Photos: Inside the National Museum of African American History and Culture

The exterior of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opens to the public Sept. 24. (WTOP/Allison Keyes)
The exterior of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opens to the public Sept. 24. (WTOP/Allison Keyes)
A view inside the National Museum of African American History and Culture as crews prepare the lobby for the museum's opening Sept. 24. (WTOP/Allison Keyes)
A view inside the National Museum of African American History and Culture as crews prepare the lobby for the museum’s opening Sept. 24. (WTOP/Allison Keyes)
A slave cabin and a house symbolizing freedom for former slaves from Poolesville, Maryland, on display in the new museum. (WTOP/Allison Keyes)
A slave cabin and a house symbolizing freedom for former slaves from Poolesville, Maryland, on display in the new museum. (WTOP/Allison Keyes)
A slave auction block. (WTOP/Allison Keyes)
A slave auction block. (WTOP/Allison Keyes)
A former slave cabin on display in the National Museum of African American History and Culture. (WTOP/Allison Keyes)
A former slave cabin on display in the National Museum of African American History and Culture. (WTOP/Allison Keyes)
Harriet Tubman's shawl on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. (WTOP/Allison Keyes)
Harriet Tubman’s shawl on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. (WTOP/Allison Keyes)
In this photo taken July 18, 2016, an exhibit depicting the presidency and the life of President Barack Obama and his family is seen during a media preview tour at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington. The museum's grand opening will be on Sept. 24. (AP Photo/Paul Holston)
In this photo taken July 18, 2016, an exhibit depicting the presidency and the life of President Barack Obama and his family is seen during a media preview tour at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington. The museum’s grand opening will be on Sept. 24. (AP Photo/Paul Holston)
In this photo taken July 18, 2016, Museum Director Lonnie Bunch stands in-front of an art piece representing hip-hop group Public Enemy in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, during a media tour. The museum's grand opening will be on Sept. 24. (AP Photo/Paul Holston)
In this photo taken July 18, 2016, Museum Director Lonnie Bunch stands in-front of an art piece representing hip-hop group Public Enemy in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, during a media tour. The museum’s grand opening will be on Sept. 24. (AP Photo/Paul Holston)
In this photo taken July 18, 2016, a slave cabin from Poolesville, Md., is on display in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, as seen during a media preview tour. The museum's grand opening will be on Sept. 24. (AP Photo/Paul Holston)
In this photo taken July 18, 2016, a slave cabin from Poolesville, Md., is on display in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, as seen during a media preview tour. The museum’s grand opening will be on Sept. 24. (AP Photo/Paul Holston)
In this photo taken July 18, 2016, an art piece depicting the Black Lives Matter movement is seen in the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington during a press preview. The museum's grand opening will be on Sept. 24. (AP Photo/Paul Holston)
In this photo taken July 18, 2016, an art piece depicting the Black Lives Matter movement is seen in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington during a press preview. The museum’s grand opening will be on Sept. 24. (AP Photo/Paul Holston)
An exhibit on the Civil War is on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
An exhibit on the Civil War is on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
The Washington Monument is framed by a window at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
The Washington Monument is framed by a window at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Louis Armstrong's trumpet, and other artifacts are displayed at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Louis Armstrong’s trumpet, and other artifacts are displayed at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Chuck Berry's 1973 Cadillac Eldorado is on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Chuck Berry’s 1973 Cadillac Eldorado is on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
An exhibit on music is on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
An exhibit on music is on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
A statue of Chicago Bulls basketball great, hall-of-famer Michael Jordan is featured at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
A statue of Chicago Bulls basketball great, hall-of-famer Michael Jordan is featured at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
A display featuring the Hope Rosenwald School, also known as Hope School which served rural African-American children in the early 20th century, is on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
A display featuring the Hope Rosenwald School, also known as Hope School which served rural African-American children in the early 20th century, is on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
An exhibit featuring activism is on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
An exhibit featuring activism is on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
People wait to go through security as they arrive for a media preview of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
People wait to go through security as they arrive for a media preview of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
A worker cleans a window at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
A worker cleans a window at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
The Washington Monument is reflected in a window of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
The Washington Monument is reflected in a window of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Workers finalize the installation of a sculpture by Richard Hunt, an African-American abstract sculptor and artist, at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Workers finalize the installation of a sculpture by Richard Hunt, an African-American abstract sculptor and artist, at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Richard Hunt, an African-American abstract sculptor and artist, stands with his sculpture on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Richard Hunt, an African-American abstract sculptor and artist, stands with his sculpture on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Shoes, featuring President Barack Obama, painted by Van Taylor Monroe are on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Shoes, featuring President Barack Obama, painted by Van Taylor Monroe are on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
A statue of the Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, is part of the sports exhibit at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
A statue of the Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, is part of the sports exhibit at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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The exterior of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opens to the public Sept. 24. (WTOP/Allison Keyes)
A view inside the National Museum of African American History and Culture as crews prepare the lobby for the museum's opening Sept. 24. (WTOP/Allison Keyes)
A slave cabin and a house symbolizing freedom for former slaves from Poolesville, Maryland, on display in the new museum. (WTOP/Allison Keyes)
A slave auction block. (WTOP/Allison Keyes)
A former slave cabin on display in the National Museum of African American History and Culture. (WTOP/Allison Keyes)
Harriet Tubman's shawl on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. (WTOP/Allison Keyes)
In this photo taken July 18, 2016, an exhibit depicting the presidency and the life of President Barack Obama and his family is seen during a media preview tour at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington. The museum's grand opening will be on Sept. 24. (AP Photo/Paul Holston)
In this photo taken July 18, 2016, Museum Director Lonnie Bunch stands in-front of an art piece representing hip-hop group Public Enemy in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, during a media tour. The museum's grand opening will be on Sept. 24. (AP Photo/Paul Holston)
In this photo taken July 18, 2016, a slave cabin from Poolesville, Md., is on display in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, as seen during a media preview tour. The museum's grand opening will be on Sept. 24. (AP Photo/Paul Holston)
In this photo taken July 18, 2016, an art piece depicting the Black Lives Matter movement is seen in the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington during a press preview. The museum's grand opening will be on Sept. 24. (AP Photo/Paul Holston)
An exhibit on the Civil War is on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
The Washington Monument is framed by a window at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Louis Armstrong's trumpet, and other artifacts are displayed at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Chuck Berry's 1973 Cadillac Eldorado is on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
An exhibit on music is on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
A statue of Chicago Bulls basketball great, hall-of-famer Michael Jordan is featured at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
A display featuring the Hope Rosenwald School, also known as Hope School which served rural African-American children in the early 20th century, is on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
An exhibit featuring activism is on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
People wait to go through security as they arrive for a media preview of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
A worker cleans a window at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
The Washington Monument is reflected in a window of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Workers finalize the installation of a sculpture by Richard Hunt, an African-American abstract sculptor and artist, at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Richard Hunt, an African-American abstract sculptor and artist, stands with his sculpture on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during a press preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Shoes, featuring President Barack Obama, painted by Van Taylor Monroe are on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
A statue of the Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, is part of the sports exhibit at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

WASHINGTON — The National Museum of African American History and Culture opens its doors to the public Sept. 24. Get a peek inside the walls of the 400,000-square-foot museum and a look at some of the more than 3,000 artifacts on display.

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