Culture, History, Community

NMAAHC Celebrates 10 Years: 'The Reunion' Brings Black America Home to the National Mall

Ten years ago, a dream that generations of Black Americans had fought to make real finally opened its doors on the National Mall. This past weekend, September 24–27, 2026, the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) threw open those doors wider than ever — and Black America came home.

A Decade of History, Honored and Preserved

When the NMAAHC opened on September 24, 2016, it was more than a museum — it was a reckoning. For the first time, the nation's most storied public space, the National Mall in Washington D.C., was home to an institution dedicated entirely to telling the full, unvarnished story of African American life and legacy. Located next to the Washington Monument, the nearly 400,000-square-foot bronze-latticed building became a landmark not just architecturally, but spiritually.

In the decade since, the NMAAHC has welcomed nearly 13 million in-person visitors from all 50 states and nearly 200 countries. It has earned 95 national and international awards for innovation in museum education, digital engagement, and curatorial excellence. Its collection has grown to more than 46,000 artifacts — each one a piece of the African American story. Among them: Harriet Tubman's hymnal, Joseph Trammell's freedom papers, and thousands of objects that breathe life into history the world was too long content to ignore. Acting director Shanita Brackett said: "African American history is central to the American experience, and we invite the nation to join us in celebrating and reflecting together."

'The Reunion: Welcome Home — Our Legacy Continues'

The 10th anniversary celebration was styled as a homecoming — and it delivered. From September 24 through September 27, 2026, the museum and its surrounding grounds transformed into a four-day festival of Black culture, memory, and community. Visitors were welcomed by Washington D.C.'s homegrown go-go music filling the air. Dance workshops, art installations, and interactive family activities ran throughout the weekend. The museum's signature color purple was everywhere. The Sweet Home Café participated with an exclusive anniversary menu, and beginning September 28, launched a new seasonal anniversary menu available throughout the year.

A Book Worthy of the Legacy

Marking the anniversary, the NMAAHC released its first full-size collection book: What a Dream Can Do: Building a Collection, Preserving a Legacy. The illustrated 320-page catalog features essays by 45 current and former museum staff and a preface by Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III. The collection has grown to more than 46,000 artifacts that reflect the richness and diversity of the African American experience.

Why This Matters for Black Atlanta

Atlanta is a city whose identity is inseparable from Black history — from the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Sweet Auburn Avenue, from the founding of Spelman and Morehouse to the fight for civil rights at Ebenezer Baptist Church. That is why the NMAAHC's 10th anniversary is not just a Washington story — it is a Black Atlanta story. Museum admission is free. The Searchable Museum digital portal continues to expand online. But nothing replaces standing in person before Harriet Tubman's shawl, or reading the freedom papers of a man who once had to prove his own humanity. Plan your visit. Bring your children. Bring your elders.

Ten years in, the NMAAHC is not just a museum — it is a living argument for the permanence and centrality of Black life in America. We were here. We built this. We endure.