The National Museum of African Art is the Smithsonian Institutions African art museum, located on the National Mall of the United States capital. Its collections include 9,000 works of traditional and contemporary African art from both Sub-Saharan and North Africa, 300,000 photographs, and 50,000 library volumes. It was the first institution dedicated to African art in the United States, and remains the largest collection. The Washington Post called the museum a mainstay in the international art world and the main venue for contemporary African art in the United States.The museum was founded in 1964 by a Foreign Service officer and layman who bought African art objects in Germany and multiple houses in the Capitol Hill neighborhood in which to display them. The collection focused on traditional African art and an educational mission to teach black cultural heritage. To ensure the museums longevity, the founder lobbied the national legislature to adopt the museum under the Smithsonians auspices. It joined the Smithsonian in 1979 and became the National Museum of African Art two years later. A new, mostly underground museum building was completed in 1987, just off the National Mall and adjacent to other Smithsonian museums. It is among the Smithsonians smallest museums.The African art museum took a scholarly direction over the next twenty years, with less social programming. It collected traditional and contemporary works of historical importance. Exhibitions include works both internal and borrowed, and have ranged from solo artist to broad, survey shows. The museum hosts two to three temporary exhibitions and ten special events annually. Reviewers criticized the National Mall buildings architecture, particularly its lack of natural light. The museum is scheduled for remodeling as part of the Smithsonians upcoming South Mall project.

Beautiful beautiful beautiful... I love museums and this one has some of the most beautiful pieces I’ve ever seen. It’s very sensory. With sounds and visuals the lighting all perfect. I could stay for hours. Not to mention the museums are free in DC, So that is a huge plus. It’s a place that keeps you interested at every turn. I took a few photos but there is much much more to see. If you are in the DC area I definitely suggest stopping by. Or dedicating at list one day of your trip to museum hop. The Smithsonian has a few different museums also a castle which is pretty cool as well! The museum was not crowded it’s a great place to take refuge on a hot day or a really cold day. They have bathrooms places to sit and usually a little cafe. Although food is not allowed in or around the exhibits.

So Much to Learn at this Place! I loved every minute I spent here. Although free for everyone, this place is well maintained and have clean bathrooms! The workers there are polite and engaging. You are allowed to take photos but you have to turn your flash off. If you want to learn about the countries of Africa and its beautiful people, this museum is a terrific place to start. Remember, although free, they do run on donations and I believe this Art Museum is worth your humble donations. Do visit!

This place was cool. Very cultural, brought me in touch with my roots. Lots of cool stuff to see, and it is totally free. Theres a lot of cool stuff happening near by as well. There is the Smithsonian castle and the Arthur sackler gallery right next door. This place is always adding new experiences and exhibits. The shrine in the Asian art section was mesmerizing.

A compilation of educational pieces of art. I enjoyed the journey through the various artistes eyes and vision. Visited the gift shop: the agent wasnt as friendly, no greeting as we came in. She barely spoke when we left. Items from around the world, can be found here a bit pricey, different, but nice.

Was an amazing experience. Definitely more space to move around and enjoy the exhibits more than some other Smithsonian museums on the National Mall.

I like the modern interior of this museum. Admission is free to the public, which is located behind the Smithsonian Visitor Center Castle. l liked all the exhibits and artworks, particularly the special gold exhibition. The museum is very warm and inviting, was not crowded and peaceful. Numerous areas to rest and reflect, also a plus.

The National Museum of African Art promotes cross-cultural understanding in the social sciences and arts. The museum houses a variety of art, paintings, sculptures, and art history. Although there was hardly anyone there during my visit, it is definitely worth a visit, especially for those interested in looking a cultural work that has had a broad influence on African American, and American society in general.

This little gem was nice to get away from the busier national museums. Its art pieces change from what i understand from a repeat visitor i talked too, so Im looking forward to coming back and seeing more art. Its beautiful inside too, i chaperoned a group of 12 students to d.c. and we really enjoyed taking in the art. The gift shop was nice too alittle something for everybodys budget. And the staff was super nice especially the first lady that checked us in. My favorite was the ivory husk and the snake eating its tail made of gas cans and the wishing pond.

The African Museum of Art, at one point the ONLY African Museum on the Mall, is a lovely museum that, is sadly, rarely crowded unless they have school kids visiting. Friendly staff, clean restrooms, and a wonderful gift shop. Linked to the Ripley Center via a tunnel.

Beautiful art work and bigger than it seems. Theres 3 floors and a direct passage way to visit the Slacker Gallery as well

Much larger than it looks from the outside, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art boasts 3 stories of African art. The artwork ranges from contemporary art to the pieces you see in all of the text books. I would recommend for fans of art whether you are interested specifically in African art or not. Youll see beautiful, thought-provoking pieces and learn something along the way. If African art is a passion, be sure to check out this museum as it has the best collection in the world. There was a lot of renovation taking place while we were there. I cant imagine how great it will be once finished. It was already a beautifully appointed museum, very well laid out with very friendly and knowledgeable staff.

A great way to spend a morning or afternoon. The magnificent permanent collection is displayed beautifully and the special exhibits are worth seeing before they close. The gift shop is a great place to find hand crafted jewelry or African art thats unique and affordable. Ive framed several pieces by Nigerian graphic artist Oladele Olaopa. Colorful fabrics inserted behind cutout sections make each one special. There are books, clothing, baskets and more.

This is such a beautiful museum. I loved the theme based approach and the mixing of modern African art with historical pieces. Even though I live in DC I had last visited this museum about 15 years ago. The modernized approach of presenting their amazing collection will have me come back more regularly. Thank you

Amazing museum! During a late April visit there were long lines for the Air & Space and Natural History museums, but not too many people were in the African Art museum. That was puzzling, but it made for a very peaceful experience.BTW, my party entered from a Victorian garden area after visiting the Castle, and missed the entrance sign, so didnt know what museum we were in. We went all the way down to the lowest level and thought it was just an underground administration building, until we stumbled into a gallery. I wish the whole Smithsonian campus had unusual entrances, as theres nothing quite like not having a clue where you are, and then having the art tell you your place.

This museum looks small from the outside but spans 3 more stories underground. Its filled with thematic art as well as historical collections. It is a wonderful adventure through different perspectives and artistic mediums.

Art that is both classic and contemporary! Extraordinary exhibits.

Extremely well put together display of African American culture and history. The visual take you in a journey; so much to see!

Its smaller than the more popular Smithsonian museums at the National Mall, which is great for two reasons: no overcrowding and no need to hurry to see everything. The amount of exhibits is just right, so we didnt have art fatigue at the end of our visit.I particularly enjoyed the women-centered exhibitions - one on the talented female artists that are taking the continent by storm, and the other on the subject of gold and fashion in Senegal. The exhibits are pretty diverse, from Benin to Mozambique to Zambia. Just not sure if all African countries are represented.Admission is free, this being a Smithsonian. There is a small gift shop but no cafe or restaurant. The space might seem small from the ground-level entrance, but note that the exhibitions are at the underground floors. The lowest floor connects directly to the Asian Art Gallery (aka Arthur Sackler Gallery), another Smithsonian museum. Better signage is needed since we werent aware that we had stepped foot in another museum after wandering around the lowest floor.If you have at least three hours, you can visit both museums in one go.

A wonderful surprise finding of a Smithsonian Museum African Art Museum. This should not be confused with National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Friendly, knowledgeable staff and fascinating exhibits. Before NMAAHC came along, this was one of my (if not the) favorite Smithsonian museums. I havent visited since I moved away from DC 2 decades ago. I must say that I was thrilled to visit again 2 weeks ago. I have fallen back in love. Next time, I wont wait so long. I asolutely love this place, and the gardens are an extra beautiful site to see.

Absolutely AMAZING! Was there end of June. I need a week to thoroughly explore every floor.

It portrays the culture, wealth and beauty of the most diverse peoples and countries of Africa. One point that I found interesting is that the museum portrays the art and ancient history of Africa very well, but it also covers and gives space to todays artists.

Love this place! Absolutely amazing art! So many things to see and experience!

I didint make it to the inside but I enjoyed being in the large park

We went with school children and the constant beeping when they got close to the artwork was annoying. I understand they want to protect the art but the alarms seemed to be too sensitive. A child stopped to tie his shoe next to an exhibit and it beeped. They were afraid to look at anything after about the 20th beep.

Awesome ....

I had an amazing time at this museum, very interesting exhibits and great art, both classic and modern. Recommend this museum to everyone!!

Beautiful collection of historic and modern art and culture. We had a great time!

The National Museum of African Art is a small part of the Smithsonian museum collection and at first glance it doesnt seem like much, but on second glance, its a gem. I recommend going to the very bottom of the museum first and work your way from bottom up. The exhibits are small and interesting, but what is most impressive is the circular staircase. Greenery is hanging from it and its beautiful with a fountain at the bottom and a dome at the top. Its the perfect photo op. If youre nearby, stop by for sure!

Nice small museum. Better than expected 4 stars.

As an African, i found it nice. Wished it had more stuff but its resourceful.

I loved all of the displays in the museum and I suggest everyone go here when they are in the area. I learned so much about [my] culture and history. Often times museums can be a little boring, but this one was very fascinating. I had to take a piece with me by buying a necklace from the giftshop.

This museum is a lot quieter when compared to the air/space, and natural history museum. The art is amazing and beautiful, and there are a lot of informational signs/plaques that explain some pieces of the art, that really helped me to understand not only the individual pieces of art, but also the history that had occurred in Africa.

Good to fill sometime if you have seen everything else in the area, but wont make this a priority to see.

This page is Awesome ! I am now planning a trip to the museum

The art was intriguing, with I stayed there longer.

Awesome collection of African Art preserved and presented carefully. Very educative, rich and informative collection. It’s never a dull moment going through the exhibits on display.

Great museum, just wish there was more care put into the descriptions on each piece and that some of the pieces werent taken down. Otherwise a good representation of art and not slavery-centric.

A history lesson like no other. Starting from the year 1400 trans Atlantic slave trade to the present day. Each floor could have easily taken a whole day. The stories housed here reshaped my thinking about history and provided inspiration for enduring thorough todays challenges

We looooved this museum, not extremely big, the lady at the entrance was very knowledgeable and friendly. The exhibits and art were very interesting, well presented in a way that was not overwhelming, we spent a little under 2 hours. Wonderful gift shop with very different hand made things.

Beautiful Museum, great objects and room for them to add to their collection.

Wonderful free museum. I recommend it to anyone. This beautiful exhibit of the rich and underappreciated history and present of African art is well worth an extended visit.

One of the best art museums on the Mall, the NMAA is relatively small, which means you can take in the story it has to tell in just a couple of hours. That collection is well curated, with a helpful guide to reading the themes and patterns of African Art available. The museum has friendly, welcoming staff. Special exhibits on the bottom level rotate regularly.

Great art. Great venue.

This museum is an underated gem of the Smithsonian Institute. Hidden behind the castle and connected to the Sackler Drug-Money Legitimization Project and Freer Gallery, this three level, subterranean museum showcases beautiful pieces of art from Africa in a scale I havent seen even in Africa itself. Most of the objects I sorry my time viewing were from West Africa, mainly from the Niger Delta area up through Mali and other parts of the Sahel. The many different cultures of Africa have unique and interesting works too be seen here and its definitely worth your time to stop in and spend an afternoon.

Good place to visit when its actually open.

I loved every part of this museum! It was educational, informative and is valuable asset to the Smithsonian strip of museums in D.C.

Good collection of art, paintings, sculptures,etc from the Congo, Nigeria and other parts of Africa

I finally got my first visit under my belt. A great place to visit on a hot summers day.I spent most of my time with the Senses of Time exhibit, which closes on 18 Jan. 2018. There is a wonderful part where South Africans of various races are interviewed with their grandmothers and they discuss Apartheid and change in South Africa. My only issue was that one of the neighboring videos was way too loud in some portions and that caused me to miss some of what was said.I will be coming back because I feel like there is so much I missed. I will eat first and experience and a slow pace.

Some of the three dimensional art on display in the museum is absolutely stunning, I was surprised at the low crowd, this really has to go down as one the best hidden gems of the Smithsonian institutions

This is a hidden treasure! Learned a lot and enjoyed the art immensely! Also got a great necklace from the gift shop!

Great museum with colorful artwork and a variety of statues

Great exhibitions but a few were closed during my visit. A worthwhile place to learn about underrepresented cultures in art

Loved this museum. Not sure if it was completely finished yet, as it was a little confusing with the different floors. Well worth going to see the exhibits, and the way they are presented is wonderful.

My first visit. A good place to be.I encourage everyone to visit

Definitely a great place, but didn’t meet all of my expectations

One of the most under-rated museums but worth seeing. The majority of the museum is underground. A lot of great African Art.

Wow! Im speechless. You need more than just one day to Njoy all that the museum has to offer. I most definitely will be returning.

Great museum! Also be sure to check out the gift shop.

Great selection of artworks from Africa. I particularly enjoyed the sculptures. Fascinating masterpieces.

Very interesting. Not quite what we expected and quite small but definitely worth a visit!

Really well organized museum. I love the subterranean layout of this building and how this building links to other museums.

One of the less visited museums, but not less interesting. This is filled with amazing pieces. truly worth a visit

Beautiful, well done, uncrowded museum. Excellent gift shop as well.

This is a very nice little exhibit featuring African art. I accessed the exhibit from the Smithsonian Gardens located at the Smithsonian Castle.

Great mix of art from different regions and periods!

An underrated and under visited gem. A truly world-class survey of African art- both historical and modern.

Interesting stuff but limited artifacts on African culture, all items are from 19th and 20th century and nothing predating 19 era.One thing you might like is that the whole place is underground except the entrance and visitor center.A bit difficult to find the place, its on the back side of the castle and towards the fence of the compound.

Im fascinated by the African culture and I want to use every possibility to learn more and more about it. I expected more from this museum. There were interesting examples of art workmanship but nothing impressive.

I really enjoyed my visit I will definitely come again

Always changing displays of art. I enjoy the setup of floors and how the bottom level connects to the museum next to it.

Excellent and very courteous service . Very knowledgeable staff . What a history of mankind?

Great place to visit for tourist and any local native in the D.M.V area.

This museum is really good to the people who are more interest in African history, there are nice historical presentations inside it,

It is always enjoyable. Dont skip the gift shop. Also, no lines if you just want to run in to use the facilities!

Beautiful Museum for those with an open mind to a non-European influence only cultural exposure.

Like the other Smithsonian museums, this was beautiful and a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Have very beautiful views in spring.

Very cool and amazing learn what other areas in the world have done

Interesting pieces.

I really like this museum.

Beautiful museum with beautiful art and very interesting exhibits.

I loved it

Amazing artwork and history learnt from different parts of Africa

Cool sculptures, art, and history

Great art but really easy to get lost in

Nice

Beautiful

So much to see

Nice place

Very nice exhibition featuring African Art.

Nice collection!

Great art

Wonderful for art and history, seldom seen or taught.

Excellent museum with many activities for families

Attractive place in USA

Great pieces

This is very impressive, amazing, informative, and educational, I love it.

Quiet and not crowded, great atmosphere.