Grand Reopening 3-Day Family Festival and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

• 8:30-10 AM: Official Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony: Outside near the Mall entrance (Rain location: 1st floor, Constitution Ave. lobby) -- 8:30 AM: Museum director Brent Glass, Smithsonian Secretary G. Wayne Clough, and other special guests officially reopen the Museum.
- Performances by the Children's Chorus of Washington and the Federal City Brass Band
- A 20-minute aerial demonstration by the U.S. Army's Golden Knights Parachute Team and the firing of an authentic War of 1812 cannon
-- 9:10 AM: A reading of the Gettysburg Address by General Colin L. Powell (US Army, Retired). - Ribbon Cutting follows. Afterwards, follow a procession of historical characters into the building.

• 10 AM-7 PM: Grand Reopening Festival: Hear performances of jazz, blues, Latin music, 19th-century string band music, "freedom songs" of the Civil Rights Movement, and military music. Meet actors impersonating Mary Pickersgill, who made the Star-Spangled Banner in 1813; take part in the sit-ins of the Civil Rights Movement; hear an address by George Washington; and assist Ft. McHenry Honor Guard to fold a 30 x 42-foot replica of the Star-Spangled Banner. Have your photo taken with George Washington, R2D2, and other historical characters in front of the Museum's iconic landmark objects. Examine everyday objects for clues about the people who made and used them and explore the experience of various Americans -- such as soldiers -- throughout history at artifact and destination carts. And there's much more! Come celebrate the National Museum of American History's reopening with us!

Schedule of today's activities available at the 2nd floor Welcome Center or the 1st floor Information Desk.
Free Rain location for Ribbon Cutting, see Note
Continues Nov. 22 & 23
See related Photographic Light Show this evening, 5-10 PM