Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History facts for kids

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Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
Exterior of the museum
Established	1965 (current facility – 1997)
Location	315 E. Warren Ave Detroit, Michigan
Type	History museum and cultural history
Collections	African-American history, art, music
Collection size	more than 35,000
Visitors	300,000 (2019)
Architect	SDG Associates

The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, often called The Wright, is a special place in Detroit, Michigan. It's a museum that celebrates African-American history and culture. You can find it in the city's Midtown area, which is a hub for arts and culture.

The Wright is one of the oldest and largest independent museums focused on African-American history. It has the world's biggest permanent collection of African-American culture. With over 35,000 items, the museum's current building, which opened in 1997, was the largest of its kind. In 2024, more than 50,000 people visited, making it a top spot for tourists in Detroit.

The museum has amazing exhibits, including documents from the Underground Railroad. You can also see letters from famous people like Malcolm X and Rosa Parks. The Wright has also hosted memorial events for important figures. These include Rosa Parks, former Detroit mayor Coleman Young, singer Aretha Franklin, and former U.S. Representatives John Conyers Jr. and Barbara-Rose Collins. Their memorial services took place in the museum's main hall.

The Wright is also home to The National Museum of the Tuskegee Airmen. It also organizes the African World Festival. This is a huge event that celebrates African-American food, fashion, music, and dance.

The Wright Museum: A Journey Through History
What You Can See: Collections and Exhibits
Learning and Fun: Education and Events
Cool Features of the Building
See also

The Wright Museum: A Journey Through History

How the Museum Started (1965)

The idea for the museum came from Charles H. Wright, a doctor from Detroit. He was an obstetrician and gynecologist. In the mid-1900s, he visited a memorial in Denmark for World War II heroes. This visit inspired him to create a place to preserve African-American history.

Dr. Wright believed it was important for young African Americans to know their history. He wanted them to be proud of their ancestors' struggle for freedom. So, in 1965, he created the International Afro-American Museum (IAM). It opened in January 1966 in a house he owned.

The IAM showed African art and musical instruments. It also featured inventions by African Americans. There was even an exhibit on Civil Rights activists. Some displays included inventions by Michigan native Elijah McCoy. There were also masks from Nigeria and Ghana that Dr. Wright collected. He even created a traveling exhibit to share history across the state.

Growing Bigger: The Museum of African American History (1985)

The museum quickly became very popular. In 1978, the city of Detroit gave the museum land in Midtown. This new spot was close to the Detroit Public Library, the Detroit Institute of Art, and the Detroit Science Center.

Construction for a new museum building began on May 21, 1985. Two years later, in 1987, the new Museum of African American History opened. It was much larger, at 28,000 square feet.

The Charles H. Wright Museum Today (1997)

The museum continued to grow and needed even more space. In 1992, people in Detroit voted to help fund a bigger building. Construction for the third version of the museum started in August 1993.

In 1997, Detroit architects Sims-Varner & Associates designed the museum's current building. It's a huge 125,000-square-foot facility on Warren Avenue. In December of that year, Coleman Young, Detroit's first African American mayor, was honored at the museum.

In 1999, Christy S. Coleman became the museum's president and CEO. She helped create a major new exhibit. Since then, The Wright Museum has been a non-profit organization. Its goal is to be a place for artifacts and a center for cultural growth.

What You Can See: Collections and Exhibits

The Wright Museum holds over 35,000 items about the African-American experience. These include the Blanche Coggin Underground Railroad Collection and the Harriet Tubman Museum Collection. There's also the Sheffield Collection, which tells about the labor movement in Detroit.

And Still We Rise: Our Journey through African American History and Culture

This is the museum's main exhibit. It's a huge 16,000-square-foot display. It covers more than four centuries of African-American history. The exhibit was updated in 2004 and renamed And Still We Rise.

And Still We Rise shows the amazing strength of African Americans throughout history. This two-story journey takes visitors from ancient African kingdoms to the sad journey of the Middle Passage. It also highlights the brave actions of the Civil rights movement and beyond.

Luminosity: A Detroit Arts Gathering

In 2025, the museum celebrated its sixtieth anniversary. For this special occasion, The Wright presented a multimedia exhibit called Luminosity. This exhibit celebrates "Black artists who have worked, lived or studied in Detroit."

Ring of Genealogy

Under the museum's famous dome is a beautiful 72-foot mural. It's on the circular floor of the main hall, called the rotunda. The mural is named "Genealogy" and was created by artist Hubert Massey. It shows the struggle of African Americans for freedom, education, and equality. It's made from fancy terrazzo, marble chips, and cement.

The Museum's Poem Wall

One wall of the museum has its official poem, "This Museum Was Once a Dream." This poem, written by Melba Boyd, is carved into bronze on the wall.

Learning and Fun: Education and Events

The Wright Museum offers many programs and learning chances for young people. These include historical reenactments, tours of exhibits, and workshops. They also have summer camps and seminars.

African World Festival

The African World Festival (AWF) started in 1983. In 2012, it moved to the museum grounds. AWF is the museum's biggest public event. Over 150,000 people attend this three-day festival in August each year. It's one of the largest cultural festivals in the Midwest. It celebrates the histories and cultures of the Diaspora.

The festival was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19. But in 2021, it returned as a mix of in-person and online events.

Juneteenth Celebration

Juneteenth is the oldest national celebration of the end of slavery in the United States. In 2021, after President Joe Biden made Juneteenth a federal holiday, the museum held a three-day celebration. It included both virtual and in-person events.

Kwanzaa Celebration

Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26 to January 1. Each year, The Wright hosts daily programs for Kwanzaa. These include songs, dances, storytelling, and poetry readings.

Camp Africa

Camp Africa is a free, week-long summer day camp for children aged 7 to 12. Kids can explore science, technology, engineering, math, and the arts. The camp celebrates the achievements of people from the African diaspora in many different fields.

Cool Features of the Building

Ford Freedom Rotunda

The Ford Freedom Rotunda is a highlight of the museum. It has a huge glass dome that is 100 feet wide and 55 feet high. This dome is even wider than the Michigan State Capitol dome! Flags from 92 nations important to African-American history hang on the upper level. On the ground level is the Ring of Genealogy. This 37-foot terrazzo tile design features bronze nameplates of important African Americans.

General Motors Theater

The General Motors Theater is a 317-seat space. It's used for talks, concerts, movie showings, and workshops.

Helping the Environment

The Wright Museum also helps the environment. In 2014, Detroit had bad flooding. The Wright worked with the Michigan Science Center to manage stormwater on Warren Avenue. This project helps the museum manage almost 190,000 gallons of stormwater every year. It has also removed 50,000 gallons of stormwater from the sewer system permanently.

They also have green projects like a renovated bioswale and urban gardens. These help prevent pollution in the Detroit River. They also teach students and visitors about protecting land and water.