African American Civil War Museum in D.C. to Reopen
By Ed Epstein
Washington, D.C.
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Washington's African American Civil War Museum, renovated and expanded to 16,000 square feet, will reopen to visitors on Wednesday, September 30,
after being closed for several years for reconstruction, updating of exhibits, and a painstaking effort at fundraising.
"I'm ecstatic about opening," said Frank Smith, the museum's executive director and driving force. Smith had to cut short our interview with him. The octogenarian was busy helping to move a piece of heavy equipment to get it into place for the big day.
The museum also memorializes Lincoln. whom Smith honors as the driving force behind freeing the slaves and creating the USCT. A six-foot, 600-pound bronze statue of a seated Lincoln signing the Emancipation Proclamation was dedicated in September 2025 during a program chaired by the Lincoln Group. The statue sits right at the entrance to the museum.
September 30 will mark the museum's soft opening. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. six days a week. The museum will be closed on Sundays. Admission is free. The reopening will be accompanied by a ceremony.
But Smith said a big grand reopening event is planned around Veterans Day on November 11, when the museum traditionally hosts the reading of the names of all the USCT members.
The museum's features will include a new exhibit, "From Slavery to the White House," which traces the history of former First Lady Michelle Obama's forefathers, former slaves who fought with the USCT.
The museum welcomes donations. Go to afroamcivilwar.org and click on the donations button at the upper right.
The museum is at 1925 Vermont Ave. NW in Washington. It is easily accessible by taking Metro's Green and Yellow Lines train to the U Street- African American Civil War Memorial stop. The escalator will bring you to street level directly across Vermont from the museum.
(Photo by Ed Epstein)
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