By the Numbers: NMAAHC Opening Attendance

Thousands Attend NMAAHC opening

What to Know

  • Over the weekend, more than 30,000 people visited the newly opened Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

After 100 years in the making, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture opened Saturday, Sept. 24, and thousands of people came to celebrate.

Over the weekend, more than 30,000 people were in attendance, 11,733 visited the museum Saturday and 19,292 on Sunday.

President Barack Obama was among those who attended on Saturday, where he dedicated the museum in an opening speech. The president also rang the historic Freedom Bell from the First Baptist Church from Williamsburg. Virginia.

Other few leading figures in attendance over the weekend included U.S. Rep. John Lewis, former President George W. Bush and Lonnie Bunch, the museum’s founding director.

The majority of people were eager visitors who lined up for the museum’s opening and took part in the weekend’s opening festival.

The verdict on whether it was worth the wait? One visitor, Marthena Baxter, told NBC Washington, “The whole place was amazing, absolutely amazing. I will be back."

Local

Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information

GMU cricket stadium proposal scrapped

Nationals place Stephen Strasburg on 60-day injured list

Although the museum recieved many vistors over the weekend, there are still those who are trying to get in.

According to the museum, "four free timed passes per visitor can be obtained in person, at the museum on the same-day of your visit," beginning Sept. 26.

These passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis, starting at 9:15 a.m. daily, at the Constitution Street museum entrance.

Contact Us