Christy Coleman, executive director of the American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar, … takes pause, though, when considering the many obstacles that a museum of this sort faces, especially in its formative stages.

“The economy has made everyone very skittish,” she says, “and African-American museums have an extraordinarily difficult time getting built, as well as getting financial support.” Even if there is political and economic will to see the project through, “The key will be long-term sustainability.”