The Oldest African American Museum in the Country
The Oldest African American Museum in the Country

Hampton University Museum

ANNOUNCEMENTS

NEW HOURS, NEW ADMISSION FEES

HOURS:  Monday through Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Closed on Sunday

CLOSED FOR HOLIDAYS
11/26/26 – 11/28/26 Thanksgiving
12/19/26 – 01/04/27 Winter Break
01/18/27 MLK Day

ADMISSION FEES: Ticket provides access to all galleries, not just Ruth Carter exhibit.

Adult (18+) $20.00

Youth (6 – 17) $10.00

Children (5 and under) 3 free with 1 Adult Ticket

HU Students/Faculty/Staff FREE with ID, must register for ticket online

GROUPS

Outside Student Groups

Student $10.00

Chaperone/Teacher $15.00

There must be 1 Chaperone/Teacher per every 10 students.

Email Boyd Smith at billy.smith@hamptonu.edu for scheduling.

Campus Student Groups/Classes

Free with student ID

Please schedule in advance.

TICKETING

Get Tickets!

CALL FOR VENDORS

You are cordially invited to be a vendor at the 32nd Holiday and Kwanzaa Marketplace at the Hampton University Museum. This year we are excited to have the Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design, HOMECOMING  and Navigating Freedom: David Drake – “Dave the Potter” exhibits on display during the marketplace.

2026 Kwanzaa Marketplace Application

VOLUNTEER

Are you interested in art and history? Are you enthusiastic, friendly, and dependable? If so, we want YOU! Apply today to become a Hampton University Museum Volunteer by clicking the link! HU Museum Volunteer Application

If you prefer the fillable PDF, download it, fill it out, save it and email to andrea.lewis@hamptonu.edu or billy.smith@hamptonu.edu. Or you can always print it and drop it off at the Museum.

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WELCOME

Step into a world where art and history meet and explore the oldest African American Museum in the country. Learn about the lives of Native Americans who attended Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute or dive into rich African culture and tradition in our first floor galleries. Immerse yourself in 200 years of African American fine art in our second floor galleries and see which new and exciting exhibits are featured in our changing galleries. So much discovery awaits your visit!

OUR MISSION

The purpose of the Hampton University Museum is to collect, preserve, study, exhibit, and interpret artifacts and works of traditional art. Art which illustrates the cultures, heritages and histories of African, Native American, Oceanic and Asian peoples, as well as the works of contemporary African American, African and American Indian artists and three-dimensional objects which relate to the history and significance of Hampton University are the Museum’s focus.

WHAT'S NEW

Exhibit

Opening the Vault: Multiplicity in Motion

Multiplicity in Motion invites viewers to explore the depth and breadth of a single artistic vision expressed through multiple works. This exhibition challenges the notion of singularity by presenting a series of pieces that, while distinct, are interconnected through the artist’s evolving ideas, techniques, and perspectives.

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ARTICLES

Student Article

Henry Ossawa Tanner Early Masterworks

Before Henry Ossawa Tanner became world-famous for his incredible religious paintings that often incorporated dramatic glowing light, he was outdoors painting nature scenes. These early paintings deserve way more attention than they get.

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Article

William Henry Johnson: Evolution of an Artist

William Henry Johnson was a painter associated with the Harlem Renaissance. As a young man, he was trained in the European classical style of painting. While in Europe he moved beyond the classical style as modernism became the trending movement. Upon returning to America, Johnson once again transitioned his painting style — this time into the folk-art tradition.

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EXPLORE

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