“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.
Senate Session to consider bill to authorize museum
Senate Session – Bill to authorize the establishment of the National African American Museum within the Smithsonian Institution Senate Sen. John Warner (R-VA) on bill to authorize S 523.
Members of Congress Hold a news conference about plans to build museum
Members spoke to reporters about plans to build a museum featuring Africa-American citizens on the national mall in Washington, DC.
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Hearing on Museum – House Oversight Committee
African-American History Museum Witnesses testified about a proposal to build a National Museum of African American History on the National Mall. Among the topics they addressed were the location of the museum, maintaining security at the museum, potential exhibits, and preserving open spaces on the mall.
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Museum hosts “Save our African American Treasures” event
Museum staff and participants in the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s “Save Our African American Treasures” event spoke about the museum and the importance of preserving African American history. This event took place at the Carnegie Library in Washington, D.C.
At the time of filming, the National Museum of African American History and Culture was under construction on the National Mall and was expected to open in 2016. The museum had hosted several events since 2008 called “Save Our African American Treasures,” during which people brought in family artifacts and spoke to curators about how to best preserve them.
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One Year Countdown to Museum Opening
National Museum of African American History and Culture Ceremony The Smithsonian Institution hosted a ceremony to mark the one-year countdown to the November 2016 opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The event included speakers, performances, and video and still images projected onto the museum’s exterior.
