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The First National AAPI Museum Under Study
By Najla Zaidi | 25 Jun, 2025
A congressionally established commission has begun studying possible locations in Washington DC for a National Museum of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders History and Culture.
A bipartisan Commission to study the potential creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture was established by Congress in June 2022, through a bill sponsored by Rep. Grace Meng. D-NY. President Joe Biden signed te legislation into law.
“Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have shaped our nation since its founding. From the struggles we’ve endured to the accomplishments we’ve made, it’s time for more Americans, and our future generations, to know our story,” Meng said when the bill was signed into law. “And a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture would provide the physical space for people to learn how we have helped make America the country that it is today.”
The commission, which is composed of eight individuals who are not federal government employees, has officially begun its work as of June 2025. The commission is bipartisan and includes historians, scholars, and community leaders. The goal of this museum is to recognize the significant contributions of Asian Pacific Americans to the United States and combat anti-Asian hate by promoting understanding of their history and culture.
The latest addition to the Commission is Michelle Steel, a Republican who previously represented California’s 45th Congressional District. Speaker Mike Johnson selected Steel earlier this month to serve on the bipartisan commission that will study the feasibility of establishing the museum.
“Asian Americans have a rich history that is filled with struggle and triumph, and it is one that deserves to be memorialized for future generations of American citizens,” Steel, one of the first Korean American women to serve in Congress, said in a statement.
Once it convenes, the Commission will have 18 months to explore potential museum locations in Washington, DC including the possibility of becoming part of the Smithsonian Institution as well as looking for funding options. Under the law, the commission must rely entirely on private contributions to cover its expenses as no federal money can be used to support its work. In addition, Commissioners cannot be federal government employees.
The commission will rely on private funding sources and non-profit organizations such as Friends of the National Asian Pacific American Museum and the Committee of 100, who are actively advocating for the museum's creation and working to raise public awareness and support.
The motivation for an AAPI museum follows the model of other recent additions to the National Mall, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opened in 2016, and the forthcoming National Museum of the American Latino.
Congress could approve the museum's creation as early as 2027 with the museum potentially opening in 2036 if approved, according to the Friends of the National Asian Pacific American Museum. The process is still in its early stages therefore, the commission's work will be crucial in determining the path forward for this potential national museum.
“Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have shaped our nation since its founding. From the struggles we’ve endured to the accomplishments we’ve made, it’s time for more Americans, and our future generations, to know our story,” Meng said.
The potential of a national AAPI museum gets closer.
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