African American Civil War Memorial Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids African American Civil War Memorial Museum |
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 African American Civil War Memorial Museum
Location in Washington, D.C.
African American Civil War Memorial Museum
Location in the United States
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| Established | October 27, 2004 |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
The African American Civil War Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. honors the brave soldiers who fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It celebrates the contributions of over 209,000 African-American soldiers. These soldiers were part of the United States Colored Troops (USCT). The museum also remembers about 7,000 white and 2,145 Hispanic soldiers. Plus, around 20,000 Navy sailors who fought alongside them.
The Memorial is a special outdoor space with a large bronze statue called The Spirit of Freedom. This statue is 9 feet tall and was created by Ed Hamilton. It was finished in 1997. The Memorial also has walls with the names of all the soldiers who served.
The Museum is located right across the street from the Memorial. It is at 1925 Vermont Avenue NW. Soon, the museum plans to move into the nearby former Grimké School building.
Both the Memorial and Museum are easy to reach. You can take the Washington Metro to the U Street station on the Green Line.
Contents
Discovering the History of the Memorial and Museum
How the Memorial Was Created
The African American Civil War Memorial Freedom Foundation and Museum helped build this important memorial. It was officially given to the National Park Service (NPS) on October 27, 2004. Now, the NPS office for National Mall and Memorial Parks takes care of the site.
Exploring the Museum's Journey
The African American Civil War Museum is directly across from the Memorial. In July 2011, it celebrated its grand opening in a new building. This event included speakers and activities focused on bringing people together. The museum also planned many events to mark the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. These events highlighted the amazing contributions of African Americans.
The museum first opened in January 1999. It was located a few blocks west of the Memorial. This area, the historic U Street Corridor, was once a lively center for African-American entertainment. The museum helps visitors, researchers, and families of the United States Colored Troops learn their stories. It shows old photographs, newspaper articles, and copies of Civil War clothing. You can also see uniforms and weapons from that time.
The museum has a special African American Civil War Memorial Registry. This registry helps people find their family connections. It includes family trees of over 2,000 descendants of USCT soldiers. Other descendants can also add their family information. Visitors can easily search this database to find their ancestors.
See also
- Military history of African Americans in the American Civil War
- List of United States Colored Troops Civil War units
- List of museums focused on African Americans
Images for kids
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A WMATA metro station near the memorial
