The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) celebrates its fifth year of operations with its newest digital initiative, the Searchable Museum. 

Expanding on its already expansive website, the Searchable Museum affords a digital visitor an online tour of the many exhibitions and the personal stories of those whose shared history began before the first slave ships across the middle passage. 

“By marshaling the latest technology and harnessing the scholarly and educational experience of the museum’s teams, the Searchable Museum tells the complex story of our nation’s history in ways only the National Museum of African American History and Culture can,” said Kevin Young, the Andrew W. Mellon Director of the museum in the museum’s press release. “This ongoing project provides a chance for Americans to realize our shared past, bringing the unique museum experience to their homes and on their phones.”

The exhibition has been transformed into an online experience combining existing and newly created digital collection assets, digitized exhibition content, multimedia components, such as 3D models, videos and audio podcasts, and state-of-the-art technologies. The site will offer opportunities for inquiry into specific topics via links to related online content and educational resources. Similar to the in-person exhibition, the virtual exhibition explores the story of slavery and freedom—the core of America’s founding—beginning in the 14th century and concluding with the Civil War and Reconstruction. 

The website also features unique content that will take users into the behind-the-scenes work of the museum and share detailed connections among the stories told in the museum’s exhibitions.

Since its opening, the museum has been a huge attraction on the Washington DC mall; visitors usually require tickets for specific times. COVID-19 protocol further restricted its access to many who wanted to visit. With the expansion of its online presence, NMAAHC is available to tourists, scholars and historians in all parts of the world, exploring at their own pace.