President Barack Obama opened the National Museum of African American History and Culture on Saturday, telling thousands of people assembled on the National Mall that the iconic $540 million facility is "so powerful and so visceral" because "it’s the story of all of us."
Joined by former presidents, civil rights icons, celebrities and Americans of all races, Obama described the Smithsonian's newest institution as "breathtaking," a monument to the persistence, wisdom, dedication and savvy of those who pushed for it over so many years.
He offered special praise for Lonnie Bunch, the 400,000-square-foot museum's founding director and tireless advocate. It's been 13 years since President George W. Bush, who also spoke Saturday, signed the bill that authorized the museum, and its place on the Mall.
"This is about people who, for more than a century, advocated and organized, and raised funds, and donated artifacts so that the story of the African American experience could take its rightful place in our national memory," Obama said. "It’s a story that is full of tragedy and setbacks, but also great joy and great victories. And it is a story that is not just part of the past, but it is alive and well today in every corner of America."
The NMAAHC sits on 5 acres at the corner of Constitution Avenue and 15th Street NW in Washington, D.C.
Read the president's full remarks here. The Washington Post also has extensive coverage.
Below you will find a sampling of the Washington Business Journal's previous NMAAHC coverage:
- These are the stories behind the African-American history museum's unique design
- D.C.-area donor to African-American history museum: 'We should know about our history'
- From bed frames to baby dolls: Celebrating black enterprise at D.C.’s new African-American history museum
- This is how big demand is for African-American history museum tickets
- Lonnie Bunch's 10-year trek to showcase African-American history
- Michael Jordan pledges $5M to new African-American history museum
- African-American history museum surpasses fundraising goal
- How the Smithsonian will bronze its newest museum, without using real bronze