Congratulations to Frank Smith Jr. and the rest of the staff at the African American Civil War Museum on the grand opening of their new exhibit space. It’s been a long time going. For one reason or another the museum has experienced numerous delays over the past few years. I had my doubts as to whether it would open at all, but it’s nice to see Smith’s vision finally come to fruition.
I got a sneak peek of the new museum over the summer as workers were finishing up construction and I was impressed. The museum is located in the Shaw neighborhood of DC, just a few blocks from Howard University and across the street from the African American Civil War Memorial. The area is rich in history. It was the site of one of a number of contraband or freedmen’s camps during the Civil War. The founding of Howard guaranteed that it would become a center of culture and a thriving middle-class Black neighborhood.
Though the neighborhood, like others in DC, is undergoing gentrification, the streets still echo a rich past.
The opening of the museum comes just weeks after Smithsonian secretary Lonnie Bunch announced his retirement and in the midst of incessant attacks by the Trump administration directed at both the Smithsonian and National Park Service. Trump and his lackeys have done everything to intimidate staff and minimize if not erase public history geared to teaching and interpreting African American history.
“At a time when the highest, most powerful leader in our country is trying to erase the history of African-American people in this country, what better way to show them and show him than to cut a ribbon on a monument that will forever enshrine what the African American soldiers did for our country,” said Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau during the ceremony. “Our country wouldn't exist today if it were not for these soldiers.”
This new museum is a reminder that they will not win as long as there are people who are committed to this work.
In related news, I am hearing through the grapevine that a number of NEH grants have been reinstated since they were pulled last year by the kids at DOGE. In fact, I was recently asked to serve on the advisory board for a recently reinstated NEH project, located at the Roy Rosenzweig Digital History Center at George Mason University, focusing on the Civil War Graffiti House in Brandy Station, Virginia. This is good news for public history.
As for the new museum, make sure that you take the time to visit next time you are in DC.
These museums depend on our support.
