Alexandria Black History Museum facts for kids
The Alexandria Black History Museum is a special place in Alexandria, Virginia. It helps us learn about the history and culture of African Americans. The museum is located at 902 Wythe Street. The City of Alexandria runs it. This building was once the Robert Robinson Library. It was built in 1940. It was the first library for African Americans in the city. At that time, libraries were "separate but equal" due to segregation.
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Discovering the Museum's History
The First Library for African Americans
The museum building has an important past. It started as the Robert Robinson Library. This library opened in 1940. It was created specifically for African Americans. This was during a time when many public places were segregated. Segregation meant that Black and white people had separate facilities.
A Stand for Equal Access
In 1794, the Alexandria Library opened as a private library. Later, in 1937, Dr. Robert South Barrett gave money to build Alexandria's Public Library. The city agreed to fund this new public library. Since all citizens paid taxes for the library, lawyer Samuel Wilbert Tucker believed everyone should use it.
In 1939, Mr. Tucker organized a peaceful protest. He and others held a sit-in at the new "whites only" Alexandria, Virginia public library. They were arrested by the police. This event is often called the first non-violent protest by African Americans. It challenged racial segregation in a powerful way. The museum often has exhibits about these important local and national events.
Exploring the Museum and Park
The Alexandria Black History Museum shares many stories. It has changing exhibits. These shows teach visitors about African American history and culture. The topics cover both local events and national stories.
The African American Heritage Park
The museum also manages the Alexandria African American Heritage Park. This park is about 9 acres (3.6 hectares) large. It is located at 500 Holland Lane. Inside the park, there is a special cemetery. This cemetery is about 1 acre (0.4 hectares). It dates back to the 1800s. It is a historic burial ground for African Americans.
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