At the Vanguard: Making and Saving History at HBCUs” Opens Jan. 16, 2026

(Black PR Wire) The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) will launch a powerful new exhibition celebrating the legacy of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). “At the Vanguard: Making and Saving History at HBCUs” opens on January 16, 2026, and spotlights the groundbreaking collections from five HBCU museums and archives, bringing lesser-known stories to the National Mall before embarking on a national tour. For more information, visit nmaahc.si.edu/vanguard.

“This exhibition honors the legacy of HBCUs as cultural and educational powerhouses,” said Shanita Brackett, acting director for NMAAHC. “Through these collections from our partners institutions, we see the breadth of Black intellectual excellence, activism and artistic achievement, reinforcing the vital role HBCUs play in shaping American history.”

For more than a century, HBCUs have been at the forefront of documenting and preserving African American history, often filling gaps left by other institutions. Nearly two-thirds of HBCUs house museums, art galleries or archives. This traveling exhibition draws from five institutions, highlighting their deep collections and roles in cultivating future artists, museum professionals and scholars. “At the Vanguard” presents a remarkable selection of artifacts, artwork, historical documents and multimedia from Clark Atlanta University, Florida A&M University, Jackson State University, Texas Southern University and Tuskegee University—five HBCUs with distinguished archives and museum collections.

Historic materials include first editions of acclaimed writer Margaret Walker’s novel "Jubilee" and poetry collection "For My People", and examples of Tuskegee Institute pottery, which showcase student craftsmanship in the decorative arts. A rare highlight includes early scientific journals from Tuskegee researchers, a nod to the institution’s legacy in agricultural and medical sciences.

Archival photographs by HBCU-trained and/or staff photographers, including Doris Derby, Chester Higgins, Earlie Hudnall Jr. and P.H. Polk, document student activism, campus life and African American cultural movements. The exhibition also features a selection of artwork collected by HBCUs, including works from John Biggers, Elizabeth Catlett, Robert Pruitt and Renee Stout. One of the few known color videos of George Washington Carver, whose scientific ingenuity at Tuskegee revolutionized agricultural practices, will also be on display.

HBCUs’ records of achievement, resilience and creativity represent defining moments in American history. As stewards of culture and innovation, their museums and archives ensure that future generations can access these invaluable stories.

“At the Vanguard” is a collaboration between the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. It is part of the museum’s HBCU History and Culture Access Consortium initiative, which was made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities and a bequest from Dr. Beryl Carter Rice. This exhibition was made possible through the support of the following: CBRE, Google Arts & Culture, Johnson & Johnson, NMAAHC Corporate Leadership Council, NMAAHC Members and Southern Company Foundation.

The exhibition will travel to at least five locations across the country through 2029. For more information, visit SITES.

About the National Museum of African American History and Culture

Since opening Sept. 24, 2016, the National Museum of African American History and Culture has welcomed 13 million in-person visitors and millions more through its digital presence. Occupying a prominent location next to the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the nearly 400,000-square-foot museum is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive cultural destination devoted exclusively to exploring, documenting and showcasing the African American story and its impact on American and world history. The museum has also launched and is continually expanding its reach with the Searchable Museum portal and other efforts to bring African American history into the world’s hands and homes. For more information about the museum, visit nmaahc.si.edu, follow @NMAAHC on X, Facebook and Instagram or call Smithsonian information at (202) 633-1000.

About the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service

The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) deepens the impact of the Smithsonian beyond Washington, D.C., by bringing its high-quality content, resources and expertise to people nationwide in collaboration with museums and cultural organizations. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play. Visit SITES for more information.

Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC)