The life and career of President Obama will become a major part of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. The museum, which is scheduled to open in 2015, has been collecting Obama-related artifacts since his nomination as the 2008 Democratic candidate, according to reports.

The museum began construction in 2012 and will be completed in 2015. The president attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the museum and delivered an address. At the time, the museum had an estimated price tag of $500 million.


The museum’s collections are expected to include artifacts relating to African American history and culture. It already has a gallery space in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

Situated near the Washington Monument, the new museum was designed by a team lead by architect David Adjaye.


The Washington Post reported that the museum’s Obama collection now has about 300 artifacts, portions of which will eventually be displayed in the museum’s history gallery. Staff from the museum recently worked the crowds at this week’s inauguration, looking for memorabilia and other objects to add to the collection, according to an Associated Press report.

ALSO:


Obama’s 2013 budget calls for 5% increase for arts and culture

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


Obama to speak at African American history museum’s groundbreaking

MORE

INTERACTIVE: Christopher Hawthorne’s On the Boulevards



VOTE: What’s the best version of ‘O Holy Night’?




PHOTOS: Arts and culture in pictures