The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) today announced “The Reunion,” its 10th-anniversary commemoration, featuring a series of multi-day celebrations and signature events for visitors of all ages taking place Thursday, Sept. 24–Sunday, Sept. 27. Guided by the theme “Welcome Home: Our Legacy Continues,” “The Reunion” brings together visitors, supporters, community partners and friends of the museum to reflect on the journey that has shaped the museum over the past 10 years, celebrate the stories and achievements that define its legacy, and reaffirm its mission to preserve, share and elevate African American history and culture for generations to come.
Since opening Sept. 24, 2016, the museum has welcomed nearly 14 million visitors from 200 countries and hosted more than 26,000 school groups. The museum has presented educational workshops and public programs for all audiences, including over 1.1 million K–12 students, teachers and families. Its digital footprint has expanded through the Searchable Museum, an interactive digital platform and flagship website that has attracted more than 65 million visits. Social media channels have generated nearly 897 million impressions and garnered more than 1.1 million followers. Recognized globally for innovation in exhibitions, education and digital engagement, NMAAHC has received more than 100 awards.
“It is an absolute privilege to celebrate NMAAHC’s first decade on the National Mall—a dream more than 100 years in the making,” Acting Museum Director Shanita Brackett said. “From African American Civil War veterans to our founding director, Lonnie G. Bunch III, to our donors and visitors—there are countless hands and hearts that shaped NMAAHC into what stands before us—a living, breathing testament to a people’s journey and a nation’s story.”
“The Reunion” will extend from the museum’s footprint on the National Mall to The Wharf, a historic site just steps away where one of the most courageous stories of hope, resilience and determination in American history unfolded. The museum invites the community to honor the legacy of those who sought freedom while recognizing the stories, supporters and shared commitment that have sustained the museum and its mission over the past decade.
“For 10 years, we have preserved our history within these walls,” Brackett said. “This September, we carry that mission back to the water’s edge, to the very shore where, in 1848, 77 enslaved people dared to imagine freedom and boarded the Pearl schooner to escape into the night.”
NMAAHC’s celebration of events begins with a full museum activation on its 10th anniversary, Thursday, Sept. 24, followed by a schedule of public programs and signature events from Friday, Sept. 25, through Sunday, Sept. 27. Guests are encouraged to wear shades of purple—the museum’s signature color—during this commemorative weekend to reflect the warmth and unity of a family reunion both inside the museum and at The Wharf.
“The Reunion” Signature Events
Friday, Sept. 25: “Understanding America: 10 Years of Excellence”
Join the museum’s Founding Director and Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III for a special edition of Understanding America, a conversation moderated by award-winning journalist Laura Coates, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Registration is free. Seating is limited. Advance tickets are required to attend.
Saturday, Sept. 26: “The Purple Ball: Echoes of the Pearl”
Museum patrons and members of the public are invited to a special evening at The Wharf, hosted by Bill Bellamy, featuring performances by GRAMMY Award-winning artist and producer Jermaine Dupri & Friends, and legendary artist and entertainer DJ D-Nice. Proceeds from this fundraising affair will help bolster the museum’s exhibitions, programming and education initiatives. Registration required.
Sunday, Sept. 27: “Violet Vibes: A Community Celebration”
Guests will come together for the closing day of the museum’s anniversary weekend to celebrate a decade of memory, preservation and belonging through daylong programming on The Wharf grounds. Admission is free. Space is limited. Registration details will be announced in September.
10th-Anniversary Publication
As a companion to the 10-year anniversary celebration, What a Dream Can Do: Building a Collection, Preserving a Legacy, edited by Michelle D. Commander, Ph.D., Michèle Gates Moresi, Ph.D. and Douglas Remley and published by Rizzoli Electa, will be available for purchase online and in the NMAAHC museum store Tuesday, Sept. 15. This fully illustrated 320-page catalog details the stories behind some of the most notable acquisitions in the museum’s permanent collection through essays by museum scholars and staff and a preface by Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III. What a Dream Can Do offers unparalleled insight into how celebrated African American historical and cultural artifacts came into the museum’s collection, including Joseph Trammell’s freedom papers, Harriet Tubman’s hymnal, the Tuskegee Airmen training biplane and the Johnson Publishing Company’s Ebony Test Kitchen.
Sweet Home Café
The National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Sweet Home Café will celebrate 10 years of culinary excellence with an exclusive menu curated by Executive Chef Ramin Coles from Friday, Sept. 25, to Sunday, Sept. 27, followed by a 10th-anniversary menu featuring seasonal offerings throughout the year beginning Monday, Sept. 28.
About the National Museum of African American History and Culture
Since opening on Sept. 24, 2016, the National Museum of African American History and Culture has welcomed 13.8 million in-person visitors and millions more online. Located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the nearly 400,000-square-foot museum is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive cultural destination devoted exclusively to exploring, documenting, and showcasing the African American story and its impact on American and world history. The museum continues to expand its reach through initiatives such as the Searchable Museum portal and other digital platforms.