Obama to speak at African American history museum’s groundbreaking

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

President Obama will speak at the official groundbreaking next week for the Smithsonian’s new African American history museum in Washington, museum officials announced.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture will be situated on the National Mall and is expected to be completed by 2015 at an estimated price cost of $500 million, half of which is expected to be paid by the government.

Obama is expected to be joined at the Feb. 22 ceremony by former First Lady Laura Bush and by actress and director Phylicia Rashad.

The museum will document the life, art, history and culture of African-Americans. Work has already begun on the site, which is near the Washington Monument.

The fiscal 2013 federal budget proposed by the president this week calls for $857 million for the Smithsonian, including $85 million to continue construction on the museum.

Architect David Adjaye is the lead designer on the project, according to the museum. The architectural team consists of four firms -- Freelon Group, Adjaye Associates, Davis Brody Bond and SmithGroup.

RELATED:

Sarah Palin criticizes Obama holiday card -- and the dog

Racist image of Michelle Obama based on Versailles painting

Obama family’s White House holiday card is L.A. artist’s design

-- David Ng