Smithsonian Slave Ship
School children visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture's Middle Passage exhibit, behind a wooden timber, the artifact at right, from the slave ship, the São José-Paquete de Africa, Friday, March 6, 2026, in Washington.
As featured on
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is removing a rare slave ship timber from its “Slavery and Freedom” exhibit and sending it back to South Africa. On March 22, visitors will have their last chance to see the piece on display in Washington. The museum says the change follows a loan agreement that ends July 1. Staff members also cite conservation needs because the wood is fragile. The timber comes from the São José, a Portuguese ship that sank off the coast of South Africa in 1794. Researchers recovered the wreck in 2015. The museum plans to replace the timber with a cargo manifesto.