Councilmember Jim Graham
A PROPOSED
RESOLUTION IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Councilmember Graham introduced the following resolution, which was retrained by the
Council.
To declare the sense of the Council on the creation of a museum for African-American
Civil War Memorial Museum at the Grimke Building.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited
as the "Sense of the Council African American Civil War Memorial Grimke Museum and
Institute Support Resolution of 2001 ".
Sec. 2. The Council finds that:
(1) The African-American Civil War Memorial Freedom Foundation is a nonprofit tax
exempt corporation incorporated in the District of Columbia.
(2) The African-American Civil War Memorial Freedom Foundation has successfully
completed the construction of the long overdue first National Monument honoring the
209,145 black soldiers and their 7,000 white officers whose courage and sacrifice helped
to end slavery and keep America united under one flag.
(3) Having completed the monument in Shaw, the Africa-American Civil War Memorial Board
of Directors is now seeking a suitable, permanent home for a African-American Civil War
Legacy Institute and Museum to add to the attraction of the monument and increase tourism
in the U Street business corridor.
(4) The Grimke Building on Vermont Avenue, N.W. is located adjacent to the Monument and
would make an ideal location for the Museum and Institute.
(5) To enhance economic development, the District is considering the sale of the Grimke
Building and relocation of various government offices to other sites.
(6) It is both District and Federal Government Policy to assist in locating national
monuments and museums such as the Civil War Memorial, away from the downtown Mall area
into neighborhoods throughout the Nations Capitol, to enhance economic development.
(7) The African-American Civil War Memorial Freedom Foundation has demonstrated
capacity by forming local and national partnerships, soliciting millions of dollars from
local and national government, foundations, corporations, churches and individuals to
build the monument and has operated a museum at the memorial for more than a year which
attracted more than 75,000 visitors in its first year of operation, bringing tourist
dollars to U Street.
(8) The African-American Civil War Memorial Freedom Foundation is sponsoring its first
annual "Teachers and Scholars Conference" at Howard University on November
17-18, 2000, and has arranged for D.C. Public schools teachers to earn "seat
hours" for attending the conference.
(9) The Board of Directors and staff of the African-American Civil War Memorial Freedom
Foundation will undertake a capital campaign to raise the necessary funds to purchase and
renovate Grimke and will seek out appropriate partners to share the building.
(10) Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton has agreed to seek passage of the "African-American
Civil War Memorial Museum Commemorative Coin Act" to assist in the capital campaign
for the museum.
(11) The African-American Civil War Memorial Legacy Institute and Museum will add
greatly to the tourist appeal of the monument and encourage many of the 20 million
tourists who visit Washington each year to leave the Mall area and explore the rich
culture and heritage of our neighborhoods.
Sec. 3. It is the sense of the Council of the District of Columbia, that the
establishment of an African-American Civil War Memorial Museum at the Grimke Building
would provide great benefits to the District, and calls upon the Mayor and the government
to make every effort to cooperate, assist, and provide the Grimke Building as a home for
the African-American Civil War Memorial Museum and Institute.
Sec. 4. Fiscal impact statement.
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal
impact statement required by section 602(c)(3) of the District of Columbia Self-Government
and Governmental Reorganization Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Code
§1-233(c)(3)).
Sec. 5. This resolution will take effect immediately upon publication in the District
of Columbia Register.