The National Museum for African American History and Culture

The museum, which on Tuesday announced a $12 million donation from Oprah Winfrey, is scheduled to open in 2015. The museum will underscore the challenge of interpreting the complex narrative arc of the black experience in America.

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A rendering view of the new National Museum of African American History and Culture, which is scheduled to open in 2015. The museum’s design is the result of an intense collaboration among Phil Freelon and two other black architects: David Adjaye and Max Bond.

Freelon Adjaye Bond/SmithGroup / Imaging Atelier

A rendering view of the National Museum of African American History and Culture from the promenade entry base.

Freelon Adjaye Bond/SmithGroup / Imaging Atelier

View of the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s building model designed by Freelon Adjaye Bond/SmithGroup. The group prevailed over 21 other star-studded architecture teams jampacked with names such as Richard Meier, I.M. Pei and Norman Foster.

Radii Inc.

Rendering view of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The museum, which is scheduled to open in 2015, will be sheathed in bronze-colored material rather than granite, marble or limestone.

Freelon Adjaye Bond/SmithGroup / Imaging Atelier

Construction continues on the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Workers are shown as construction continues on the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Construction continues on the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Lonnie Bunch, director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, displays some recently curated artifacts in November 2011. Among the items are Harriet Tubman's shawl, eating utensils and funeral photos, as well as a gospel hymns book and a wanted poster for runaway slaves.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

In this photo provided by the Smithsonian Institution, a framed portrait of Harriet Tubman is seen at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Michael R Barnes / AP

This 1830s bible was owned by Nat Turner and is a gift of Maurice A. Person and Noah and Brooke Porter.

Michael Barnes, Smithsonian Institution / Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture

In this photo provided by the Smithsonian Institution, Harriet Tubman’s Signed Hymn Book is seen at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Michael R Barnes / AP

A slave's Bill of Sale dated Dec. 23, 1851, is among the curated items for the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington.

Smithsonian Institution

Glenda the Good Witch costume from the musical “The Wiz,” 1975. The dress, designed by Geoffrey Holder, is from Lois Alexander Lane’s collection.

Don Hurlbert / Smithsonian Institution

The floral-print dress Rosa Parks was making shortly before she was arrested for not giving up her seat on a segregated bus in 1955.

Smithsonian Institution

Museum officials look over the donation of two KKK robes to the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African American History and Culture in November.

Michael R Barnes / Smithsonian Institution

In this July 10, 2009, file photo, the original glass-topped coffin of lynching victim Emmett Till is seen rusting in a shack at the Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, Ill., after it was found by investigators at the cemetery where four workers were accused of digging up bodies to resell plots. On Aug. 28, 2009, officials from the Smithsonian Institution and members of Till’s family announced the casket’s donation to the museum’s planned National Museum of African American History and Culture when it opens in 2015.

M. Spencer Green / AP

A Spirit of Tuskegee Airplane in Tuskegee, Ala., at Moton Municipal Field, the old Tuskegee Army Airfield. The museum’s exhibits will include a Stearman PT-13Daircraft used to train Tuskegee Airmen from 1944 to 1946.

Michael R Barnes / Smithsonian Institution

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