WASHINGTON, DC.- As the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum prepares to mark its 60th anniversary in 2027, the exhibition “We Make History” explores how communities in the Washington, D.C., region record their experiences and contribute to the nation’s story. The exhibition opens May 30, the 185th anniversary of the first entry in the diary of Adam Francis Plummer, and celebrates Washingtonians whose work as change makers and history keepers has had a lasting impact. Plummer’s diary serves as a centerpiece of the exhibition, which will remain on view through January 2028.
In addition to the diary, “We Make History” includes artifacts like letters, photographs, sports memorabilia and even a musical instrument to show how everyday moments, personal records and cultural traditions all contribute to the community stories that are the nation’s building blocks. It pairs these objects and their stories with interactive stations that offer creative tools for sparking visitors’ imaginations and preserving personal, family and community history.
“Washington, D.C., has always been home to change makers who improve our communities and history keepers who preserve and share our stories,” said Jennifer Sieck, the exhibition’s curator. “People like Wanda Oates, Nellie Arnold Plummer, Charles E. Qualls and Dorothy Porter Wesley helped to shape D.C. and the nation. The Anacostia Community Museum has worked in partnership with the community for nearly six decades, preserving and sharing these important stories.”
The exhibition is organized into sections on primary sources, historic places, sports, the arts and the museum’s own history. Among the highlights is the Plummer family diary, believed to be the only known example of a multigenerational diary started by an enslaved person in the United States. Other notable items include contralto singer Marian Anderson’s coat, a guitar belonging to “Godfather of Go-Go” Chuck Brown, newly acquired photographs by Rick Reinhard documenting everyday life across the district and a jersey worn by a member of the Washington Spirit, the city’s professional women’s soccer team.
In addition to historic artifacts and archival materials, interactive stations with magnetic words, building bricks, collectible cards and a photo opportunity with the Howard Theatre as the backdrop are among activities designed for visitors to reflect on their experiences, respond to prompts and consider what pieces of their lives they might want to preserve. The exhibition invites visitors to think about how their own stories connect to family, community, national and global history.
“We want visitors to leave with the sense that they are active participants in shaping history, especially as the country approaches its own 250th anniversary,” said Katelynd Anderson, the museum’s interim director. “Our hope is that people see themselves as archivists in their own lives and are thoughtful about what they record, mindful of what they keep and aware that their choices today influence how their stories will be told in the future.”
To celebrate the opening, the museum will host a weekend of free programs Friday, May 29, through Sunday, May 31, including guided tours, family storytelling and art activities, conversations with the curator, and creative portrait and writing workshops that invite visitors of all ages to reflect on and document their own histories. On Friday evening, visitors ages 21 and over are invited to “After Dark,” the museum’s signature after-hours experience designed for connection, community and culture, featuring live jazz and barbecue in a relaxed social setting. The exhibition’s opening weekend is sponsored by AARP, with additional support provided by Pepco. All programs are free and open to the public. For details on opening weekend activities, visit the website.
This exhibition received federal support from the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, and the Smithsonian Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the National Museum of the American Latino. Additional funding was provided through the Smithsonian’s “Our Shared Future: 250,” a Smithsonian-wide initiative supported by private philanthropy to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary and advance the Smithsonian’s vision for the next 250 years. Support has also been provided by Paul Misener.
