Head of DC's African American museum on leave as Trump targets Smithsonian

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Me, my sister, BIL & niece were there back in 2018

(it opened 2 years earlier - I am a charter member and had tix).

It's fascinating how they set it up to have the "oldest" history and historical items (slavery/middle passage) starting in the basement, where the lighting is also intentially dark/moody, and then it moves up floors (Civil War, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, Civil Rights era, etc.), until you get to the current time on the top floor. It also has it sections for the different eras of sports/entertainers/music ( through to modern hip hop).

People are still donating items to them and as an example, Debi Thomas (first black figure skater to win a championship) donated a pair of her skates and they were displayed in an exhibit case (with one of her outfits IIRC).

We were there in I think November and it was during 45's first term, and they were just starting to set up a Christmas tree at the Ellipse.