The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture will hold its grand opening Saturday2016, September 24, 2016 and its set to air live on C-Span at 10 am. In addition, C-SPAN3 will air at 8 am at the National Mall to cover sights and sounds, museum staff setting up, and guests arriving outside the museum.
“We are doing this to give people who cannot make it a sense of being here,” said Susan Bundock, executive producer of American History TV on C-SPAN3. “We want them to see guests arriving and getting into position to watch the ceremony to get a sense of what’s happening to get the museum ready.”
C-SPAN has produced content about the museum that dates back to 2001 including press conference; house or senate, early tours of the museum, the ground breaking ceremony and more. C-SPAN houses a lot of content and stories that serve as a network of records of the development of the museum.
The museum was established to tell the American story through the challenges that African Americans endured and the contributions they made throughout history.
The Freedom Sounds Festival will kick off the weekend of the grand opening on Friday, September 23, and continue on Saturday, September 24 after the grand opening ceremony and Sunday, September 25.
Live music, special guests and speakers, and more will accompany the opening ceremony.
President Barack Obama, founding Museum Director Lonnie Bunch, along with other guest speakers are set to speak at the opening ceremony. First Lady Michelle Obama, former President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, Rep. John Lewis and Smithsonian Secretary David Skorton are all scheduled to be in attendance at the ceremony. Wynton Marsalis, Jazz musician, will perform a composition during the opening.
If you are unable to watch it live, visit https://t.co/osvfSVB2X4 to watch the grand opening ceremony at your convenience.