The site of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
A historic black church based in Virginia has pledged to donate $1 million to the Smithsonian's National Museum of African-American History and Culture.
Alfred Street Baptist Church, a historically black congregation in Alexandria that traces its history back to the early 1800s, has announced their donation for the educational institute.
"ASBC has always been a leader in community outreach and missions within the faith-based community," said the Rev. Howard-John Wesley, lead pastor of Alfred Street Baptist, in comments to The Christian Post on Monday. Wesley added that this was the first time a faith-based organization had donated $1 million to the Smithsonian.
"We hope and pray that other predominantly African-American churches and organization will contribute to telling our story as well."
The National Museum of African-American History and Culture was first approved by Congress in 2003 to be part of the Smithsonian Institute.
"The Smithsonian Board of Regents, the governing body of the Institution, voted in January 2006 to build the museum on a 5-acre site on Constitution Avenue between 14th and 15th Streets N.W.," reads the NMAAHC's website.
"The new museum, the Smithsonian's 19th, will be the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African-American life, art, history and culture. It is expected to open in 2016."
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