After several years of planning and work, the African American Civil War Museum is pleased to announce that construction is underway on the historic Grimke building.

The public is invited to join Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Founding Director Dr. Frank Smith at the Museum for a groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for this Thursday, October 17, 2019, at 4:00pm, at 1925 Vermont Ave, NW Washington, DC 20001.

The building will be the permanent home of a more expanded museum, which will include three exhibit galleries and extensive programming space to accommodate an ever-growing visitorship.

The staff will begin the move into the Museum's newly renovated space by September 2020 in preparation for a grand opening during Black History Month of 2021. Visitors to the Museum during the renovation period will be welcomed and have the opportunity to see aspects of the Museum's new exhibitions unfold as collections are prepared for their new home.

A formal Groundbreaking Event has been planned by Mayor Muriel Bowser, Community Three Development and the African American Civil War Museum, for Thursday, October 17, 2019, at 4:00 pm. A reception will follow the events inside the Museum.

"It feels fantastic," said Dr. Frank Smith, the Founding Director of the Museum. "This is a much anticipated and long-awaited milestone in the re-development of this historic building."

The Museum and Memorial have been a fixture in the U Street community for the past 21 years. The mission of the African American Civil War Museum is to correct a great wrong in history that largely ignored the enormous contributions of the 209,145 members of the United States Colored Troops.

Please RSVP to The Groundbreaking at grimke.eventbrite.com.

African American Civil War Museum

1925 Vermont Ave, NW

Washington, DC 20001

202-667-2667

FrankSmith@Afroamcivilwar.org