The gathering of peoples from throughout the world is one of the essential and ongoing stories of our nation. Yet, at the central gathering point in our nation’s capital on or near the National Mall, there is little that tells a full and coherent story about all of the peoples that came to make this nation. Without this story being told here, there’s a monumental void in the midst of our capital.

The building housing the National Museum of the American People would need to accommodate its core permanent exhibition. It would also need to have space for special exhibitions, a film theater, auditorium, book store and gift shop, dining facility, classrooms, genealogical center, and library and archives. In addition, there would be a need for offices for Museum administrators, scholars, curatorial staff, educators, security, maintenance and other staff. The NMAP study commission could develop preliminary space requirements for the Museum based on space required by other major museums with similar programs.

The National Park Service, U.S. Commission on Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission have suggested five sites for the NMAP commission’s consideration. Three of the suggested sites are on or across the street from the National Mall in historic buildings that would have to be converted for use by a modern museum. The other two sites near the National Mall could accommodate new buildings.

The existing buildings include the Smithsonian’s Arts and Industries Building, the Agriculture Department’s headquarters building, and the Forest Service’s Auditor’s Building. The two sites for a new building include the Liberty Loan Building site and the Banneker Overlook site.

The site and designs for either a new or renovated building would have to be approved by the Fine Arts Commission and the NCPC with input from the NPS.

All of the sites could include provisions for landscaping that could include water features and flora to enhance the beauty of the Museum building and its property. It could also include works of commissioned art relating to the subject matter of the Museum. These large works of art could be placed in major spaces inside and outside of the Museum.

The links above lead to a brief discussion of the five sites.