A museum about the American Dream is opening next to the White House
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The restored historic bank building on 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Photo: Courtesy of Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream
An interactive museum about the American Dream is opening this weekend around the corner from the White House.
Why it matters: The Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream is the culmination of a big renovation project, combining five buildings on 15th Street, including the restored 19th-century Riggs National Bank.
Zoom in: Across five floors, guests can experience storytelling through colorful exhibits, a 360-degree immersive theater, and holograms of notable people like Serena Williams and Sanjay Gupta. It's billed as "a cultural institution focused on illuminating pathways to opportunity for all."
- The entry "Hall of Generations" is located in the spacious main hall of the Riggs Bank, leading to galleries that celebrate artists, entrepreneurs, the American financial system, and innovators in health and education.
- A word cloud sculptural chandelier, made up of 64 six-foot OLED panels, features constantly updated phrases describing the American Dream, contributed by visitors.
If you go: Family-friendly activities are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, including a genealogy workshop, a live performance from local musical group DuPont Brass, food trucks, games and face painting.
What they're saying: "The American Dream is the ideal that any person, regardless of background or where they start, should have the opportunity to pursue a life of meaning and fulfillment," Michael Milken, its founder, said in a press release.
- One day, the institute hopes to host all of the U.S. citizen naturalization ceremonies that occur in D.C., said Rachel Goslins, the center's executive director.
Between the lines: In the 1980s, Milken was known as the "junk bond king" on Wall Street, later serving prison time for securities fraud. Trump pardoned him in 2020.
- Milken also helped open The Ned club project next door to the center.