Last month, as a kick off to my Winter Break, my family and I took a trip to Washington, DC. My mom was able to get tickets for the four of us to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture. It's a pretty new museum, since it's been less than 6 months after its grand opening to the public. I must say, it was a pretty awesome trip. Since its opening on September 24, 2016, there have been so many visitors of all different backgrounds. The museum is free of charge, but because it is so popular, I did not even think I would get the chance to visit anytime soon. However, my mom pulled through yet again and made a way for us to make another fun family trip! So, after a 4 hour car ride, we finally made it! The National Museum of African American History and Culture has collected over 36,000 artifacts to put on display throughout the building. There are 5 floors, 4 floors and one lower level floor, kind of like a basement.

We entered the museum and went up to the first floor, the entrance level, which was called Heritage Hall. In it were the welcome desk, the gift shop, the restrooms, and so forth. One cool sight to see on this floor was a wall of donors that donated money into the museum. Some notable names were Oprah Winfrey and Shonda Rhimes.

After we took time to read the names, we took the escalators up to the second floor. This floor was named "Explore More". There was a center for African American Media Arts, where short clips of films and photos were placed. There was an interactive stepping exhibit where anyone could step up to a screen and step with the people on the scree. There were also interactive screens where you could see all of the artifacts in the museum, read a little bit about them, and find out where they are in the museum. Also, there is a center, still in construction I might add, where visitors may be able to explore their family history.

With this, I move to the third floor, named "Community Galleries". This floor is full of exhibits. There's an exhibit called the "Double Victory: The African American Military Experience". It sheds light on African Americans in our armed forces and how many served, fought, and died in our battles throughout time. Quotes along the walls from Langston Hughes, W.E.B. Dubois, and Imam W.D. Mohammed were engraved. Another thing on this floor was a

sports section, which showed how much African American men and women have shaped our country and influenced our sports teams. Religion was also displayed on this floor, how religions such as Christianity and Islam have effected African Americans.

The final floor, which was my favorite floor, was called Culture Galleries. There were exhibits that showed how African Americans would cook and the types of pots and pans they used to cook, how black hair has affected our culture, how black poets and authors, such as Zora Neale Hurston and Toni Morrison have changed the way we think, and so much more. Shows like Good Times, The Jefferson, Martin, and A Different World, were presented in clips to show how black television shows have changed how others view African Americans today. Musicians like Michael Jackson, Prince, Nat King Cole, and Whitney Houston were shown in the museum because black singers, rappers, and songwriters have had a huge impact on our society.

I did not even have time to visit the lower floor, the "Concourse", because I was so focused on the other floors. This was such a great trip, I learned so much, and even my parents learned some things as well. I would recommend that anyone would take a trip to see this. Most people, because of what is shown on television and movies and in history books, that the only history that African Americans have are slavery and the civil rights movement. There is so much more that a lot of us do not know and have yet to discover, This museum gives much more insight on the way African Americans have impacted our world. I will definitely be visiting again soon!