---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 80r–2"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "80r–2"
heading: "Establishment of Museum"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/80r-2"
units:
  - "Chapter 3 — Smithsonian Institution, National Museums and Art Galleries"
  - "Subchapter XIV — National Museum of African American History and Culture"
---

# §80r–2. Establishment of Museum

- (a) **Establishment—** There is established within the Smithsonian Institution a [museum](/usc/20/80r–1.md?p=3) to be known as the “National [Museum](/usc/20/80r–1.md?p=3) of African American History and Culture”.
- (b) **Purpose—** The purpose of the [Museum](/usc/20/80r–1.md?p=3) shall be to provide for—
  - (1) the collection, study, and establishment of programs relating to African American life, art, history, and culture that encompass—
    - (A) the period of slavery;
    - (B) the era of Reconstruction;
    - (C) the Harlem renaissance;
    - (D) the civil rights movement; and
    - (E) other periods of the African American diaspora;
  - (2) the creation and maintenance of permanent and temporary exhibits documenting the history of slavery in America and African American life, art, history, and culture during the periods referred to in [paragraph (1)](#b-1);
  - (3) the collection and study of artifacts and documents relating to African American life, art, history, and culture; and
  - (4) collaboration between the [Museum](/usc/20/80r–1.md?p=3) and other [museums](/usc/20/80r–1.md?p=3), historically black colleges and universities, historical societies, educational institutions, and other organizations that promote the study or appreciation of African American life, art, history, or culture, including collaboration concerning—
    - (A) development of cooperative programs and exhibitions;
    - (B) identification, management, and care of collections; and
    - (C) training of [museum](/usc/20/80r–1.md?p=3) professionals.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 108–184, § 4, Dec. 16, 2003, 117 Stat. 2677.)