the upper-level Community and Culture Galleries first.
A large statue of Thomas Jefferson stands in front of a stack of bricks, each labelled with the name of a slave.
The exhibit continues through the Civil War and Reconstruction. One of the most notable items is a slave cabin from South Carolina.
The next level teaches about life under Jim Crow laws. These petty codes enforced racial separation in everything from schools to drinking fountains.
The final floor of the History Galleries brings the story into the 21st century. It highlights the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1968.
Here is the Contemplative Court, a peaceful space with a waterfall and banquette seats. You can rest, reflect, and recharge before heading to the upper levels.