Anacostia Community Museum

Description:

• This museum is inconveniently located, but that's because it was initially created in 1967 as a neighborhood museum (which makes it unique among the Smithsonian branches). It's devoted to the African-American experience, focusing on Washington, D.C., and the Upper South. The permanent collection includes about 6,000 items, ranging from videotapes of African-American church services to art, sheet music, historical documents, textiles, glassware, and anthropological objects, dating from the early 1800s. In addition, the Anacostia produces a number of shows each year and offers a comprehensive schedule of free educational programs and activities in conjunction with exhibit themes. Allow about an hour here.

• © Frommer's 2012