Smithsonian African American History museum

[aurora]

Looks like my job will take me back to DC in October and I'll have a few hours of free time on a weekday. I checked, and the NMAAHC no longer requires passes for weekdays that time of year. How long did you spend there? I assume I won't be able to see everything in 2-3 hours but am hopeful I can get partway through, then finish on my next trip. Any suggestions?

[bernsteincat]

We spent 2 hours in just the history portion and it wasn’t enough time. Lol. But we were with students who were wanting to check out other museums so we tried to accommodate them. I really would like to go back and spend more time downstairs and actually get to see the culture part.

[eclaires]

We spent about 3 hours there because we had a 7yo with us. First we did the upper levels which I think are fantastic and enjoyable but you can kind of pick and choose what you want to see. Then we did the lower levels that walk you through the history. It was probably too much for my then 7yo but it’s a really impactful experience. You could always choose to do just that part.

[wildrice]

I think that it took us 3.5 hours or so just to get through the history portion. I have not yet made it back to do the rest.

It's possible it would have taken less time if it wasn't so crowded. I was there 2 years ago and you had to wait your turn to read most things. On a less busy day you'd eliminate some time from that.

I think even if you can't get through everything, it's worth visiting. It's a very well done and important museum.

[wise_rita]

Is that the Smithsonian with the amazing canteen restaurant?

I haven't been but when I researched a trip to DC read many good things!

[biscoffcookies]

When I went (near opening time on a weekday a couple of months ago), we ended up spending probably around 4 hours there. That included lunch in their cafeteria, which was actually quite tasty (although not cheap). We walked through most of the upper-level exhibits, although didn't spend probably more than an hour in those cumulatively. There was also an Oprah exhibit that I think is now gone that we spent probably 30 minutes in alone.

The history portion was by far where we spent the bulk of our time. Luckily, we didn't have to wait at all to get on the (humongous) elevator that takes you to the bottom level where the exhibit starts. Based on the guide ropes they had up, it seems like that line can get somewhat lengthy, but hopefully not if you are there on a weekday?

If you tend to be a crier, you may want to bring a few makeup essentials to touch up your makeup and bring tissues. Once I got to the portion of the exhibit that has first-person accounts of the slave trade and reproductions of ads about slaves for sale the tears started coming.

[tacokick]

We were there 3 hours and could have stayed longer. We aren’t linger-ers either. It’s huge!

[oliviapope]

I wish I could have stayed longer. I think we were there 5 hours? I really wanted to read every little thing but we had kids with us.

[aurora]

Sounds like the consensus is I'll go and plan to see ~1/2 of it. And eat there.

[LoveTrains]

Aug 24, 2019 22:48:59 GMT -5 aurora said:

Sounds like the consensus is I'll go and plan to see ~1/2 of it. And eat there.

If you can only see half I recommend the history. You start at the bottom and go up. I would devote at least two hours for that section and then stay for lunch if you can!

[thejackpot]

History if you want heavy stuff and Entertainment, Sports, Culture if you want lighter but still very well done experience.

[erbear]

I've been there with students 4 times and I still don't think I have seen the whole museum. I think the history starting at the bottom is the most incredible part - it's hard to see but it's so powerful and so thorough and just so well curated. I always start there, then hit up one of the upper floors with whatever time I have left (I like the music area the best). We have typically spent about 3 hours there and my students are always disappointed that it's time to go since they don't see the whole museum.

Leave some time for the reflection room. I love it, especially when coming out of the history part. I also always leave time to watch the Obama movie a couple of times through.

And the cafeteria is SO GOOD.

[mrshandy]

Everyone has covered most of it already. The cafeteria is really delicious and definitely not to be missed. Just note that once you go down into the history part, it's not very easy to jump back and forth to the rest of the museum. So it's difficult to grab lunch while you're looking at the history stuff. I think they designed it so that you hit up the history section, grab lunch, then go upstairs to the cultural portion.

Amazing museum though. So beautiful. I have tickets to take the kids a month from now. H and I went a year and half ago. I enjoyed experiencing it without my kids so I could read everything (or as much as time would allow).