National African American History Museum Opens: 'The Only Place on Earth Where this Story Could Have Unfolded'

WASHINGTON, DC — The National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall became a reality Saturday when President Obama declared it open, nearly 100 years after it was first proposed by black civil war veterans and 13 years after it was established by law by then-President George W. Bush.

Those lucky enough to attend the grand opening of the museum had a front-seat view to history. Obama declared the museum open with help from four members of the Bonner family, the eldest of whom, Ruth Bonner, was the daughter of Elijah Odom, a man born a slave in Mississippi. Together, Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Ruth Bonner and little Christine Bonner rang a bell from the first Baptist church in Virginia, declaring the museum open.

The opening kicked off with dance and musical performances by black artists, a celebration of black culture and a visual representation of the rights that African-Americans have strived to achieve. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser spoke at the opening, saying black men and women "now and forever have a place on the mall to call their own." Some of the other high profile guests in attendance include former President George Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush, former President Bill Clinton, U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker Paul Ryan and former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

"As long as there is a United States of America, there will be a national museum of African American history and culture," said Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), who was a pivotal figure in making the museum come to life. Lewis was also one of the leaders who helped organize the 1963 March on Washington.

Lewis said the museum was more than a building. "It is a dream come true," he said.

That sentiment and the importance of the museum beyond it being just a piece of architecture, was repeated by the speakers at Saturday's ceremony.

"My first reaction is I hope all our fellow citizens come and look at this place," former President George W. Bush said. "It is fabulous"

The museum owns close to 37,000 objects thanks to institutional support and with the help of donors. On display are objects that document the African American journey from the south, the west, covering the civil rights movement, slavery and segregation. The museum also celebrates African American culture from music and photography to literature.

Bush gave just three simple reasons he feels Americans should visit the museum. The first, he said, is that is shows America's commitment to truth.

"The price of our union was America's original sin," Bush said.

The second was that it shows America's capacity to change and finally because it showcases some of the great talents of the country.

The museum opened during a time when tensions are once again elevated in the country after the fatal shootings by police of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Keith Scott in Charlotte, North Carolina. The timing of the opening was not lost on Obama. Speaking at the opening, he said the museum and the story it tells provides a context "for the debates of our times."

Visiting the museum, Obama said, could perhaps help white visitors understand the pain and anger of demonstrators in places like Ferguson and Charlotte.

"But it can also help black visitors appreciate the fact that not only is this younger generation carrying on traditions of the past but, within the white communities across this nation we see the sincerity of law enforcement officers and officials who, in fits and starts, are struggling to understand, and are trying to do the right thing," he said.

He stressed that protest and love of country inform each other.

"It is how we can wear an 'I Can't Breathe' shirt and still breathe for fallen police officers," he said.

In his weekly address, Obama said the museum embraces the patriotic recognition that America is a constant work in progress. He repeated those words at Saturday's ceremony.

The museum, he said, won't alleviate poverty from every inner city, it won't take away gun violence from neighborhoods, it won't ensure that justice is always colorblind or take away every moment of discrimination in a job interview, a sentencing hearing or from when someone is trying to rent an apartment.

"Those things are up to us," he said. "The decisions and choices we make."

What the museum does show, Obama said, is that in even the face of oppression, even in the face of unimaginable difficulty, America has moved forward. America is a country that is full of contradictions, something that is also true for the African American experience.

"I too, am American," he said. "It is a glorious story, the one that's told here, it is complicated, it is messy and it is full of contradictions, as all great stories are." He said African Americans helped create cities, erect industries and build the arsenals of democracy, saying that their story was not an underside to the American story but central to it.

"That’s what you’ll see inside," he said in his weekly address. "You’ll see it in the shackles of an enslaved child and in the hope of Harriet Tubman’s gospel hymnal. You’ll see it in the tragedy of Emmett Till’s coffin and in the resilience of a lunch counter stool and in the triumph of a Tuskegee Airplane. You’ll see it in the shadow of a prison guard tower and in the defiance of Jesse Owens’ cleats and in the American pride of Colin Powell’s uniform."

America would walk away better for it, because of the museum and the better grasp on history it would provide, he said.

"We'll walk away that much more in love with this country, the only place on Earth where this story could have unfolded," Obama said.

By Feroze Dhanoa/Patch

See the full opening grand opening below:

If you plan on visiting the museum, there's a few things you should be aware of:

LOCATION: The museum is located at 1400 Constitution Ave. in Washington, D.C, just a few hundred feet away from the Washington Monument. The distinctive structure is impossible to miss. The two entrances to the museum can be found on Madison Avenue and on Constitution Avenue.

TRANSPORTATION: It is highly advisable that you take the Metro to the event. With tens of thousands of people expected and lots of road closures, traffic will be an absolute nightmare, and parking will be even worse. Instead, take a ride on Metro's Blue or Orange lines to either the Federal Triangle or Smithsonian stops, both of which are only about a block away from the museum. It's probably a good idea to get there early.

WEATHER: The event will be held rain or shine, but fortunately, things are looking good for Saturday. Temperatures will top out at 80 degrees, and the skies will be mostly sunny with only a 10 percent chance of rain.

TOUR LENGTH: There's no set tour length, as you move at your own pace, but keep in mind this will not be a normal museum visit; you'll be packed in with thousands of other visitors. There are 85,000 square feet of exhibition space on five floors, so there's certainly plenty to keep you busy as long as you'd like.

FOOD: You cannot bring your own food or beverages into the museum, and coolers are not allowed, period. The museum has a 400-seat restaurant called Sweet Home Cafe — however, you may experience long wait times due to the crowds. It might be better to eat before or after you go.

BANNED ITEMS: You can find a full list of banned items on the museum's website, but generally use common sense: don't bring weapons, animals, alcohol, bicycles, drones, fireworks, mace, portable chairs or anything else you'd expect not to be able to bring into a museum. However, be sure to review the full list, because there may be a few things that aren't allowed that may surprise you, such as tripods, selfie sticks or thermal containers.

PHOTOS AND VIDEOS: Still photos and videos for noncommercial use are permitted in Smithsonian museums unless otherwise posted. You may not take photos of fine art, however.

Image via Wikimedia user Fuzheado