IF YOU'RE PLANNING a trip to Washington, D.C., and you'd like to see the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, tickets are free, but the museum is so popular that reservations are required. You can begin your visit below level and work your way up through history. Even with the limited entry, the crowd in the first exhibit space is a bit challenging to negotiate.
We didn't plan in advance but my cousin Al managed to get us tickets and we were so grateful. This museum was long overdue (first proposed in 1915, first commissioned in 1929, and opened in 2016) and is so beautiful, fascinating, powerful, and moving that all I can tell you is you should see it if you can. We were so overwhelmed with emotion after the lower levels that we decided to save the upstairs (and modern times) for another visit.
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| IN THE LOBBY, "SWING LOW" BY SCULPTOR RICHARD HUNT. EN EL VESTÍBULO, "COLUMPIO BAJO" POR ESCULTUR RICHARD HUNT. |
SI ESTÁS PLANEANDO un viaje a Washington, D.C., y le gustaría visitar el Museo Nacional Smithsonian de Historia y Cultura Afroamericana, los boletos son gratuitos, pero el museo es tan popular que se requieren reservaciones. Puede comenzar su visita por debajo del nivel y avanza en la historia. Incluso con la entrada limitada, la multitud en el primer espacio de exhibición es un poco difícil de negociar.
No planeamos de antemano, pero mi primo Al logró conseguirnos boletos y estábamos muy agradecidos. Este museo ya se había retrasado (primero propuesto en 1915, puesto en servicio por primera vez en 1929 e inaugurado en 2016) y es hermoso, fascinante, poderoso y conmovedor, y todo lo que puedo decirte es que deberías verlo si puedes. Estábamos tan abrumados por la emoción después de los niveles inferiores que decidimos guardar el piso de arriba (y los tiempos modernos) para otra visita.
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| BEGINNING WITH EARLY HISTORY ON THE LOWER LEVEL. COMENZANDO CON LA HISTORIA EN EL NIVEL INFERIOR. |
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| BENJAMIN BANNEKER, WHO ASKED THOMAS JEFFERSON TO CORRECT HIS "NARROW PREJUDICES." BENJAMIN BANNEKER, QUE PIDIÓ A THOMAS JEFFERSON CORREGIR SUS "PREJUICIOS ESTRECHOS". |
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| FORMER SLAVE AND COLORADO PIONEER CLARA BROWN. EX ESCLAVO Y PIONERA DE COLORADO [EL ESTADO] CLARA BROWN. |
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| "CONTEMPLATION COURT." "EL CORTE DE CONTEMPLACIÓN." |
I need to get tickets and go one day. The ticketing system is a pain to use.
ReplyDeleteTravel:
DeleteAll I knew about the ticketing system was that it was completely sold out when I tried. Whatever the pain, though, it is SO worth it.
it took 100 years to finally complete the museum? that sux!
ReplyDeleteanne marie:
DeleteAnd, of course, the time it took is no surprise. But it's exceptional.
Wow at the contemplation court
ReplyDeleteAdam:
DeleteA perfect space.
Like Adam (above) I'm most impressed with Contemplation Court. Could spend hours just sitting there.
ReplyDeleteAnd to think that I actually did once go to the top of Washington Monument - in Oct exactly 50 years ago this year.
Ray:
DeleteI've been up the Washington Monument, too, and only slightly more recently than you. You can't currently go inside. But I understand they're modernizing and replacing the elevator and security with plans to allow people inside again next year. Right now I didn't want to get near it because you can see The Fart's White House from there.
Very moving to see this indeed.....and yes, 'a change is gonna come'.
ReplyDeleteJim:
DeleteSo much has changed and so much hasn't. But this museum does a great job illustrating the history and the power of a people.
This is the main reason we're planning a trip to DC in the Fall.
ReplyDeleteBob:
DeleteThis museum is worth the entire trip. Plan to spend 4 hours there, if you can handle it emotionally (I couldn't) You could spend the day! The cafeteria is chaotic with different lines for different kinds of foods (good themes, however) and not enough seating.
D.C. is one of my favorite places to visit - so many things to do, many of which are free. I haven't been for quite a while, but will put the Museum of African American History and Culture at the top of my list if I ever get there again. The "Swing Low" sculpture is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteWilma:
DeleteAlso wanted to visit the Museum of Native American History. The free Smithsonian museums are amazing. And then there's more!
I do love this song. I'm very glad that this museum has finally come to be.
ReplyDeleteJudy:
DeleteWe're fortunate to get to see it in our lifetimes.
A fitting tribute to African Americans.
ReplyDeleteDebra:
DeleteWe at times felt like intruders in a sacred space when we were downstairs.
Thanks for the pictures. If I can't get somewhere by cruise ship, then I probably won't be going there. I remember not learning anything about Black people in school beyond the whole "slavery thing". That picture of the slaves laying stacked in the ships still lingers in my mind. I did learn from my parents stuff I never learned in school. It was like we didn't exist between slavery and civil rights. This has been a long time coming. I say Black, because neither of my parents were African. I was colored, then Negro and I stopped at Black :)
ReplyDeleteIf my health was better, I would visit D.C. Balder Half has been and he said I would enjoy all of the museums there. I think he is right.
Deedles:
DeleteHmmm... Cruise ship to DC. I wonder what can get down the Potomac River. I like the term "people of color" myself, but then that like everything else doesn't really cover it. I once heard an American political commentator refer to someone from England as African American and I thought, Oh, honey, you just don't get it do you? The stories told in the displays of this museum are so different from the dumbed down stories told to us in school. You were lucky your parents taught you more. Mine didn't. It was moving to see parents and grandparents experiencing the exhibits with their kids and sharing family history. We really did at times want to simply fade into the background feeling like we were intruding on something so special and intimate. Sorry you can't experience this for yourself. DC's museums are a wonder. Summer is a terrible time to be there -- heat, humidity, and crowds. When we lived there I could wander the museums whenever I felt like it... and I did.
Smithsonian is on my bucket list.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on
Dora:
DeleteIt belongs on the list! You could spend weeks at the museums.
So enjoyed my trip to Washington. X had a friend in Clintons inter circle so we had the Secret Service tour and saw all the thing you read about but never see. Our Christmas Card that year was us standing by the Presidents desk and Seal on the carpet.
ReplyDeleteWe met Socks the cat.
Of course this museum was not built then. I would love to go again
cheers, parsnip and badger
Parsnip:
DeleteWow, a Secret Service tour! Glad you got to do that before THIS administration. No pets. When i was a kid, we'd go to DC every year when the cherry blossoms were in bloom. The museums just keep getting better.
Cool. The last time I was in DC was 2006, but we were just passing through, spent time with a couple friends, and didn't have much time for museums. And this one wasn't even there! I'd love to see it, and the native American museum, too.
ReplyDeleteWalt the Fourth:
DeleteIf we ever go back again, we want to see the Native American museum. We didn't do a lot this time around. Wrong time of year for people like us (who hate crowds) to do much touristing.
Oh my god .. I had chills just seeing this.
ReplyDeleteI hope this form of communication never changes.. I come here always for a laugh or to look at warm smiles, and enjoy it so much, but
one can NEVER know what to expect.
I have dreamed of seeing this for so long and this was a truly intimate and special visit from my
little breakfast table in Paris.
Thank you so much, truly.
Safe travels gentle - men!!!!
Tim
Tim:
DeleteIt is a joy to see a message from you and to know you're still reading. Hope you're doing well. If you have the chance to experience this museum for yourself I obviously recommend it. Simply the best.