By Amber Broaden, News Editor
Posted 10:51 PM EST, Thurs., Sept. 22, 2016
D.C.’s Host Committee held a press conference that gave a full list of details surrounding the events leading up to the and during the September 24 official opening ceremonies of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture on Wednesday, Sept. 7.
The Hosting Committee has been constructed in order to coordinate satellite events and distribute public information on the extensive activities and logistics that will be occurring upon the NMAAHC launch. The committee also plans to have activities that highlight D.C. and the museums that are already in the community, leading into the opening.
“We wanted everyone to understand that the District of Columbia’s metropolitan area is celebrating the opening of this phenomenal events with other events that celebrate African-American culture and history,” said Karen Harris, chair of communications for the D.C. Host Committee.
Charles “Chuck” Hicks, chair of the D.C. Black History Celebration Committee, and Frank Smith, director of the African-American Civil War Museum and co-chair of the D.C. Host Committee, created this experience to celebrate the recent national achievement of the grand opening of the National African-American History and Culture museum in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia area.
“With at least 100,000 anticipated to attend the museum, the city decided to host activities that would fundraise in order to show tourists more than D.C.’s mall, but landmarks, museums and other attraction,” said Hicks.
Upon the opening of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African-American History and Culture museum on Saturday, Sept. 24, the D.C. Hosting Committee anticipates welcoming activities that will be hosted at throughout the DMV area between Sept. 18 to Oct. 2.
“We are the welcome party for the new Museum, and we are happy to have this new museum among our ranks,” said Smith. “This grand opening will increase the amount of African-American participation in our museum community in Washington, D.C., which has traditionally been underrepresented.”
“This is a great opportunity for the Smithsonian and the city to bring people together to see this landmark.” said Dr. Smith. “People are calling me from Japan, Novaschocha, France, who are planning to come and nonprofit organizations are planning for the next year to also bring people.”
The committee is responsible for planning fundraisers for major events throughout the District of Columbia, will have watch parties, concerts, festivals and receptions that will be hosted along U Street and in other parts of D.C.
The activities will be a celebration of the educational aspects of Black culture throughout the NMAAHC museum, and the city’s host committee is excited to help pronounce these facets through sponsoring other local organizations who are also memorializing the opening.
“We are looking for people to reach out to us that are celebrating this event’s opening in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area,” said Harris. “Many times our stories are put under the radar, especially when talking about the media; that is why we encourage local organizations to embrace this ceremony.”
For further information, please visit or call dchost.org or (202) 232-4288.
