(Photo by Alex Edelman)

Head Down To Mall Anyway: With President Barack Obama speaking, there was never much of a chance that you’d get to be at the actual ceremony. But with an estimated 150,000 people coming to town for the opening, you can expect a jubilant crowd watching the proceedings on jumbotrons on the Mall (I imagine it will be a bit like inauguration). The gathering and music start at 9 a.m., with the actual ceremony at 10 a.m. Leave time to get there for both street closures and security screenings. There is no parking nearby and visitors are highly encouraged to take the Metro (you can use a commemorative SmarTrip card).

Stream It: C-SPAN is planning to air the entire ceremony beginning at 10 a.m. You can also tune into American History TV (AHTV) on C-SPAN3 starting at 8 a.m. for live coverage of the scene at the museum as well as a previously aired tour of the inside.

Attend the festival: There’s no tickets or restrictions on attending a free, three-day festival commemorating the opening. Freedom Sounds activities include music and dance performances, spoken word, and oral-history activities. For more details, with everything from accommodations to schedules, download the official festival app. Events will take place on the Washington Monument grounds between 15th Street directly across from the National Museum of African American History and Culture and 17th Street.

Go to a concert: Technically a part of the Freedom Sounds festival, these two legendary shows are worth a mention on their own. On Saturday, Living Colour, Public Enemy, and The Roots will share the stage; on Sunday, it will be Experience Unlimited (E.U.), Meshell Ndegeocello, and Angélique Kidjo. Both concerts will run from 6-9 p.m.

D.C. Host Committee events: The DC Host Committee, an official city-wide volunteer group, came together specifically to welcome visitors and offer diverse programming for this historic occasion. Highlights include events at five different embassies and multiple concerts.

Make a pilgrimage to one of David Adjaye’s other buildings: Architecture buffs who have already taken in the outside of the museum can head to two other buildings designed by the star architect behind it: both are striking libraries (Adjaye is also working on Georgetown’s West Heating Plant). One of them, Francis Gregory, will host a watch party for the dedication, as will the MLK, Cleveland Park, and Deanwood libraries.

Visit a different museum: Nothing even comes close to the breadth of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, but here are two local alternatives that shed light on particular parts of the black experience and are well worth a visit. The Anacostia Community Museum is one of the Smithsonian’s most underrated facilities, and a particularly good primer on Chocolate City. Easily one of D.C.’s most hidden treasures, the African American Civil War Museum is small, but contains fascinating artifacts, pictures, clothing, and other tidbits about the role African Americans played in the Civil War.

Historic Sites: You have your pick for places to take some time for quiet reflection. The MLK Jr. Memorial is an easy stop if you’re already on the Mall, but there are plenty of options throughout the rest of the city, including the African American Civil War Memorial on U Street, the Frederick Douglass Historic Site, and Mary McLeod Bethune Council House. For a bit of more local history, head over to the Chuck Brown Memorial Park.