Asian American leaders push for national museum of their own

The late Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) first introduced legislation to create an African American museum on the National Mall in 1988. It took nearly three decades before the museum was finally completed and opened its doors to the public.

Asian American leaders who are now pushing for their own museum know they, too, will have to be persistent and patient. But they see the African American museum as a template for success, and have begun to see some early movement in their effort to preserve and celebrate the history and contributions of the often-overlooked Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.