The president was joined on stage by first lady Michelle Obama and former first lady Laura Bush during the groundbreaking ceremony for the National Museum of African American History and Culture. President Obama called the museum a “celebration of life” during the groundbreaking event for the 19th Smithsonian Museum on February 22, 2012.
C. Forbes, Inc. was selected by the Smithsonian Events Committee to assist with the design and production of the lapel pin for the ceremony, along with a number of additional commemorative items. C. Forbes, Inc. president Chip Forbes said that, “we are honored to have played a role in another event held on the mall in Washington, D.C. Our firm is proud to have supported a number of historical events that include the dedication ceremony of the World War II Memorial, 50th Anniversary of the Korean War ceremony and several Presidential Inaugurals.”
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is scheduled to open in 2016. The museum will showcase items such as Harriet Tubman’s shawl, Nat Turner’s Bible, and an airplane flown by the Tuskegee Airmen. The museum to date has collected more than 20,000 artifacts.