Museum fundraising drive on target

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - The Smithsonian has all the money it needs to complete renovation of the National Museum of American History and reopen the site this summer, but it still has not set a firm opening date.

Officials will commit to a reopening date this February, according to director Brent Glass. The project has finished the demolition phase and is now moving into new construction; the property closed in September 2006.

Fundraising accounted for $39.1 million of the cost of the project, which totaled $85 million; the federal government will provide the rest.

The museum is conducting a $180 million capital campaign for museum, which would fund not just the renovation, but also exhibits and other expenses through 2010. Of that, $153 million has been raised so far.

The project was bolstered by $4.5 million from the A.P. Moller and Chastine Mc-Kinney Moller Foundation, $2.5 million from the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, and other donors.

The refurbished museum, which brought in about 3 million visitors annually when it was open, will boast a number of new features. An abstract tile sculpture of a flag will decorate the main atrium, and the star-spangled banner will be housed in an entire new gallery.

“This will be a major destination in Washington,” Glass said.

The building features a large skylight and new infrastructure, such as plumbing and restrooms. The first floor will feature business and technology-themed content; the second floor will focus on politics and social issues, and the third floor will house popular culture and military history exhibits.

A number of new exhibits are planned after the museum opens, on such topics as coins and currency, and maritime history.

melissa.frederick@dcexaminer.com