The total attendance for the weekend surpasses 30,000 people — 11,733 visiting on Saturday, and 19,292 on Sunday.
As the church bells of Washington, D.C. rang out in response to the ringing of the Freedom Bell from Williamsburg, Virginia, thousands gathered to witness history.
In an opening speech, President Barack Obama dedicated the museum as the First Lady gazed on as her husband of 24 years, the first black president, manifested the efforts of so many African Americans.
Amongst those in attendance were former President George W. Bush, U.S. Rep John Lewis, Lonnie G. Bunch III, Debbie Allen, Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle, Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, Will Smith, and Oprah Winfrey herself.
With a whopping $21M, Tennessee State alum Oprah Winfrey, and the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation donated the highest contribution to NMAAHC. Following closely are the Lilly Endowment, Inc., Robert Frederick Smith, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Rhimes Family Foundation, and David M. Rubenstein. We are not surprised the highest donation came from the likes of a former student of a historically black college and university. Are you?
The museum had an initial goal of raising $540 million and at the opening already had more than two donations of over a million dollars, 16 of the top donations amounting to more than $160M!
With about 85,000 square feet of exhibition space, the museum houses almost 3,000 objects, has 12 exhibits, 13 interactive spaces with 17 stations and 185 videos.
From the top floor, featuring everything from fashion worn by music legends to hair pics, down four floors to the underground slavery exhibit, the entire museum is a sight to behold.
Be sure to check it out!
