Obama opened the first museum of African American history and culture

Washington - The first African American president of the United States, Barack Obama, officially opened the first national museum of African American history and culture in the United States today in Washington. His predecessor in the presidential office, George W. Bush, also attended the event. It was he who signed the law in 2003 that allowed for the construction of the museum.

The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, which cost $540 million (13 billion CZK) to build, was designed by British architect David Adjaye.

The museum is located in Washington's National Mall park near the White House. It houses approximately 36,000 artifacts, from goods intended for trade for slaves in Africa to a racially segregated train car from the 1920s and a red convertible belonging to rock and roll pioneer Chuck Berry.

African American veterans of the Civil War first proposed the establishment of an African American museum back in 1915. However, the American Congress only approved the creation of such a museum in 2003.