Tomorrow will be a historic day for the Smithsonian—it is the day we break ground for our 19th museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The museum was created by an Act of Congress in 2003, and it is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, art, history and culture.
We will celebrate this milestone at a special groundbreaking ceremony that will take place on the site of the museum. We are honored that President Obama, Mrs. Obama, Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), Gov. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), former First Lady Laura Bush and many other special guests will be with us for this occasion.
Congratulations to the museum’s director, Lonnie Bunch, and his entire staff on this occasion. They have been hard at work for the past nine years building the museum and ensuring it will be a place that will help all Americans learn about the richness of African American culture and its importance to the story of America.
Sincerely,
Wayne Clough
Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution
As a special note, the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) is already working with the National Museum of African American History and Culture to bring its collections to the American people. Currently, SITES is traveling Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing: How the Apollo Theater Shaped American Entertainment as well as Let Your Motto Be Resistance: African American Portraits.
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