It’s been less than a week since Lonnie G. Bunch III was officially installed as the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, and he already has some big plans.

Amidst a series of media stops surrounding his new position and the publication of his book A Fool’s Errand, about his role in establishing the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Bunch has been offering up hints at what to expect from his tenure.

In particular, Bunch hopes to increase the diversity of visitors to the 19 Smithsonian museums he now oversees. By the Smithsonian’s count, about 28.5 million people visited its museums, centers, and the National Zoo last year.

The African American History and Culture Museum was the “most diversely visited museum in the world” during his tenure as founding director, Bunch told 1A’s Joshua Johnson on Tuesday.

He also told WAMU on Tuesday that, moving forward, he wants to better serve local Washingtonians and educate tourists about the region.

One way to do that, he said, would be to put on programming at Smithsonian museums and during festivals on the National Mall to encourage people to visit the Anacostia Community Museum, the only Smithsonian east of the Anacostia river.

The museum reopened its doors last month after seven months of renovations with an upgraded parking lot and outdoor space and a multi-functional plaza and community garden. It first opened in 1967 and moved to its current location in Fort Stanton in 1987.

“The Anacostia Museum is the museum that better reflects the history of Washington,” Bunch said. “My hope is that we’ll be able to do more programs on the Mall as well as in Anacostia to make sure people recognize that it’s one of the jewels of the Smithsonian.”

The Anacostia Museum holds a special place in Bunch’s heart. Its first director, John Kinard, was one of the only African American leaders at the Smithsonian back when Bunch started working there in the 1970s.

“He took me under his wing and told me ‘How do you survive at the Smithsonian?’” Bunch said. Kinard proceeded to tell him, and the advice must have worked. Bunch is the first African American to hold the position of secretary in the Smithsonian’s 173-year history.

The Anacostia Museum recently appointed its own new director, Melanie Adams. She moved into the role in early August from the Minnesota Historical Society, where she managed 26 state historic sites and museums.

When Bunch first assumed the position of Secretary in mid-June, he said he wanted not just to broaden the diversity of the Smithsonian’s offerings, but also expand its reach through the use of technology and virtual exhibits.

“I think the biggest goal of history at the Smithsonian ought to be to help the American public embrace ambiguity to understand that there’s not simple answers to complex questions,” he told NPR at the time. “And if we can help the public become comfortable with wrestling with the shades of gray then we’ve really made a contribution.”

This story originally appeared on WAMU. 

Previously:
The Smithsonian’s Next Secretary Will Be Lonnie Bunch, The Head Of The African American History Museum
As The African American History Museum Turns One, Director Lonnie Bunch Looks Back