There is not a better museum than the National Museum of African American History and Culture and it was nearly impossible to see every exhibit within five hours. The museum is magnificently curated and explores African American life, culture, and history through artifacts, interactive exhibitions, and shared experiences. Some of the artifacts include Harriet Tubman’s hymnal, Emmett Till’s casket, a segregated lunch counter, and Michael Jordan’s sneaker. The design of the museum was based on a three-tiered Yoruban crown.

The museum has four floors, including the unground contour levels. Some of the most popular exhibits are within the Countour Levels and include the Slavery and Freedom (provides a perspective of daily life and recounts the narrative of injustice and cruelty from the beginning), Segregation (daily life in the 20th century with segregated counter), and Changing America (growth of civil rights movement in America and developments since 1968).

The museum is very popular, and even though free, visitors need to register for a time-slot/entry pass. It’s best to book about a month in advance and attempt to make entry at 10:00a.m. The nearest parking is off-street parking on Constitution Avenue NW; however, it is best to park in a parking garage at one of the nearby hotels and walk to the museum if you want to stay for more than three hours. There is also a cafe in the museum with a variety of menus, including desserts.