WASHINGTON, DC.- The Anacostia Museum presents the exhibit “Banding Together: Public School Bands as Instruments of Opportunity” through May 14, 2007. This exhibition presents a century and a half of the history, community impact, and support of instrumental music education in Washington, D.C., public schools from the 1880s to 2006. Special emphasis is placed on the story of the development of junior and senior high school cadet (military) bands and their evolution into the popular marching and show bands of today. “Banding Together” explores the challenges and benefits of band membership, and examines the state of public school band programs today. Band uniforms, historic photographs, instruments, and recordings are among the items telling the story of this significant community tradition.

The Anacostia Museum is the Smithsonian Institution's museum of African American history and culture, the Museum explores American history, society, and creative expression from an African American perspective.

The museum encourages the collection, protection, and preservation of materials that reflect the history and traditions of families, organizations, individuals, and communities.

Please make sure you visit their On-line Academy using the link at the top of the page. The On-line Academy is a virtual learning environment that features links to resources, information on artifacts in our collections, and streaming video presentations from leading scholars in fields related to the discovery, interpretation, and preservation of African American history and material culture.