Today was a great day in the nation's capitol where thousands of people gathered to witness the grand opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. It's been a long time coming. The idea for this particular institution was first proposed more than 100 years ago. It took 13 years for the doors to finally open after the plans for its creation were approved by Congress. Many have taken to Twitter to celebrate the momentous occasion with the hashtag #APeoplesJourney.
"There were some who said it couldn’t happen, who said ‘you can’t do it,’ but we did it,” Congressman John Lewis, one of the main driver's behind the museum's creation, told the Washington Post. “This place is more than a building. It is a dream come true.”
The keynote speaker for the event was, fittingly, the nation's first black president, Barack Obama. He formally opened the museum by ringing the "Freedom Bell," which was taken from the First Baptist Church in Williamsburg, Va. that was organized by slaves in 1776. "We're not a burden on America or a stain on America or an object of shame and pity for America. We are America. And that’s what this museum explains," the President said. "It helps us better understand the lives, yes, of a president, but also the slave. The industrialist, but also the worker. The teacher or the cook, alongside the story of the statesman...By understanding this story, it binds us together and reaffirms we are all Americans."
Read some of the reactions to the museum's grand opening below:
You can watch President Obama's remarks, as well as those from other speakers, in the video above.