The Go-go Museum: an Interactive and Educational Experience

Outside the Go-Go Museum and Cafe (101 magazine/ Naiya Brown)

Washington, D.C. opened the first Go-Go museum and café, almost four years after Mayor Muriel Bowser made Go-Go the official music of Washington, D.C. 

Located in Anacostia, the Go-Go Museum is focused on the appreciation, study and culture of Go-Go music by following its history throughout the world.

The Go-Go Museum and Cafe has been in the making for the past ten years, though the rise of the #DontMuteDC movement in 2019, accelerated the creation. The movement started over a public battle over the use of music in the Shaw neighborhood, which brought complaints from luxury apartment residents in the area. 

In an interview with 101 Magazine, the co-founder of the museum and peace activist, Ronald Moten, said go-go music was at risk of extinction in the streets of Washington D.C.  

“It declined. It was almost dead, this whole movement brought it back… Hip hop took over,” Moten said, during a tour of the museum.

Moten, along with the museums’ co-founder Dr. Natalie Hopkinson, started a petition to encourage the continued use of go-go music throughout the city, calling it the “Soul and Heartbeat of Washington.”

The Go-Go Museum and Café’s interactive AI of Suga Bear, explains the history of Experience Unlimited, also known as E.U. (101 Magazine/ Naiya Brown)

The museum includes 16 exhibitions, a recording studio, and a concert stage. Each exhibit is completely interactive, with two different AI deepfakes of celebrities–like Suga Bear who explains Go-Go music history and its connection to his music group, Experience Unlimited, or E.U– and audio exhibits where museumgoers can listen to Go-Go music.

 What is Go-Go Music?

According to the museum, it is a funk genre mixed with R&B, hip-hop, and Afro-Latin rhythms. Moten recalled a time when Go-Go music was a way for artists from other genres to play their music since it was not allowed.

Timeline exhibition of Go-Go music and history of Washington, D.C (101 Magazine/ Naiya Brown)

The Go-Go Museum also features an interactive timeline that highlights the rich history of Go-Go music alongside the cultural evolution of Washington, D.C. 

“Go-Go was so strong here until they took it out of the schools and started shutting the clubs down. We had our own music,” Moten recalled. 

Moten reflected on how Go-Go’s power shaped the city’s music scene.

“They took it away from our children for a decade, so hip hop kinda like came in strong…Dougie Fresh, when he was in his prime, couldn’t go behind a Go-Go band, he had to open… that’s how powerful it was,” He said.

The concert stage (101 Magazine/ M’racle Bryant-Morgan)

The Go-Go exhibit offers a dynamic blend of history, education, and hands-on engagement. 

“We have young people that learn how to play Go-Go, we teach them how to do sound engineering, we teach them how to live stream…so it’s going to be a living museum,”  Moten said. 

While the main floor showcases the genre’s history and cultural impact, the lower level brings the experience to life in a more immersive way. Downstairs, visitors can explore a live band setup and a recording studio, allowing them to step into the creative process behind Go-Go music. 

Alongside these spaces, the lower level also features key artifacts, including the iconic outfit of Miesha Rashad, the “First Lady of Go-Go.” This unique blend of past and present ensures the legacy of Go-Go continues to thrive through both preservation and active education.

The entrance to the Go-Go Museum, where museum visitors can purchase merchandise and take pictures with the “Capture your Go-Go Moment” exhibit. (101 Magazine/ Naiya Brown)

The museum is coming to life with the help of collaborations from the Smithsonian, the D.C. Public Library, and universities like Howard University and American University.

The Go-Go museum is opening to the public on Feb. 19th, 2025, on the same day that Mayor Bowser signed the D.C. law 23-71, declaring Go-Go as Washington D.C.’s official music. 

The Go-Go Museum and Cafe is a must-see! Whether you are a long-time fan, or just curious about the genre, it offers a fun educational way to connect with the vibrant culture of  D.C. Don’t miss out- your next adventure is waiting at this living tribute to Go-Go!