This bill would create the African Burial Ground International Memorial Museum and Educational Center at the African Burial Ground National Monument in Lower Manhattan, New York. It directs the Secretary of the Interior, working with the General Services Administration and an advisory council, to acquire nearby property (including 22 Reade Street or other land in the National Historic Landmark), plan, design, and build the museum. The museum would be associated with the National Museum of African American History and Culture and would hold permanent and temporary exhibits, collections, research, and educational programs about the African cultural traditions and the history of slavery.
The Secretary would operate the museum in consultation with the African Burial Ground Advisory Council and the African Burial Ground Memorial Foundation. The museum site would be incorporated into the National Monument and managed as part of it. The bill establishes the Advisory Council membership, appointment terms, duties, and meeting schedule; requires the Secretary to appoint a Director and up to two staff members; and authorizes the museum to accept gifts, loans, and donations. The bill also authorizes federal funding and allows the Secretary to enter agreements with State and City partners and private organizations.
If enacted, the museum would be a public memorial and education center in Lower Manhattan focused on the people buried at the African Burial Ground and on the history and cultural traditions of enslaved Africans and African Americans. The site would provide exhibits, collections, research, and outreach programs. The museum would be run by the National Park Service (the Secretary of the Interior) with advice from the Advisory Council, and it would work with other museums, schools, and community groups. Members of the public would have opportunities for input through the Advisory Council process and could visit the museum and its exhibits once open.
The bill authorizes $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and "such sums as are necessary" for later years to carry out the act. It authorizes such sums as are necessary for acquiring the museum site. The Secretary would pay two-thirds of the total costs for acquiring property and for planning, designing, constructing, reconstructing, and renovating the museum. Funds made available would remain available until spent. The bill also allows use of funds to raise private money, support curriculum development and outreach, establish a dedicated visitor center, and support long-term sustainability. No other specific cost estimates or total project cost figures are provided in the bill text.
The bill's findings say the African Burial Ground holds remains of up to 20,000 enslaved Africans and early-generation African Americans and is a nationally significant site. Supporters argue a memorial museum would honor those individuals, help people understand the past, examine the institution of slavery and African cultural traditions, and strengthen partnerships with the Smithsonian, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, local governments, and private organizations. The bill notes such a museum could attract visitors and contribute to Lower Manhattan revitalization.
No publicly available information.