STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Smithsonian's Black History Museum to Get $10 Million Gift

The Smithsonian announced Wednesday that philanthropist David Rubenstein is making a donation to the capital campaign for the museum, set to open in September. He is also loaning the museum two documents signed by President Abraham Lincoln: the 13th Amendment and the Emancipation Proclamation.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Museum of African American History and Culture is getting a $10 million gift.

The Smithsonian announced Wednesday that philanthropist David Rubenstein is making the donation to the capital campaign for the museum, set to open in September. He also is loaning the museum two documents signed by President Abraham Lincoln: the 13th Amendment and the Emancipation Proclamation.

Rubenstein, co-founder of the Carlyle Group, is a Smithsonian Board of Regents' executive committee member and co-chair of the institution's $1.5 billion national fundraising campaign. He now has contributed a total of $44.7 million to the institution.

With the gift, the museum's fundraising has reached $252 million of its $270 million goal. The Smithsonian is raising half of the construction and exhibition funds, and Congress funded the other half.

BET National News - Keep up to date with breaking news stories from around the nation, including headlines from the hip hop and entertainment world.

(Photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)

Latest News

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.