The Smithsonian is still doing research to determine the provenance of 26 other bronzes in its collections, including those at the Natural History Museum.

“I am eager to engage further directions in the museum’s mission, embracing our digital present and future while furthering conversations around Black history, art, liberation and joy,” Young said.

The pandemic is forcing the city’s major cultural institutions, many now closed, to ponder their futures.

This Black History Month, volunteers have joined the Smithsonian in transcribing more than 1,500 pages of historic records.

He also wants to better serve local Washingtonians and educate tourists about the region, including by drawing more visitors to the Anacostia Community Museum.

He is the fourteenth person to hold the position and the first African American.

“I think it’s really become what we wanted, which was to be a place that was as much about today and tomorrow as it is about yesterday.”

“He symbolized possibility—he symbolized that it was really important that America was changing and his presence was a symbol of that change,” the museum’s director said.

The museum will include a few artifacts from the comedian.

“Any items connected to the Trayvon Martin case – should they even become available – would have to go through that lengthy process,” a statement from the Smithsonian says.