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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

Law

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

Health

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

Law

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

Health

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.

The First African American Physician

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

Enslaved at the White House

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

Enslaved at the White House

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

The First African American Physician

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