National Museum of African American History and Culture
Encyclopedia
The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) is a Smithsonian Institution
museum established in 2003. It will be built on the National Mall
in Washington, D.C.
. In 2006, the Smithsonian's Board of Regents selected a 5 acres (2 ha) site near the grounds of the Washington Monument
and the National Museum of American History
. The boundaries of the site are Constitution Avenue
on the north, Madison Drive on the south, 14th Street
, NW on the east, and 15th Street, NW on the west. Construction is expected to begin in 2012. Architect David Adjaye
designed the building, which features a crown motif from Yoruban
sculpture.
The museum was established on December 19, 2003, through the National Museum of African American History and Culture Act. Dr. Lonnie G. Bunch was selected as the museum's first director in July 2005.
In 2007 the National Museum of African American History and Culture became the first major museum to open on the Web before completing a physical structure. The website includes the museum's first exhibit, mounted in New York. It is also designed to encourage collaboration between scholars and the public. The museum is slated to be finished by 2015.
The main feature of the web-based initiative is the Memory Book application, which allows individuals to contribute to the website via pictures, a story, or audio application, to spotlight unique experiences in African-American culture. Physical exhibits will also be mounted in other institutions of the Smithsonian, such as the galleries dedicated to the NMAAHC in the National Museum of American History, as well as in museums outside of Washington pending completion of the museum's new building.
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
museum established in 2003. It will be built on the National Mall
National Mall
The National Mall is an open-area national park in downtown Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. The National Mall is a unit of the National Park Service , and is administered by the National Mall and Memorial Parks unit...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. In 2006, the Smithsonian's Board of Regents selected a 5 acres (2 ha) site near the grounds of the Washington Monument
Washington Monument
The Washington Monument is an obelisk near the west end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate the first U.S. president, General George Washington...
and the National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History
The National Museum of American History: Kenneth E. Behring Center collects, preserves and displays the heritage of the United States in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history. Among the items on display are the original Star-Spangled Banner and Archie Bunker's...
. The boundaries of the site are Constitution Avenue
Constitution Avenue
In Washington, D.C., Constitution Avenue is a major east-west street running just north of the United States Capitol in the city's Northwest and Northeast quadrants...
on the north, Madison Drive on the south, 14th Street
14th Street Northwest and Southwest (Washington, D.C.)
Fourteenth Street is a street in Northwest and Southwest Washington, D.C., located 1¼ mi. west of the U.S. Capitol. It runs from the 14th Street Bridge north to Eastern Avenue....
, NW on the east, and 15th Street, NW on the west. Construction is expected to begin in 2012. Architect David Adjaye
David Adjaye
David Adjaye OBE is a British architect.-Early life:David Adjaye was born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The son of a Ghanaian diplomat who has lived in Tanzania, Egypt, Yemen and Lebanon before moving to Britain at the age of nine, he led a privileged life and was privately educated...
designed the building, which features a crown motif from Yoruban
Yoruba Culture
Yoruba culture refers to the idiosyncratic cultural norms of Yorubaland and the Yoruba people.-Sculpture:The Yoruba are said to be prolific sculptors, famous for their magnificent terra cotta works throughout the 12th and 14th century; artists also harnests their capacity in making artwork out of...
sculpture.
The museum was established on December 19, 2003, through the National Museum of African American History and Culture Act. Dr. Lonnie G. Bunch was selected as the museum's first director in July 2005.
In 2007 the National Museum of African American History and Culture became the first major museum to open on the Web before completing a physical structure. The website includes the museum's first exhibit, mounted in New York. It is also designed to encourage collaboration between scholars and the public. The museum is slated to be finished by 2015.
The main feature of the web-based initiative is the Memory Book application, which allows individuals to contribute to the website via pictures, a story, or audio application, to spotlight unique experiences in African-American culture. Physical exhibits will also be mounted in other institutions of the Smithsonian, such as the galleries dedicated to the NMAAHC in the National Museum of American History, as well as in museums outside of Washington pending completion of the museum's new building.