Video shows full grand opening ceremony for Kinsey Collection at Epcot

The Kinsey Collection at the American Adventure pavilion in Epcot opened on March 8, and the grand opening for this impressive display of African-American history was quite a fitting gala.

Click the video toward the bottom of this article to see the whole opening ceremony. It started off with a Voices of Liberty performance and a guest appearance by Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr. of "Grey's Anatomy," both of whom are among the celebrity narrators featured in the exhibit.

Also on hand were philanthropists Bernard and Shirley Kinsey, along with their son, Khalil, to see their artifacts go on public display at Walt Disney World. The Imagineers who brought the exhibit to life and added special touches, like talking lanterns, were at the presentation, too.

You can see these precious artifacts, some of which are hundreds of years old, on display at the American Adventure pavilion when you visit Epcot. You'll find authentic books, documents, paintings, and sculptures that bring history to life for the current generation. The artifacts show the struggles faced by African-Americans in the days of slavery, but they also highlight contributions of black Americans to their country.

You'll want to linger to get a thorough look at the exhibit, so avoid going when a crowd is waiting to go in for a show at the pavilion. One everyone goes in and is seated for the show, you'll have time to view the Kinsey Collection without a swarm of people. Make sure you check out all of the lanterns, which symbolize Hope, Heritage, Belief, Courage, and Imagination.

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, Orlando Theme Parks Examiner

Barb Nefer lives in the thick of the Orlando attractions area. She has an annual pass to all the major theme parks, from Disney and Universal to Legoland Florida, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens. Besides the parks, she covers a wide range of Florida tourist attractions, restaurants, and hotels. You...

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