Our family decided to visit the DC area over the holidays and did not plan our trip until about 6 weeks before. We didn't realize you needed to secure tickets months in advance to visit this museum so needless to say we were unable to secure advanced tickets. However, upon arriving in DC, our hotel staff told us that the museum was no longer requiring tickets for entry. I'm not sure if this is a permanent change or if this was temporary for the holidays however it was very welcome news! The hours were also extended during the holidays so the museum stayed open until 8pm. We quickly added this museum back to our itinerary. We first attempted to visit the museum on the Saturday between Christmas and New Years, in the afternoon. Big mistake. The line was extensively long and more importantly, it was not moving (we were on line about 30 minutes). We left and returned Sunday morning about a half hour before opening and it was a much smoother process (it may have also helped that it was raining that day). We were able to enter the museum shortly after opening time. The museum itself is large and can easily consume the better part of a day if you take your time to view all of the exhibits. While it is no small feat to address centuries of African American history in a 5 floor building, I thought it was a great start. I did feel that some sections could have been condensed. For example, some of the athlete stories were repeated in multiple areas of the sports section. Likewise, there were other sections (such as the section that addressed organizations and leaders who fought for civil rights throughout the 1900s) that seemed shorted and which did not fully explain the importance and impact of particular individuals or organizations in African American history. In terms of flow, we followed the museum guide which directs you to start from the top of the museum and work your way down. However, chronologically, the museum seems to be curated from the bottom up which was a bit of a disconnect. The guide recommendation may have more to do with crowd control than curation. By the time we reached the ground level, we were told that the bottom floor was closed off for 45 minutes to an hour. This is also where the cafe is so I assume that had something to do with it. However, after standing on our feet for 4 hours, we opted not to wait around for another hour so we left and didn't get to check out the History Galleries on the ground floor. We will likely make a return trip at some point to see how the museum evolves and check out the bottom level. As an African American, I was really proud of this first step in documenting our history and the myriad of ways that African Americans have influenced the evolution of this country. I also hope that more diverse audiences will visit the museum. While there was plenty that I already knew, I also learned a lot so I can only imagine what others can potentially gain from the experience.

This museum is fantastic. The historical collections are a must-see, taking you through centuries of Black history in America. I recommend getting there by 9:30, so you can be in line by the time the museum opens at 10. When I did that, I had no wait once inside and could enjoy the collections at my own pace without a wait and without the heavier crowds that come later in the day. The collections are sobering and powerful, especially the Emmett Till memorial. The museum is educational and worthwhile for all Americans.

We didn’t realise that you needed to order timed tickets in advance, so felt very lucky to have been able to go online and get tickets for the same day. We faced no queue on arrival, and were actually able to enter early, I think we were just lucky on a cold Saturday in January. We also joined a tour, which ran for about 2 hours, which was led by an incredibly knowledgeable guide. We spent 4.5 hours at the museum (2 adults + 2 teenagers), but tbh, could have spent double that amount of time easily. It is a stunning museum, so much to see, and you want to stop and read every single thing. The displays are incredible, and the quality of the museum’s collection is immense. How did the museum decide what to display, I did wonder. I arrived knowing very little about American history, and left a lot wiser (and sadder, the history is devastating). This museum is an absolute must see!