Amherstburg Freedom Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1975 |
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| Location | 277 King St. Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada |
| Type | National Historic Site |
| Official name: Nazrey African Methodist Episcopal Church | |
| Designated: | 1998 |
The Amherstburg Freedom Museum is in Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada. It used to be called the 'North American Black Historical Museum'. This museum is a non-profit place run by the community. It shares the important history and achievements of African-Canadians.
Local people started the museum in 1975. It collects and shows items from African-Canadians. Many of their ancestors came to Canada to escape slavery in the United States. They found it quite easy to cross the Detroit River into Canada. Even though Michigan was a free state, many people escaping slavery chose Canada. This was to be safe from US laws that could force them back into slavery. The museum has permanent and changing exhibits. It includes the main museum building, the historic Taylor Log Cabin, and the Nazrey African Methodist Episcopal Church. The church is a National Historic Site of Canada.
Contents
Discovering the Amherstburg Freedom Museum
The Amherstburg Freedom Museum helps visitors learn about a special part of history. It focuses on the journey of people seeking freedom. The museum complex lets you explore different buildings. Each one tells a piece of the story.
How the Museum Started
A local couple, Betty and Melvin "Mac" Simpson, founded the museum. It officially became a non-profit organization in 1975. They wanted to celebrate the rich history of African Canadians. Many of these people's ancestors had escaped slavery in the United States. In 2015, the museum celebrated its 40th birthday. It later changed its name to the Amherstburg Freedom Museum. This new name highlights its strong connection to the idea of freedom.
Nazrey A.M.E. Church: A Place of Hope
People who had been enslaved and free Black people built this African Methodist Episcopal church by hand. They used fieldstone to build it in 1848. These builders were part of a church group that started in 1826. This group was made up of African-American people who had sought safety in Canada. The AME church group began in the United States in the early 1800s. It was the first independent Black church group in that country.
Church members helped other people escaping slavery from the United States. They used the church as a safe stop on the Underground Railroad. This church was linked to Bishop Willis Nazery. He was the first leader of the British Methodist Episcopal Church. This church group was created by people who used the Underground Railroad. It showed their loyalty to their new home in Canada. The Nazrey A.M.E. Church became a National Historic Site of Canada in December 1998. The building was fixed up and reopened in 2001. It is now an important part of the museum complex.
What You Can Do at the Museum
Today, people from all over the world visit the museum. You can tour the main museum, the Taylor Log Cabin, and the Nazrey A.M.E. Church. Both the cabin and the church are buildings from the time of the Underground Railroad. This was before the American Civil War.
The museum hosts many cultural events each year. These include special programs for Black History Month. They also have events like Ribs & Ragtime, the Emancipation Celebration, and Christmas at the Amherstburg Freedom Museum. These events help everyone learn and celebrate.
Museum Connections
The Amherstburg Freedom Museum works with other important groups. It is connected to the CMA. It also works with the CHIN and the Virtual Museum of Canada. These connections help the museum share its stories even further.
More to Explore
- List of museums focused on African Americans
- List of black Canadians
- African diaspora
- Black people
- African-Canadian Heritage Tour
- List of topics related to Black and African people
- Slavery in Canada
- Black Canadians
