National Museum of African Art

This Smithsonian museum is devoted entirely to the visual arts of Africa, from ancient works to contemporary practice. Housed mostly below ground beside the Freer and Sackler galleries, it opened on the Mall in 1987 with domed entry pavilions rising through the Enid Haupt Garden. Collections include masks, textiles, ceramics, jewelry, and photography drawn from across the continent. Rotating exhibitions explore themes of ritual, power, and modern identity, and the museum's research holdings support the study of African material culture.