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Central Library Celebrates the National Museum of African American History and Culture With An Online Smithsonian Poster Exhibition

The Smithsonian Institution opened its newest museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture Sept. 24, 2016.

Central Library is proud to present this online version of the Smithsonian’s exhibit A Place for All People: Introducing the National Museum of African American History and Culture in place of the traveling version originally scheduled for Black History Month (February 2021).

FFRPL is proud to support this project.

Organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) in collaboration with the National Museum of African American History and Culture, “A Place for All People” highlights key artifacts that tell the rich and diverse story of the African American experience.

From the child-size shackles of a slave and the clothing worn by Carlotta Walls on her first day at Little Rock Central High School to Chuck Berry’s Gibson guitar, “Maybellene,” and the track shoes worn by Olympian Carl Lewis, the exhibition presents a living history that reflects challenge, triumph, faith and hope.

The poster exhibition and related public programs are an opportunity for Central Library to showcase its work in sharing the many stories of African American and African diaspora people and their contributions to the local community and the American story.

The journey to establish this museum began a century ago with a call for a national memorial to honor the contributions of African American Civil War veterans. After decades of efforts by private citizens, organizations and members of Congress, federal legislation was passed in 2003 to create the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Since then, thousands of artifacts have been collected to fill the inspiring new building that has risen on the National Mall. Through its exhibitions and programs, the museum provides a shared lens to view the nation’s history and the possibility for hope and healing. It is a place where all can gather to remember, reflect and embrace America’s story: a place for all people. For more information, visit nmaahc.si.edu.

SITES has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for over 65 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play.

For exhibition description and tour schedules, visit sites.si.edu.

View the Smithsonian’s title poster, A Place for All People, here

View the Smithsonian’s Introduction here

View the Smithsonian’s Narrative Break [The Hughes Family] here

View the Smithsonian’s Slavery and Freedom poster here

View the Smithsonian’s Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom poster here

View the Smithsonian’s A Changing America poster here

View the Smithsonian’s Narrative Break [Powder Horn] poster here

View the Smithsonian’s Making a Way Out of No Way poster here

View the Smithsonian’s The Power of Place poster here

View the Smithsonian’s Double Victory poster here

View the Smithsonian’s Sports poster here

View the Smithsonian’s Narrative Break [Revelations] poster here

View the Smithsonian’s Cultural Expressions poster here

View the Smithsonian’s Musical Crossroads poster here

View the Smithsonian’s Taking the Stage poster here

View the Smithsonian’s Visual Art poster here

View the Smithsonian’s Power of Images poster here

View the Smithsonian’s Narrative Break [Grand Dame Queenie] poster here

View the Smithsonian’s Conclusion here

View the Smithsonian’s Postscript here

View the Smithsonian’s This is a Shared American Story poster here