On Friday, September 8th, 23 clergy and laity of the North Carolina Annual Conference traveled to Washington D.C. to visit the newest Smithsonian museum – the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Since its opening last September, the museum has welcomed over 2.5 million visitors.
Photo by the Rev. Alan Felton
Some of the group began the visit with an elevator ride to the bottom level, which begins with the history of the slave trade in the early 1400’s. Walking upward through the subsequent levels, exhibits include Slavery and Freedom (1400-1877), the Era of Segregation (1876-1968), and A Changing America (1968 and beyond). Others traveled to the upper levels, which include culture galleries that highlight African American influences upon our shared experiences of music, the arts, sports, and military service.
Photo by the Rev. Alan Felton
Photo by the Rev. Alan Felton
The group also enjoyed visiting nearby sites, including the World War II Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and China Town where we stayed.
We are eager to return, for the extent of the museum’s detail demands more than one visit. If you are interested in learning more about traveling to D.C. to visit this museum with others from the NCCUMC, please email Amie Stewart (amie@nccumc.org).
Thank you, Ben Wolf, and to Haymount for use of the church bus!