Anonymous wrote:OP here.

I did contact the museum by email and this is what they said, "We adhere to the Smithsonian policy which is that “bag lunches and beverages that are properly closed and secured may be carried through the museums or stored in lockers during your visit.” However, you may not consume your bagged lunch in the museum."

This is the policy at all the major Smithsonians, so I'm glad to see that they are reasonable. Of course, no one should be eating while viewing the museum... that is obvious.

Reason wins over rigidity.

It was always a reasonable policy. The rigidity was in acting as though you were not able to just accept the policy because you didn’t want the cafeteria experience.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The main site for the Smithsonian museums says that properly secured bagged lunches and drinks are allowed in all the museums. Yet the African American FAQs says that food/drink isn't allowed.

Confusing.

This is dumb.

And discriminatory.

OP here: And apparently, it's wrong. I guess they want to discourage the stupid people from munching on snacks and sandwiches as they learn about lynchings. Sigh. At least I found out the real answer. And contrary to one of the know-it-alls in the previous postings above, you CAN take food into all the others when it is in your bags. We've done it at Natural History and American History multiple times. And apparently, we will be able to do it at African American History too!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The main site for the Smithsonian museums says that properly secured bagged lunches and drinks are allowed in all the museums. Yet the African American FAQs says that food/drink isn't allowed.

Confusing.

This is dumb.

And discriminatory.

Anonymous wrote:The main site for the Smithsonian museums says that properly secured bagged lunches and drinks are allowed in all the museums. Yet the African American FAQs says that food/drink isn't allowed.

Confusing.

This is dumb.

I've been to the NMAAH several times. Each time, we've waited in the line for the cafeteria at least 30-40 mins. It takes a while to go thru the museum as they've packed so much into it. I hate having to wait in that long line. They should add at least two "cafes" with pre-packaged food in other locations so people have options.

You should be allowed to bring a bagged lunch and eat in a designated area. While some people believe the food is part of the experience, I'd much prefer visitors spend more time on the exhibits; not waiting in line for food that can be purchased at the many soul food and Caribbean restaurants across the country.

New poster.

The policy that OP quotes above is clear -- you cannot EAT your own food inside the museum. It does not say you are forbidden to CARRY food in with you to consume later elsewhere.

We often carry our own lunches or snacks on days downtown and I've never been told to ditch them--not even in the African American museum. The food is wrapped up clearly for consumption later. (Not a fresh hot pie like someone posted about earlier; I can't image why anyone would buy from a street vendor and walk directly into a museum to eat that food then....)

I think problems arise when some people want to carry their own food and eat it in the museum cafeteria. That space is for paying cafeteria customers and if it's a picnic space, that affects the museum's ability to make money on its food service. Since these museums are free to enter, they do need to fundraise, and selling food is one way they do that. They don't boot out people simply for toting picnics they'll eat later and outside. And I have seen people eating their own food inside when cafeterias were not crowded. But I've also seen people politely asked not to eat their food there when it was the height of tourist season and people with loaded cafeteria trays were walking around looking for scarce seats.

With the African American museum, tickets are timed entry, which is not the case at the other Mall museums. So someone who must enter at noon can't tour for a while, go to the cafeteria and eat their own picnic, and then start touring the museum again. As long as the museum uses timed tickets -- so you can't leave to eat outside and then walk back in - and visitors will need either to time meals around their museum time, eat the cafeteria food, or bring a picnic for before they enter or after they leave.

OP, have you ever been to a Smithsonian museum? Most of them forbid food, some forbid water bottles. If you want a picnic, go to the zoo.

OP here.

I did contact the museum by email and this is what they said, "We adhere to the Smithsonian policy which is that “bag lunches and beverages that are properly closed and secured may be carried through the museums or stored in lockers during your visit.” However, you may not consume your bagged lunch in the museum."

This is the policy at all the major Smithsonians, so I'm glad to see that they are reasonable. Of course, no one should be eating while viewing the museum... that is obvious.

Reason wins over rigidity.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Imagine being so cheap and stingy you can’t deal with buying lunch after you visit the FREE world class museum.

Eat at 10. Go to museum at 11. Look around. Leave. Go to Reagan building and eat. This isn’t hard. You don’t need to squirrel in your stupid bagged lunch like a weirdo.

Imagine being a nasty person that thrives on criticizing people and calling them names. pathetic.

+1

Imagine being so ignorant and despicable that you can’t fathom that there are many people right here in the DC area that can’t afford to buy expensive lunches at these world class museums.

But OP didn't say bringing her own lunch was due to cost--she said:

I don't have time to spend in line at the museum lunch line. We want to use as much time as possible seeing the displays. So, eating their food (and waiting in lines as a PP mentioned) is not part of our experience.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Imagine being so cheap and stingy you can’t deal with buying lunch after you visit the FREE world class museum.

Eat at 10. Go to museum at 11. Look around. Leave. Go to Reagan building and eat. This isn’t hard. You don’t need to squirrel in your stupid bagged lunch like a weirdo.

Imagine being a nasty person that thrives on criticizing people and calling them names. pathetic.

+1

Imagine being so ignorant and despicable that you can’t fathom that there are many people right here in the DC area that can’t afford to buy expensive lunches at these world class museums.

Op- you asked a very good question and I urge you to ask on their social media pages. I’m an employee and I can tell you that the the Smithsonian likes a unified clear message across museums. If there it’s conflicting information they will rectify it.

I've been twice when it first opened and liked the food options--they feature African American cuisine from different regions, so you can get Southern, Creole, etc. Cafeterias don't serve haute cuisine, of course, but reasonably good options.

https://nmaahc.si.edu/visit/sweet-home-cafe

I will say be prepared for lines. I was starving and wish I had smuggled some crackers in my purse.

Anonymous wrote:Imagine being so cheap and stingy you can’t deal with buying lunch after you visit the FREE world class museum.

Eat at 10. Go to museum at 11. Look around. Leave. Go to Reagan building and eat. This isn’t hard. You don’t need to squirrel in your stupid bagged lunch like a weirdo.

Imagine being a nasty person that thrives on criticizing people and calling them names. pathetic.

Anonymous wrote:Imagine being so cheap and stingy you can’t deal with buying lunch after you visit the FREE world class museum.

Eat at 10. Go to museum at 11. Look around. Leave. Go to Reagan building and eat. This isn’t hard. You don’t need to squirrel in your stupid bagged lunch like a weirdo.

Imagine being a nasty person that thrives on criticizing people and calling them names. pathetic.