President Obama To Attend Groundbreaking of African American Museum

The Smithsonian Institution announced Wednesday that President Obama will deliver remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), February 22nd starting at 10:00 am.

Actress Phylicia Rashad will be the emcee and musical performers include Denyce Graves, Thomas Hampson, jazz pianist Jason Moran, Stanley Thurston and Howard University Jazz ensemble-Afro Blue.

The construction site of the NMAAHC is at 14th Street and Constitution Avenue N.W. on the National Mall between the Washington Monument and the National Museum of American History.

The Freelon Adjaye Bond/Smith Group designed building will be the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, art, history and culture and will be the first green building on the National Mall.

The museum is scheduled to open in 2015. The event is by invitation only and not open to the public. The ceremony will be webcast.