NMAAHC Smithsonian Update: Iconic Greensboro Lunch Counter Exhibit Staying Put

Last week, journalist April Ryan set off alarms across the nation with a report suggesting that key Civil Rights Movement artifacts — including the legendary Greensboro lunch counter — were being quietly removed from the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) under the Trump administration.

The original story highlighted concerns that the Trump team, spearheaded by attorney Lindsey Halligan, was taking steps to reshape American history presentations by eliminating what she described as “improper ideology” from Smithsonian exhibits. According to reports, historic pieces such as Rev. Dr. Amos Brown’s personal Bible and a rare book on African American history were already being returned to their owners.

The news left many wondering: was one of the most iconic symbols of nonviolent protest — the Woolworth’s lunch counter where four North Carolina A&T students sparked a national movement — about to disappear?

Not so fast, says the Smithsonian.

In a statement addressing the widespread concern, the Smithsonian Institution made it clear that the original Greensboro lunch counter remains on display at the National Museum of American History, while two stools from the sit-in are still featured prominently at the NMAAHC — affectionately nicknamed the “Blacksonian” by visitors and scholars alike.

“The National Museum of African American History and Culture has two Greensboro counter stools in our collection. Since the opening, one stool has always been and continues to be on display,” officials clarified.

They also firmly rejected claims of politically motivated removals, explaining that artifact loans and exhibit rotations are part of normal museum practices aimed at preserving these historic pieces for generations to come.

For context: On February 1, 1960, four Black students, Ezell Blair Jr., David Richmond, Franklin McCain, and Joseph McNeil -sat down at a whites-only lunch counter inside a Greensboro Woolworth’s store, refusing to leave after being denied service. Their courageous act ignited a wave of sit-ins across the Jim Crow South and became a critical flashpoint for the Civil Rights Movement.

April Ryan provided an important update following her initial BlackPressUSA exclusive, acknowledging the Smithsonian’s clarification while highlighting the ongoing sensitivities around how Black history is preserved, especially as political figures like Vice President J.D. Vance now have influence over Smithsonian board decisions.

The reassurance that these treasured Civil Rights artifacts will remain accessible to the public comes as a relief to many, but it also raises questions about how American history will be handled moving forward.

For now, the story of the Greensboro Four and the power of peaceful protest will continue to inspire visitors in Washington, D.C.