
Throughout this series, I have discussed how one of my biggest issues with the Smithsonian museums in the DC area is that not many interactives engage visitors in the act of play. The act of play is how young visitors who cannot read learn and engage with new information. However, younger visitors are not the only ones who enjoy learning through the act of play. Learning new skills is something that all ages enjoy doing. The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) has created many interactives that engage visitors in the act of play, encouraging younger visitors to learn in a way that is most suitable for them and even engaging older visitors who can learn a new skill with their children.
Located on the second floor is an exhibit titled Explore More!, which “is an interactive, multifaceted educational space dedicated to helping visitors connect and engage with African American history and culture in ways that expand perspectives, spark curiosity and creativity, and increase knowledge.” The exhibit is a target learning center where visitors can learn the different moves in the cultural dance form of stepping from members of the professional dance company Step Afrika! The other side of the interactive has photos and text explaining the History of Step and how it has empowered young black people for decades, especially girls. The interactive had a line of all ages waiting to take part in learning how to do the moves of step.

The Musical Crossroads exhibit on the fourth floor features many female black artists throughout time, especially how young girls in the 1980s to 1990s revolutionized Hip-Hop music and culture, like Lauryn Hill and Lil’ Kim, which I will feature in another article for this series. The interactive at the end of the exhibit is one where visitors can be music producers, with a video of a music producer explaining how producers mix different sounds and beats together to create a song. The interactive was my favorite one at the museum because as someone who enjoys music, it was interesting to learn how music is created.
These two interactives are not specifically for young girls. However, there looks to be a focus from staff to ensure that the museum’s exhibits include information that features young girls related to the theme of the exhibit. By featuring young girls in the exhibits, young girls feel like they can learn how to do the steps from Step Afrika and be a music producer. I will be writing other articles for this series on other aspects of NMAAHC, including other engaging interactives featured at the museum.
-Lindsay Guarnieri
Junior Girl, Curatorial
Girl Museum Inc.