Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

The striking 400,000 square-foot museum is designed to tell the complex story of perseverance and achievement of African Americans: from the intricate three-tiered bronze-colored cast-aluminum panels on the outside, to the exhibit spaces - 70 percent of which are below ground. The museum is open seven days a week, 364 days a year. Regular operating hours are from 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. The museum is closed on Dec. 25. Timed Entry Passes are necessary to enter the museum.