National Museum of African American History and Culture

The need for a distinct museum in the Smithsonian to tell the story of the African American experience in the United States was clear to many by the early 2000s. But a key question remained—who would the museum be for? The African American community? Or for the community and as a tool to engage a wide range of Americans in the lives and experiences of African Americans?

Guy Hermann used this question to set the direction of the planning team that developed the Comprehensive Master Plan and Feasibility Study for the National Museum of African American History and Culture, a proposed new Smithsonian Museum. The team worked with Presidential Commission members, Senators, and members of Congress to create an operational plan, coordinate the program planning, assess the potential visitation, and consider potential museum sites on the National Mall. The results were integrated into a comprehensive report to the President and to Congress. The report led to the authorization for a new 350,000 square foot museum in which is now open on a prominent site between the National Museum of American History and the Washington Monument. Since opening in 2016, the museum has quickly become one of the most visited on the mall and has received wide acclaim for its approach to exhibits and collections.