President barack obama, former first lady laura bush, congressman john lewis, governor sam brownbeck, mayor vincent gray, the smithsonian and the museums leadership, broke ground right here on this spot for this museum, the National Museum of africanAmerican History and culture. Today, as you can see the building is nearing completion, and in the next ten months, well finish the interior, install the exhibits, and by september 2016, open the doors to welcome the public. Today, we mark a milestone in our progress by commemorating three, three annual anniversaries the 150th anniversary of the end of the civil war and the ratification of the constitutions 13th amendment ending slavery, and also, the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights act. These are signal events in American History and help define who we are as a freedomseeking people. Now you can read about them in a book and we certainly want people to read books, but the way we as a country publicly commemorate and celebrate our Major National milestones and encourage their widespread understanding, is evident here on the National Mall in our national monuments, memorials, and museums. Now sometimes africanAmerican History, culture, experience and perspective has been forgotten or ignored on this National Mall, the slave pens and Auction Markets of the 19th century, for example, but this mall has also hosted those moments when the national thirst for freedom trumped racism, prejudice, and intolerance. Singing on the steps of the lincoln memorial, for example. Our National Museums, too, reflect this mixed history, the Smithsonian Castle was built with sand stone quarried by enslaved workers. The first head of the smithsonian would not let Frederick Douglas speak at the smithsonian. Through the late 1940s, curators refused to accept important africanamerican items into the collections like a medal of honor awarded to an africanamerican civil war hero. And even decades ago, the idea of a museum documenting the africanamerican experience was killed in congress. Yet, now, portraits of accomplished africanamericans now grace our National Portrait gallery and last night, Aretha Franklin sang there with tremendous grace. And exhibits in the American History museum like the greensboro lunch counter helped tell the story of the Civil Rights Movement and now we have this museum arisen on the mall, certainly to broaden the historical record, but also to ensure that the stories and accomplishments of today and tomorrow, will be told, providing insight and inspiring our National Conscious into the future. Building this museum takes a huge effort. Were grateful to the American People, the leadership of president s bush and obama, the u. S. Congress, the museums council, lead donors and literally tens of thousands of contributors. We recognize the support of the District Of Columbia and, of course, our staff. We recognize the designers david agi, max freeland, and the workers that built this museum. Its lonnie bunch, the director, whos lived this museum every minute of every day over the past decade and hes poured his mind, spirit and soul into it. Hes hired and led a talented staff, raised the money, developed the program, and acquired over 30,000 art facts and artworks, including that dress that Marian Anderson wore Easter Sunday afternoon at the lincoln memorial. Beyond the museum, thousands from across the smithsonian and the regions, engineers, contract officers, curators and conserve tors have lent their hand to raise up this museum. Leading that effort, is david scoreton, the secretary of the smithsonian. Davids connection to the museum ideals goes back long and deep and was recently celebrated at his installation ceremony when his friend, jazz great winston mar sal less, joyously played another one of those museums great treasures, lonnie bunch and his staff took that trumpet of Louis Armstrong and had him play it to show that this culture, this culture, is very much alive in our nations capital. Please welcome the smithsonian secretary, david scoreton. [ applause ] thank you, richard, and welcome everyone and good evening. Welcome to a proud new chapter, not only for the smithsonian, but most importantly, a proud new chapter in the history of this country. Im so honored to be here with you to sees the birth of this museum, this shimmering bronze monument to the struggles and sacrifices of so many comes closer to revealing its heart and soul to the American People and to visitors from around the world. This museum will shed light on the stories that belong to the ages simple, complex, powerful, poignant stories stories of the enslaved whose shackles could not break their spirit and of the visionaries who were defined by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. Enduring stories of contributions to history, art, the sciences, and culture. These are the stories of the africanamerican experience, yes, but they also expand the american story and each one of us benefits. When this museum opens just a few short months from now, director lonnie bunch and his dedicated and very talent staff, will breathe life into that story with exhibitions, be sim pose ya, programming and collections and these collections will be like no other in the world. Tonight, that story will be illuminated on the corona of this beautiful building, larger than life, for all the world to begin to see. Thank you for joining us today to experience thetestory tellin power of this majestic new museum. Thank you. Story telling power of this majestic new museum. Thank you. Please welcome to the stage the mayor of the District Of Columbia the honorable mural bowser. Sp well, good evening, everybody. I am so proud and happy to be here and i want to thank the secretary and everybody at the smithsonian, director bunch, congratulations, were moving yet another step closer to being able to see the to see the rich history alive and well in this building in washington, d. C. , our nations capital. I want to thank all the people who have supported and worked and had businesses that made this building behind us possible. And im so looking forward its opening its doors. Well be able to know about the history and struggle the africanAmerican People. I know im biased. I get to represent 660,000 people who call d. C. Home. But i can think of no more Perfect Place for this museum. For more than two centuries, washington has played a pivotal role in the story of africanAmerican People. Serving as a National Stage to our struggle and to our progress. But less told is the history beyond this green wall and of these federal buildings. Washington has deep and rich africanamerican roots. Tonight, we stand in the shadow of buildings largely constructed by slaves who labored and lived right here in the district. In fact, washington slaves were among the first in the nation to be freed. And because our laws did not require the newly freed to leave the city, many stayed and our population swelled. Raising their families in neighborhoods, real neighborhoods all across washington. They became clerks and teachers and bus drivers and doctors and academics. They built the city we now call home. And by the mid 20th century, d. C. Was the first predominantly black city in the United States. Some of our most significant leaders in the Civil Rights Movement from marian barry and Eleanor Holmes noorton made their marks here. And today, that torch continues to be carried by leaders who want to commit to making sure that our nation provides every opportunity to every american willing to work hard for it. Our city is a political town. But were far more than the congress in the white house. We are a city of music and culture and great diversity. Many of you will remember when u street was known as black broadway. I dont. But i am grateful i dont. That that history will be preserved here. Th is a city where Duke Ellington and others got their starts. Where people came to really celebrate the history of africanamericans. We put washington on the map of africanamerican higher education, as well. Like communities across the country, africanamericans in d. C. Faced our share of segregation and discrimination throughout the decades. And much like other communities, we persevered. Were building a strong middle class and we contribute to the economic growth, vibrancy and political life of our nations capital. Today, the africanamerican story is our nations story. We have experienced tremendous but on even progress. There are wide gaps in Economic Conditions in education and in health. Im committed to closing those gaps so all of our residents regardless of background can reach their full potential. My family has been in this town for five generations. Ask as i like to say, were not going anywhere. We have been witnessed, we have participated in the growth of this city. When the doors open, i cant wait to bring generations of washingtonians to celebrate that history. To remember our struggle and progress, and recognize our story is not yet complete. On behalf of all of us in washington, d. C. , our great neighborhoods and dare i speak for future washingtonians and the visitors that will come to their National Mall to celebrate the great American History that theyll do so right here. Please welcome the intrepid founding director of the smithsonian National Museum of africanAmerican History and culture, lonnie bunch. Oh, please, thank you. Thank you. Im just some guy from jersey. Im not sure what intrepid means. I want to welcome you to the very first event at the National Museum of africanAmerican History and culture. Let me say it one more time. The very first event. Its been a long wait. And ten years ago we began this journey with a staff of two. We had no idea where the building would be. No collections and no money. Ten years ago all we had was a dream. But tonight, we celebrate the realization of that dream. We are not at the promise land yet, but were close. Tonight we commemorate the importance, the power and the meaning of freedom. A term that was made real only to those to whom freedom was denied. The importance of freedom and the need to struggle to help america live up to its stated ideals is captured in a song by my dear friend, Bernice Johnson regan. Im not going to sing, so dont worry. She wrote, we who believe in freedom will not rest. We who believe in freedom will not rest until it comes. So tonight, we honor three moments where freedom came. Not as a gift, but as a result of sacrifice and struggle. We remember the 150th anniversary of the end of the civil war. A war that was a watershed that ushered in a new world of possibility. And we remember the ratification of the 13th amendment. An amendment consisting of only a few words. Marked a struggle of freed and enslaved people, to end what historians call americas original sin, the sin of slavery. And we acknowledge very proudly the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights act. That vital tool of democracy and freedom. Were also here to celebrate the completion of so much of the construction of this building. Im proud to say this is the first green museum on the mall. Yeah, im really pleased with that. And distinctive corona is comprised of a filigree inspired by the enslaved crafts people that created all that work in charleston and new orleans. In a way this building has a simple message. This building is a homage to the fact that so much of our history is hidden in plain sight. And we want to celebrate so much of that history. And candidly, were here tonight because of the support and generosity of so many of you. Obviously the counsel, people who have been with us for more than a decade who have given their time and support to make this work. And i want to thank all the donors, the donors that have given millions of dollars and the donors that have reached into their pocket and given us a little bit of change. Because we are here because all of you care. And i especially want to acknowledge our largest donor, the congress of the United States. Been very supportive of what we do. And i would be remiss if i didnt thank the smithsonian board of regents, richard kiran, and the smithsonian family who have rallied around this. But i must admit, i hold a special affection for the staff of the National Museum of africanAmerican History and culture. Thank you. Their grace, their commitment, their ability to work and put themselves second is a key reason why were here tonight. And i want to thank all of my staff, and i want to thank those who worked so hard to make tonight happen. Especially tasha coleman. And derek ross. Theyre so crucial to this. And as we look at this building, i cant help but think and marvel at the architectural creativity of the smith group. The architects that made this vision real. And i have to be honest, i have to always acknowledge john lewis. Who fought so hard to make this country right and to make this museum real. So thank you, congressman. And my family thanks you because i needed the job. So i appreciate that. We are at this moment, because were standing on the shoulders of those who paved the way. Tonight, we are so fortunate to have in attendance, some of the pioneers of the africanamerican museum field. Because at a time like this, i think of john canard who fought battles at the smithsonian so i wouldnt have to. Who made the smithsonian so much better. And i think of people like Charles Wright and joan maynard, and people who meant so much to me and the fact that weve lost so many. Recently, lost rowena steward and paul steward. Some of the greatest leaders in this field. I think i can say candidly that without those who built those museums, there would be no National Museum of africanAmerican History and culture. And i know that some of my colleagues from the museum feel theyre here. So if you could rise and let us recognize you. Those who are with the africanamerican museum field. Thank you all. So we are at this moment because of Frederick Douglas and harriet tubman. Because of ida b. Wells. Emma till and maybee till mobley and langston hughes. And were here because of the courage and the sacrifice of a james chaney, of an andrew goodman, michael swarner. And were here because of the belief and vision of Martin Luther king and an ella baker. But were also at this moment because there were amazing historians who paved the way. Were here because of Latisha Brown who taught and helped us understand the history of black d. C. And benjamin quarrels and john hope franklin. The people that helped shape us. But were also here because theres so many people whose names didnt make the history books. Were here because of the enslaved who believed in a better day when they shouldnt have believed. Were here because of families that left the south for the south side of chicago to demand freedom and fairness. Were here because of students who left Brandeis University to go south to help with voter registration. And were here, quite candidly, because of generations of black teachers who refuse despite textbooks and segregated schools to let their students accept societys notions of their inferiority. We celebrate the power of memory. After all, there is nothing more powerful than a people, than a nation steeped in its history and there are few things as noble as honoring all of our ancestors by remembering. So tonight, let us remember. Thank you. Thank you. As you know, were here to commemorate and celebrate freedom. And thinking about all that was shed on that journey, we think about many people who risked it all for us. So its humbling and beautiful to have the honor to bring up to the podium, a person who lived and fought the journey through the 60s and helped write that history. Ladies and gentlemen, our congressional delegate to the United States congress from the District Of Columbia, the honorable Eleanor Holmes noorton. Thank you. Thank you so much for that gracious introduction. Is before i say my few minutes of remarks, i must say lonnie bunch, that when it comes to building an institution, it is seldom that we have the whole package in one person. And lonnie bunch, we had the vision from the inside. In lonie bunch, we had the professionalism to build this museum from the outside. Lonnie bunch, you have made history by being the entire package that has built this institution. Lonnie told me for years he wanted d. C. Residents to be the First Americans to come to the site of this new National Museum of africanAmerican History. And culture. Ever the visionary. More than the location of the museum in our city, lonnie understands that the