Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mt. Moriah African Methodist Episcopal Church
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Banneker-Douglass Museum, July 2009
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 Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | 84 Franklin St., Annapolis, Maryland |
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| Built | 1874 |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000891 |
| Added to NRHP | January 25, 1973 |
The Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum is Maryland's official museum for African American history and culture. It was once known as the Banneker-Douglass Museum. You can find it at 84 Franklin Street in Annapolis, Maryland. The museum is inside the old Mt. Moriah African Methodist Episcopal Church building.
The museum is named after three important Maryland figures: Benjamin Banneker, Frederick Douglass, and Harriet Tubman. It keeps many historical items related to African American culture in Maryland. The building is quite large, about 11,700 square feet. It holds 12,000 historical objects, a library, and spaces for exhibits and performances. The museum offers talks, workshops, and educational programs all year long.
The original church building was built in 1875 and updated in 1896. It's a two-and-a-half-story brick church built in the Gothic Revival style. This church was home to the First African Methodist Episcopal Church for almost 100 years. In 1984, the building became the state's official museum for African American history and culture. A new section was added to the back of the building when it opened as the Banneker-Douglass Museum.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. It is also part of the Colonial Annapolis Historic District. Chanel C. Johnson is the current director of the museum.
Contents
Exploring the Museum's Collections
The museum has a main exhibit called Deep Roots, Rising Waters: A Celebration of African Americans in Maryland. This exhibit highlights the lives and achievements of famous African Americans from Maryland. Some of these important people include Kunta Kinte, Benjamin Banneker, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Matthew Henson, Gloria Richardson, and Thurgood Marshall. The museum also features exhibits about Black life in Maryland, and African and African American art.
Past special exhibits and live performances at the museum have included “Highland Beach: The First One Hundred Years” and “The Life of Harriet Ross Tubman.”
A Look at the Museum's History
How the Museum Started
In the 1970s, a group called the Maryland Commission on African-American History and Culture (MCAAHC) suggested that Maryland needed a museum for its African American heritage. In 1972, the MCAAHC and community leaders helped save the Mt. Moriah AME Church from being torn down. Later, groups like the Banneker-Douglass Museum Foundation were created to support the museum.
Opening the Museum
The Mt. Moriah AME Church officially became the Banneker-Douglass Museum of Afro-American Life and History on February 24, 1984. This made it Maryland's official state museum for African American history and culture.
Growth and Expansion
In 2005, the museum completed a big expansion project. This added a modern wing to the building. This new part helped the museum serve more visitors, especially those interested in African American history. The expanded museum included a new main exhibit, space for changing exhibits, and a library for everyone to use. The library collects resources about Maryland's African American heritage.
In February 2009, the Banneker-Douglass Museum celebrated its 25th anniversary. The museum also celebrated the first anniversary of its library and archives in October 2009. The library was named after Sylvia Gaither Garrison, who was a key person in setting it up.
A New Name for a New Era
On April 9, 2024, a new law was signed that changed the museum's name. It became the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum. This new name honors Harriet Tubman, a famous abolitionist and humanitarian, along with Benjamin Banneker and Frederick Douglass.
In November 2024, the museum held a special ceremony to celebrate its new name. Many important people attended, including Governor Wes Moore.
See also
