African American Civil War Museum Ready For Grand Opening

WASHINGTON - The African American Civil War Museum is reopening in a new location in D.C. to give it more space for exhibits and programs.

The ribbon cutting is scheduled for Monday, July 18, but museum organizers have put together an entire weekend of events to mark the opening of the new location, according to a local news station report.

At the site of the new museum on Vermont Avenue and U Street NW (map), there are already American flags and red, white, and blue bunting hanging on the gates.

Organizers say the new location, a former school building, has about seven times the amount of space as the old location.

The museum is dedicated to exploring and honoring the lives of African American soldiers who fought in the Civil War. More than 200,000 names are engraved in the Wall of Honor at the memorial, which is located across the street from the new museum.

The renovations have cost a total of $5 million; there will be interactive displays, rare and historic documents, and exhibits of Black Civil War artifacts and images.

Their Web site says:

“We Have Moved to the new space at 1925 Vermont Ave NW Washington, DC 20001. The new location will be our permanent home. It is located across the street from the African American Civil War Memorial. We have some great events leading up to the Grand Opening, July 16-18. Be sure to save the date.”