📣 The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) has opened a major new exhibition highlighting the deep legacy and cultural impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
The immersive display, At the Vanguard: Making and Saving History at HBCUs, debuted on January 16, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. before launching a national tour through 2029.
Celebrating HBCU Culture and Archival Excellence
This stunning exhibition brings together rare historic objects, artwork, documents and multimedia from five distinguished HBCUs, showing how these institutions have preserved stories of resilience, creativity and academic achievement for over a century. Curators designed the exhibition to honor HBCUs as cultural powerhouses — institutions that have nurtured leaders, scholars, artists and activists.
The exhibition features collections from:
• Clark Atlanta University
• Florida A&M University
• Jackson State University
• Texas Southern University
• Tuskegee University
Highlights from the Exhibition
Among the treasures on display are:
✔ First editions of Margaret Walker’s Jubilee and For My People
âś” Historic Tuskegee Institute pottery representing student craftsmanship
âś” Early scientific journals from Tuskegee researchers
âś” Archival photography documenting student life and activism
âś” Notable art by John Biggers, Elizabeth Catlett, Robert Pruitt and Renee Stout
âś” One of the only known color videos of George Washington Carver in action
These selections emphasize HBCUs’ essential role in shaping American culture, documenting civil rights movements, and building archives that deepen our understanding of history.
Exhibition Support and National Tour
“At the Vanguard” is presented in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) and is part of the Museum’s HBCU History and Culture Access Consortium initiative. Funding and support for the project comes from partners including Google Arts & Culture, the National Endowment for the Humanities, Johnson & Johnson, the Southern Company Foundation, and others.
The exhibition will travel to at least five cities nationwide over the next three years, expanding access and reaching audiences well beyond Washington, D.C.
About the National Museum of African American History and Culture
Since opening in 2016, the National Museum of African American History and Culture has engaged millions of visitors both in person and online, positioning itself as the premier cultural destination dedicated to telling the full story of the African American experience and its impact on global history.
