Welcome to the Searchable Museum

A place to explorehistory and culturethrough anAfrican American lens

The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture's Searchable Museum is made possible through the generous support of:

Slavery & Freedom 1400–1877

Exhibition

An in-depth journey through the history of slavery and freedom, based on the Museum’s permanent exhibition

Explore

Artifacts and topics illuminating connections to history

Connect

Current events and issues from a historical perspective

African Americans continue the fight for social justice and equal treatment under the law.

Structural racism and racist beliefs about African Americans shape access to care and health outcomes.

African Americans continue the fight for social justice and equal treatment under the law.

Structural racism and racist beliefs about African Americans shape access to care and health outcomes.

Discover

Shining a new light on the African American past and its people.

James McCune Smith, the first African American to hold a medical degree, fought against the false scientific claims of Black inferiority.

Paul Jennings, enslaved by James and Dolly Madison, bought his freedom and published a personal memoir in 1865.

Paul Jennings, enslaved by James and Dolly Madison, bought his freedom and published a personal memoir in 1865.

James McCune Smith, the first African American to hold a medical degree, fought against the false scientific claims of Black inferiority.

Understand

Methods, tools, and sources used to study African American history and culture