National Museum of African American History and Culture

The world's largest museum dedicated to African-American history and culture, the National Museum of African American History and Culture is part of the Smithsonian Institution and stands on the National Mall. Colloquially known as the Blacksonian, it holds more than 40,000 objects, of which about 3,500 are on display.

The building, designed by a team including David Adjaye and Phil Freelon, rises five stories above ground and extends five below, with about 350,000 square feet of space. Both the architecture and the exhibits have won critical praise. In 2022 the museum drew more than a million visitors, making it the second most visited Smithsonian museum that year.

Efforts to create a federal museum of African-American history date back to 1915, but the modern campaign began only in the 1970s. A legislative push starting in 1988 led to the museum's authorization in 2003. Construction began in 2012, and the permanent home opened in 2016 with a ceremony led by President Barack Obama.