Museum of American History to reopen

WASHINGTON (CNN) - America's attic is back. After a renovation lasting more than two years and costing $85 million, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History is finally set to reopen Friday.

"This building is home to many of our national treasures," President Bush said during a ceremony Wednesday at the museum in downtown Washington. "It is a reminder of our country's proud heritage. And today we're witnessing the beginning of an exciting new era in its history."

The 44-year-old building's overhaul features, among other things, a new five-story atrium and a 45-foot-long floor-to-ceiling glass wall displaying a restored 200-year-old Star-Spangled Banner in an environmentally controlled chamber.

The center of the building has been largely rebuilt to include a new grand staircase and a skylight. The overhauled museum also features an extensive welcome center and auditorium, along with new dining facilities.

–By CNN's Alan Silverleib