A sculpture of Tommie Smith, John Carlos and Australian Peter Norman protest at the 1968 Olympics is part of the sports exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NCAAHC) on September 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. The 400,000 square-foot museum on the National Mall is 60% underground, and it will open to the public on September 24, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NCAAHC) is shown on September 14, 2016 on the National Mall in Washington, DC. The 400,000 square-foot museum is 60% underground, and it will open to the public on September 24, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
President Thomas Jefferson (L) is shown with a wall of bricks to denote his slaves as part of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NCAAHC) on September 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. The 400,000 square-foot museum on the National Mall is 60% underground, and it will open to the public on September 24, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
Chuck Berry's Cadillac is part of a music exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NCAAHC) on September 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. The 400,000 square-foot museum on the National Mall is 60% underground, and it will open to the public on September 24, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
Ella Fitzgerald's dress is part of a music exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NCAAHC) on September 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. The 400,000 square-foot museum on the National Mall is 60% underground, and it will open to the public on September 24, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
A Civil War exhibit is part of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NCAAHC) on September 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. The 400,000 square-foot museum is 60% underground, and it will open to the public on September 24, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
P Funk Mothership is part of a music exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NCAAHC) on September 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. The 400,000 square-foot museum on the National Mall is 60% underground, and it will open to the public on September 24, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
A slavery exhibit is part of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NCAAHC) on September 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. The 400,000 square-foot museum on the National Mall is 60% underground, and it will open to the public on September 24, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
The slave trade exhibit is part of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NCAAHC) on September 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. The 400,000 square-foot museum on the National Mall is 60% underground, and it will open to the public on September 24, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
Bricks with the names of the slaves of President Thomas Jefferson, including Sally Hemmings, are shown during an exhibit as part of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NCAAHC) on September 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. The 400,000 square-foot museum on the National Mall is 60% underground, and it will open to the public on September 24, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
A Muhammad Ali exhibit is part of the sports exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NCAAHC) on September 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. The 400,000 square-foot museum on the National Mall is 60% underground, and it will open to the public on September 24, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
The slave trade exhibit is part of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NCAAHC) on September 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. The 400,000 square-foot museum on the National Mall is 60% underground, and it will open to the public on September 24, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
Baseball memorabilia is part of the sports exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NCAAHC) on September 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. The 400,000 square-foot museum on the National Mall is 60% underground, and it will open to the public on September 24, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
President Thomas Jefferson is shown with a wall of bricks to denote each of his slaves as part of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NCAAHC) on September 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. The 400,000 square-foot museum on the National Mall is 60% underground, and it will open to the public on September 24, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
A sculpture of Jesse Owens is part of the sports exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NCAAHC) on September 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. The 400,000 square-foot museum on the National Mall is 60% underground, and it will open to the public on September 24, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NCAAHC) is shown on September 14, 2016 on the National Mall in Washington, DC. The 400,000 square-foot museum is 60% underground, and it will open to the public on September 24, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
Baseball stands offer a good seat as part of the sports exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NCAAHC) on September 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. The 400,000 square-foot museum on the National Mall is 60% underground, and it will open to the public on September 24, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
Famous quotes are part of the dance and culture exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NCAAHC) on September 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. The 400,000 square-foot museum on the National Mall is 60% underground, and it will open to the public on September 24, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
A sculpture of Jackie Robinson is part of the sports exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NCAAHC) on September 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. The 400,000 square-foot museum on the National Mall is 60% underground, and it will open to the public on September 24, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
The Hope School in South Carolina is part of the exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NCAAHC) on September 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. The 400,000 square-foot museum on the National Mall is 60% underground, and it will open to the public on September 24, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
Various artists are part of a music exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NCAAHC) on September 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. The 400,000 square-foot museum on the National Mall is 60% underground, and it will open to the public on September 24, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
Guitars of famous early rock 'n roll artists are part of a music exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NCAAHC) on September 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. The 400,000 square-foot museum on the National Mall is 60% underground, and it will open to the public on September 24, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
Lincoln and Douglas are part of the history exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NCAAHC) on September 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. The 400,000 square-foot museum on the National Mall is 60% underground, and it will open to the public on September 24, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
The reflection of wars is part of the history exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NCAAHC) on September 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. The 400,000 square-foot museum on the National Mall is 60% underground, and it will open to the public on September 24, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
A exhibit of Barack Obama is part of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NCAAHC) on September 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. The 400,000 square-foot museum on the National Mall is 60% underground, and it will open to the public on September 24, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo