The Anacostia Community Museum is a Smithsonian museum at 1901 Fort Pl SE in Washington, DC, with exhibitions about Black history and the social issues shaping urban communities. Its displays have explored gentrification, environmental change, activism and African American art and culture. Interactive elements invite you to reflect on community, freedom and identity. Allow time for the outdoor garden, where herbs such as lavender, mint, oregano and rosemary grow. Admission is free, and the museum also holds workshops and other public programs.
A community-focused Smithsonian museum
The Anacostia Community Museum opened in 1967 as the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum. Smithsonian secretary S. Dillon Ripley envisioned it as a way for the institution to work with the local African American community. Its exhibitions and programs interpret Black history from the 1800s to the present, with attention to social, cultural and historical themes affecting urban communities.
Rather than keeping permanent exhibitions on display, the museum presents changing shows. Past subjects have included unequal food systems, environmental change, gentrification, globalization and the effects of urban renewal on DC residents. The displays connect these issues to the experiences of communities, including African American neighborhoods.
Exhibitions and hands-on activities
Exhibitions combine historical material with interactive elements and opportunities for visitors to express themselves through art. Past shows have explored African American art education in DC schools, including Howard University, and the ways residents have organized in response to displacement. Topics and displays change, so check the museum’s current exhibition and events information before making a special trip.
Workshops can give families and visitors of different ages a chance to make art themselves. One documented activity used aluminum foil as a creative material. The museum also holds lectures, film screenings, community forums and other programs.
The garden and getting there
Outside, the garden includes herbs such as lavender, mint, oregano and rosemary, as well as flowers that attract butterflies, moths and bees. A park next door has picnic tables, providing a place to sit outdoors after your visit.
The museum is at 1901 Fort Pl SE, in Southeast Washington, away from the National Mall. Free onsite parking is available, though spaces can be limited. If you are travelling by public transport, a bus from Anacostia Metro is one option. Admission is free. Visitors may take photographs, but the museum recommends not recording video.
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Is admission to the Anacostia Community Museum free?
Yes. Admission is free.
How long do you need at the Anacostia Community Museum?
Allow 15 to 30 minutes for a quick visit. You may want longer to explore the exhibitions and garden at your own pace.
Is there parking at the Anacostia Community Museum?
Free onsite parking is available, but spaces can be limited. Arriving early is a practical choice if you are driving.
Can you take photos inside the museum?
Photography is allowed. The museum recommends against video recording.
