The Anacostia Community Museum is the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of African American history and culture. The Anacostia Community Museum was established in 1967 to create a place where students and visitors could learn about American history through the experiences of the African American community. The museum offers exhibits, lectures, films and special events.
There are more than 6,000 artifacts in the museum, some of which date back to the early 1800s. The artifacts include musical instruments, archaeological finds, photographs, furniture, audio and video tapes. Some of the highlights of the collection include items related to African American religious observance, family life, community and performance.
The museum is also home to the Anacostia Library which has more than 5,000 volumes of work. The library includes research used to create the museum exhibits, historically important works and lots of photographs.
The Anacostia Museum was the nation's first federally funded neighborhood museum. It has since grown, and it now includes information about African Americans across the United States and not just in Washington D.C.
For those who wish to learn more about the information presented at the museum, the museum offers an on-line academy. The academy is useful before or after a visit to the museum or on its own if you miss visiting the museum on your trip to Washington D.C. The museum also hosts special programs and encourages volunteers to help with the research and development of the exhibits.
The Anacostia Community Museum is a unique museum and one that should not be missed on a trip to D.C.
