The Lewis Museum's mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, document, and exhibit the contributions of African American Marylanders using its collection of over 11,000 documents and objects and resources drawn from across the country.

Opened in 2005,[1] the museum is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, and was named after Reginald F. Lewis, the first African American to build a billion-dollar company, TLC Beatrice International Holdings.

Starting from humble beginnings in Baltimore, in 1993 Forbes listed Lewis among the 400 richest Americans with a net worth estimated at $400 million.

Recent major exhibitions include the work of artists Jacob Lawrence and Romare Bearden.

Other facilities include an oral history recording and listening studio, a special exhibition gallery, a 200-seat theater auditorium, a classroom, and resource center.