Explore America and discover people, places, art, and history that connect to Washington, D.C., in the Smithsonian’s collections. The nation's capital is known for its monuments and museums, but Washington, D.C., has vibrant neighborhoods and a culture all its own. The U Street Corridor, also known as “Black Broadway,” is home to the historic Industrial Bank, Scurlock Photographic Studio, Howard Theatre, Lincoln Theatre, as well as Duke Ellington and Marvin Gaye’s childhood homes. Washington, D.C., is particulary known for jazz, punk rock, folk, bluegrass, and go-go. Notable musicians associated with D.C. include John Philip Sousa, Lillian Evanti, Shirley Horn, Ian MacKaye, Billy Taylor, Roberta Flack, and go-go inventor Chuck Brown.
As the first general counsel of the NAACP, Washingtonian Charles Hamilton Houston fought to dismantle Jim Crow laws. Former astronaut Michael Collins served as the third director of the National Air and Space Museum. Bill Nye brought the wonders of science to children across the country with his TV show Bill Nye the Science Guy. Five of the Divine Nine, a coalition of Black Greek-letter organizations, were founded by students at Howard University to uplift and serve their community.
