America's Islamic Heritage Museum facts for kids
| Established | April 30, 2011 |
|---|---|
| Location | 2315 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE Washington D.C., US |
| Type | History museum |
The America's Islamic Heritage Museum is a special history museum in Washington, D.C., United States. It's a non-profit group that shows off many Islamic items, pictures, and stories. These items cover a long time, from the 1500s all the way to today.
Before it became a museum, it was a traveling show called "Collections and Stories of American Muslims" (CSAM). This show moved around to different places. Later, this traveling exhibit grew into the museum we know today, which officially opened on April 30, 2011. In 2024, the museum had a big reopening in a brand new building. It now shares space with homes and other businesses.
Contents
The Museum's Journey: How It Started
From Traveling Exhibit to Museum
In 1996, the group "Collections & Stories of American Muslims, Inc." (CSAM) was created. For many years, CSAM traveled all over the country. It shared the history of Muslims in America with lots of people.
The exhibit visited many famous places. These included the DuSable Museum of African American History and universities like Harvard University and Howard University. It also went to the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center. The show even traveled outside the U.S., visiting countries like Qatar and Nigeria.
On April 30, 2011, the museum opened its doors to the public. It was located at the old Clara Muhammad School in Washington, D.C.
A New Home: Grand Reopening
On March 8, 2024, the America's Islamic Heritage Museum had a big reopening. It moved into a new building called The Clara. This new spot is also an affordable housing complex.
The museum now has 11,000 square feet of fresh space. This new, permanent home for the museum is a big step forward.
What You Can See at the Museum
The museum has many interesting displays. Much of the information is shown on panels. These panels tell the stories of many important people.
Some of these people include Estevanico, Omar ibn Said, and Hajj Ali. You can also learn about Yarrow Mamout and Mohammed Alexander Russell Webb. The museum also highlights different groups of people in America. It talks about how people moved here over time.
There's a section about the Nation of Islam. It shows old newspapers, photos, and other items from their history. The museum also points out several towns in America with names that relate to Islam. These include Mahomet, Illinois, Mahomet, Texas, Mecca, Indiana, and Elkader, Iowa.
Museum Hours
The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. On Sundays, it's open from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The museum is closed on Mondays.
See Also
- Islam in the United States
- Islam in the Americas
