Skip to main content

How America Tells Its Story: A Conversation with Lonnie Bunch

Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch reflects on how America’s history continues to shape the nation at 250.
Photo of Lonnie Bunch looking out a window next to burgundy curtains
Mar
9
Andrew Harnik / AP
Speakers
Lonnie G. Bunch III
Date and Time
Doors Open: 5:15 pm
Location
Chicago Council Conference Center, 130 E Randolph Street; or via YouTube
Who Can Attend

REGISTRATION

This event is open to the public.

Register Now
Register Now

About This Event

As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, the nation finds itself grappling with fundamental questions about its identity, history, and future. How do we tell the story of America and its ideals and contradictions? What does it mean to reckon with the past while charting a path forward? Join us for a conversation with Lonnie Bunch, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution and founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, as he reflects on American history, national memory, and what this milestone reveals about who we are and where we're headed.

About the Speakers
Secretary, Smithsonian Institution
Headshot of Lonnie Bunch smiling, wearing black jacket and grey tie in front of grey background
Lonnie G. Bunch III is the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian. As Secretary, he oversees 21 museums, 21 libraries, the National Zoo, numerous research centers, and several education units and centers. Previously, Bunch was the founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Headshot of Lonnie Bunch smiling, wearing black jacket and grey tie in front of grey background
America at 250 logo
America at 250: The Arc of Global Influence This content is part of the Council’s America at 250 initiative, a series of high-level dialogues, expert perspectives, public and private programs, and a signature conference focused on the critical questions that will define America’s future.