The National Museum of African American History and Culture was established in 2003 to preserve the history and culture of African Americans. A preliminary design for the new museum was completed in 2010 and construction is scheduled to be completed in late 2015.
Design for National Museum of African American History and Culture, 2010Design by Freelon Adjaye Bond/Smith Group for the new National Museum of African American History and Culture, with glass walls visible.
The Time Has Come: Report to the President and Congress, 2003Cover of April 2003 report, "The Time Has Come: Report to the President and to the Congress, National Museum of African American History and Culture, Plan for Action Presidential Commission.
G. W. Bush Signs Museum Legislation, 2003President George W. Bush signs H.R. 3491, the National Museum of African American History and Culture Act, in the Oval Office Tuesday, December 16, 2003. The act authorizes the creation of a Smithsonian Institution museum dedicated to the legacy of African Americans in America. White House photo by Paul Morse. The attendees are members of the Presidential Commission on the Development of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. From left, they are: Dr. Robert Wright, commission Chairman; Renee Amoore; Vicky Bailey; Andrew McLemore, Jr.; Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C.; Senator Rick Santorum, R-Penn.; Michael Lomax; Congressman John Lewis, D-Ga.; Harold Skramstad, Jr.; Barbara Franco; Robert Wilkins; Senator Sam Brownback, R-Kan.; Cicely Tyson; Lerone Bennett, Jr.; Congressman John Larson, D-Conn.; Eric Sexton; Claudine Brown; Larry Small, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution; Currie Ballard.
Museum Town Hall Meeting, 2005William A Brown SR, Plexus Scientific Corporation and Page Southerland Page, briefs the public on the four sites for the National Museum of African American History and Culture during the town hall meeting. The Smithsonian Institution hosted a town hall meeting on Wednesday, November 16, to listen to comments from the general public regarding the site for the new National Museum of African American History and Culture in the National Museum of Natural History's Baird Auditorium from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. The meeting briefed the public on the four sites under consideration and gave people an opportunity to ask questions and express their opinions.
Bunch at Museum Town Hall Meeting, 2005Lonnie Bunch, Director, National Museum of African American History and Culture, making remarks during the National Museum of African American History and Culture town hall meeting. The Smithsonian Institution hosted a town hall meeting on Wednesday, November 16, to listen to comments from the general public regarding the site for the new National Museum of African American History and Culture in the National Museum of Natural History's Baird Auditorium from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. The meeting briefed the public on the four sites under consideration and gave people an opportunity to ask questions and express their opinions about the sites.
Bunch and Conwill View New Museum Site, 2006Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Lonnie Bunch, with Deputy Director, Kinshasha Holman Conwill, overlooking new Museum Mall Monument Site.
View of Proposed Mall Monument Site, 2006National Museum of African American History and Culture Site Options - This is one of four sites being considered in January 2006 for the ultimate location of the NMAAHC. MALL SITE.
Save Our African American Treasures Program, 2009Participants in the "Save Our African American Treasures" program held in May 2009 in Charleston, South Carolina. Treasures is a national outreach program presented by the National Museum of African American History and Culture to ensure the preservation of African American history. Looking on (center rear) are NMAAHC Director Lonnie Bunch and Congressman James Clyburn (DSC), and Deputy Director Kinshasha Holman Conwill stands at right. Visitors are learning how to preserve artifacts.