Congratulations, DU African Americans. This is long overdue.

[lindysalsagal]

And needs to be here now.
?1441225503

[malaise]

1. Am watching the opening

on CSpan - magnificent

[lindysalsagal]

2. Beautiful. I think MSNBC should run it live, but no luck.

[femmocrat]

3. Dos anyone know why the Bushes are there?

Did it start under his administration?

Beautiful ceremony.

[lindysalsagal]

5. Yes. He actually spoke well. Laura must have written it.

But he sounded sincere.

[ButSeeYa]

16. Yes...

Laura Bush was on the Board of Trustees.

[redstatebluegirl]

26. Not a fan of his but he signed the bill when he was in office in 2003.

[JI7]

32. i think everyone should go there. black history is American history

[mountain grammy]

44. Yes, and he held firm about keeping it on the Mall

No fan of W, but I'll give him credit for his efforts, something he and Laura seem to be especially proud of. This was a great ceremony. I watched streamed live on the White House FB page.

[shireen]

4. Those bells had me in tears

It was so touching.

Watching them walk in ... wow.

Just beautiful.

[calimary]

17. I got choked up, too! When that family with the grandma - who was the daughter of a slave

got up and walked over to ring the bell with the Obamas.

Something in my eye.

BTW - lindysalsagal, thanks for that photo in the OP. I had been wondering what the exterior looked like, close up. All the coverage of it, and the shots of it, were from enough of a distance that you couldn't really tell what the exterior walls looked like. They're BEAUTIFUL. Like hundreds of lace panels, interlaced. Perhaps there's a metaphor in that?

[ANOIS]

35. To me, it's also reminiscent of

Timbuktu &/or a slave ship, depending on how you see it.

The interlaced patterns remind me of African fabrics.

But it is its own building, one of such accomplishment.

[calimary]

38. Welcome to DU, ANOIS!

You're right! It does remind me of African fabrics, too. It's really lovely. So intricate. Solid yet delicate.

[ANOIS]

46. Thanks. I don't post much, but have been here quite awhile.

Keep up the good work, Calimary.

[lapucelle]

31. The Catholic church a few blocks away from me

sounded its carillon bells. It played "Let There Be Peace on Earth". It was beautiful

[lindysalsagal]

6. Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture

https://nmaahc.si.edu/

Great site!

[redwitch]

7. I can't wait to go.

The building alone looks worth visiting, just amazing! I am overdue for a visit to D.C.

[lindysalsagal]

8. It's sold out for months. Gotta book it way ahead.

I'll take my grandchildren in about 12 years.

[redwitch]

11. How far ahead?????

12 years? It will be awhile before I can get there but I hope sooner than that!

[BumRushDaShow]

13. They had timed tickets

so they will probably continue to do that for some time.

[redwitch]

15. I am content to wait until the crowds become manageable.

In the meantime I will surf the web to look at images.

[BumRushDaShow]

18. Me too!

I know it'll be crazy there for awhile and they will probably be tweaking the exhibits and crowd flow.

[HipChick]

20. I'm local in DC and got tickets for this Monday

but now, tickets may be as far out as Nov

[kwassa]

23. Weekdays are easy, weekends are booked. We visit October 15th.

[BumRushDaShow]

24. I am a charter member and their initial email announcement had offered up to 6 tickets per order

for members on August 27th and those quickly ran out (leaving many upset folks). They then emailed on September 1st to offer more tickets on September 6th and I know those went quickly as well... but that email did note -

New extended hours will be available between September 24 and October 2, 2016. November and December passes will also be released at this same time.

I knew that I wouldn't be able to get down there for awhile so didn't avail myself but I'll get there eventually. Being from Philly, I am just a couple hours on I-95 by car from there. I know my BIL wants to go.

[LeftyMom]

40. Only a few months. Tickets for December are still available.

[Historic NY]

9. I can't wait to see it & I'm not AA....

but I do deal with the 18th century history of them in my community.

[Jade Fox]

10. agree!!

[asuhornets]

12. THANK YOU!!!! nt

[BumRushDaShow]

14. K&R

CSPAN will re-air the opening ceremony @ 8 pm ET tonight.

[GulfCoast66]

19. Great moment

100 years too late.

And the story told there is the story of all America including this descendant of people who must have participated in slavery.

I cannot wait to go to D.C. and visit. I will need a box of tissues I am sure because thinking about the suffering my ancestors caused and the strength and resilience of those enslaved always brings me to tears.

Have a nice weekend.

[lillypaddle]

21. K&R nt

[Hekate]

22. I really want to go back to DC just to see this museum, and revisit the others. Wonderful. nt

[Justice]

25. I drove by on Wednesday - just beautiful

[superpatriotman]

27. Must visit

next trip to DC

[underthematrix]

28. watching opening ceremonies and definitely plan to visit

[vlyons]

29. I was deeply moved by the ceremony

Teared up in several places. Congratulations Americans.

[tazkcmo]

30. Powerful.

Possibly more powerful than the Vietnam Memorial. Tears are flowing...

[smirkymonkey]

33. K&R

[Gothmog]

34. I really want to go spend some time at this national monument and museum

[classykaren]

36. This was not covered on Fox News.

[Kind of Blue]

37. Thanks very much for posting this beautiful shot!

I hope this site becomes a mecca for all African descent of the Diaspora to remember, gather strength, and to keep on pressing on.

[Laser102]

39. K&R!!

[Beartracks]

41. Artist's conception looks incredible. Is that....

... what it looks like? I didn't realize it was opening this weekend. Is that actually cotton growing in the beds around the building??

==============

[Lifelong Protester]

42. It looks beautiful.

I can't wait to visit it. Very nice opening ceremony today.

[cally]

43. I went to celebration in the mall

It was very powerful to watch President Obama on the jumbotrons with a large group of people. The crowd was primarily African American. It bothers me that so few whites showed up for this momentous event. We heard great music and storytelling. The celebration continues tomorrow. Locals should go!!

[mountain grammy]

45. I watched the ceremony streamed live on FB.

It was moving and wonderful. We'll visit next year. I'm so excited to see this museum, so long overdue.

[Sophiegirl]

47. I live in the DC suburbs

I can't wait to go. I'll hold off until the massive crowds are gone.