Smithsonian Cafeteria

I appreciate the masterminds behind this museum and I am glad that I experienced it for the first time with my children. It is up to us to make sure that the next generation knows what our ancestors endured for us to be able to live the lives that we live. While some of us are fumbling at life, the opportunities are there for us to succeed if we just get out of our own ways. This museum made me travel through a wide range of emotions from joy to sorrow to anger and peace in seven hours (yes, we were there from 10am to 5pm). I talk to my kids about our history, but it's nothing like seeing it and being able to listen to the stories about what our people have gone through. We started from the top of the museum and went down so that we could have time with each exhibit with less people. I made a list of movies of classic Black movies to watch with my children because of the Film/Arts exhibit. I can't believe my kids have never seen "A Raisin in the Sun", "The Imitation of Life" and "Do the Right Thing" among some other ones. (Am I failing as a mother...jeez 😂). The interactive floor was fun so make sure you spend some time there. We ate at the cafe and ordered fried chicken, greens, mac n cheese, and cornbread. The food was good but the chicken could have used just a little more seasoning. I purchased souvenirs from the store to remind me of my time at this amazing place. Ohhhh, I love how you can't really skip the C-level floors...the real real Black history is kinda forced on you because there is no escaping once you are down there. The packed elevator ride down made me think wow this sort of mimicks how our people were packed on those ships. And while we can't feel exactly what our ancestors felt, we can empathize with them and continue to honor them by being the great Black people that we are. If the Tell Your History booths are open, take the time and tell your story.

Love this place. My all time favorite museum. Huge. They cover African American history from the 1600’s to present day and the DONT MISS ANYTHING in between. I mean NOTHING. This is DEFINITELY A MUST SEE!!!! Some of the exhibits will take you back in time. Admission is FREE!! Just book a time slot on the website. There’s usually NO LINES or WAIT TIMES. I’ve been here twice and never had to wait or wait on a line. Also you can walk up to the front door and scan the barcode on book a time slot on the spot. But you have to book a slot.

This museum is phenomenal. You are definitely going to want an entire day to experience everything it has to offer. Early is best for parking anywhere near the national mall. I recommend an early Sunday visit and keep in mind that the only food available in that area are going to be the extremely expensive standard food trucks. Have fun!

This place was so impressive from the outside in. The architecture from the outside seems otherworldly. It seems like almost out of the future, but with an African accent. The color is so Rich and gold color. And I just can’t begin to say how impressed I was with all of the exhibit inside. We couldn’t even try to see it all in one day. We’re going to have to go back to DC and see the rest of it and take a couple of days. A history teacher could have a field day, several days with his or her students in that place. The interior is well designed and full of black culture. And there are three floors to it. The bookstore is very nice but kind of pricey. I think many things were well overpriced. But I bought a few things Downstairs we went to the restaurant and OMG was that too good! I can’t say anything else that would do this place Justice. You have to come see it for yourself.

The African American National History Museum in D.C. is nothing short of superb, deserving a glowing 5-star rating! My visit was an unforgettable journey through the rich tapestry of African American history and culture. The architecture is breathtaking, and the exhibits are thoughtfully curated, offering deep insights into the African American experience. A pro tip for future visitors: start your exploration from the underground levels. This museum beautifully chronicles the story of resilience, achievement, and contributions, and it's an absolute must-visit for everyone to gain a deeper understanding of American history.

Incredible museum. This was so well done and captured the history and the culture so well, very immersive experience. There is so much information I recommend either a full day or going for a few hours two days in a row to truly absorb it all. It was very crowded, but people were polite so easy to navigate through. You need to get tickets in advance - they book fast so make sure to secure your tickets weeks ahead of time.