Harriet Tubman and Parliament-Funkadelic Mothership to adorn special SmarTrip cards

For special edition SmarTrip cards will commemorate the Sept. 24 opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. (WMATA)

Metro officials on Friday unveiled four limited-edition SmarTrip cards to commemorate the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture this month.

The designs include a shot of the museum’s exterior, photographed from Constitution Avenue, along with images of Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman and the Parliament-Funkadelic Mothership. A replica of the latter will be on display in the museum’s Musical Crossroads gallery.

Each $10 card is reusable and will come pre-loaded with $8 in stored fare value.

“Metro’s diverse workforce and ridership reflect the diversity of our region, and we’re honored to play a role in connecting the public to this important new Smithsonian museum,” Paul J.  Wiedefeld, Metro’s general manager, said in a news release unveiling the designs. “These limited-edition SmarTrip cards commemorate the significance of having a museum on the National Mall that celebrates the richness of black culture and the vast contributions made by African Americans to our society.”

Museum Director Lonnie G. Bunch added: “As we move closer to the Grand Opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, I am so pleased that our partners at Metro have issued four special edition Smart Trip cards depicting the museum and significant people and objects that will be featured in it.”

The commemorative passes will be available online beginning Saturday and at Metrorail stations beginning Sept. 16. Customers also may purchase the special SmarTrip cards at five Metro sales offices beginning Monday. Those offices are at Metro’s headquarters, 600 Fifth St. NW; the Metro Center Sales Office in the Metro Center Station; Metro’s Pentagon Sales Office, on the upper level bus bay at the Pentagon Transit Center; Metro’s Anacostia Sales Office, Anacostia Metro Station; the Northern Metrobus Garage, 4615 14th St. NW.

The museum is set to open on Sept. 24. President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are expected to attend the dedication ceremony and will be joined by former president George W. Bush and Laura Bush; Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., chancellor of the Smithsonian; Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.); and Smithsonian Secretary David Skorton.

Tickets for the opening were snapped up within hours of being made available, prompting officials to extend museum hours through Oct. 2.