The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture is celebrating it’s 10 year anniversary with a special celebration called The Reunion. The event’s theme, Welcome Home: Our Legacy Continues, allows visitors to reflect on the museum’s 10-year journey.
Celebrations will run from September 24 to 27 and include events on museum grounds and at The Wharf. Guests are encouraged to wear purple attire — the museums signature color — during the multi-day event.
Signature Events
On September 25, journalist Laura Coates hosts a conversation with the museum’s Founding Director Lonnie G. Bunch III. The talk will explore the museum’s role in understanding the past and influences that shape America. Free advance tickets are required.
Guests can enjoy an evening of fundraising and live music at The Purple Ball: Echoes of the Pearl at The Wharf on September 26. The event commemorates “the 77 freedom seekers who boarded the schooner Pearl from that very waterfront in 1848.” Special guests include Grammy award-winning artist and producer Jermaine Dupri & Friends, D-Nice, Bill Bellamy, and others. Proceeds will support the museum’s future exhibits, programming, and education initiatives. Registration is required.
Celebrations wrap up with the family-friendly Violet Vibes event at The Wharf on September 27. The day-long programming will honor culture, preservation, and togetherness.
The museum’s Sweet Home Café will also participate in the commemoration with an exclusive menu during the celebration weekend. It will also offer a seasonal anniversary menu throughout the year beginning September 28.
Guests can also purchase an illustrated 320-page catalog, What a Dream Can Do: Building a Collection, Preserving a Legacy. The companion book includes details behind the museum’s most notable artifacts, such as Harriet Tubman’s hymnal and Joseph Trammell’s freedom papers. 1400 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington DC
Feature image of The National Museum of African American History and Culture by Alan Karchmer
