Oprah Winfrey has taken a first look at the Smithsonian exhibit that was recently created in her honor. The 4,300-square-foot exhibit called “Watching Oprah” was added to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. This week Winfrey checked out the exhibit with her friend Gayle King.
The exhibit includes all kinds of items from Winfrey’s career, including personal journal entries. There is one on display that she wrote the day before The Oprah Winfrey Show debuted nationally.
“Exactly eight hours before the national first show. I keep wondering how my life will change. If it will change. What all this means. Why have I been so blessed? Maybe going national was to help me realize that I have an important work or that this work is important. I just know that I must be pressed to the work of the high calling.”
The show ended up airing for 25 years and was the highest-rated talk show of all time.
The exhibit also includes notes from guests, saying things such as “Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King inspired my decision to become a journalist.”
King got a bit emotional while checking out the exhibit, saying “When I see all the things that are in this room, it is getting to me. At the bottom line, she really is a good human who just wants to do good in the world.”
Other people have spoken out about the experience as well. Ava DuVernay tweeted about the video and heading to see the exhibit.
“I smiled all the way through this piece until I cried at the end. What a friendship. You both are beyond blessed to have a true friend in each other for all these years. Gorgeous, heart-expanding piece. Brava, @GayleKing. Just landed in DC. Cannot wait to see the @Oprah exhibit.”
