National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center facts for kids
 |
|
| Established | 1987 |
|---|---|
| Location | 1350 Brush Row Road, Wilberforce, Ohio, 45384 |
| Type | Public |
The National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center is a museum located in Wilberforce, Ohio. Its main goal is to share the rich and varied experiences of African Americans. It covers their journey from their African beginnings all the way to the present day. The museum does this through its collections and special programs. It is one of many museums managed by the Ohio History Connection.
You can find the museum at 1350 Brush Row Road. It is right next to Central State University.
How the Museum Started
People first thought about creating a national museum for African American history over 100 years ago. In 1915, African American veterans from the Union Army met in Washington, D.C. They were still facing unfair treatment. So, they decided to form a group to build a memorial. This memorial would celebrate the many achievements of African Americans.
Their hard work paid off in 1929. President Herbert Hoover appointed a special group. This group included important leaders like Mary Church Terrell and Mary McLeod Bethune. Their job was to build a "National Memorial Building." It would show off African American achievements in arts and sciences. However, Congress did not support the idea. Also, efforts to raise money privately did not succeed.
For the next 40 years, people kept suggesting an African American history museum. But none of these ideas got much support. Finally, in 2016, a major museum opened. This was the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture.
In the early 1970s, new ideas for a national museum started again in Congress. At the same time, officials in Ohio also wanted to create an African history museum. Wilberforce, Ohio was a very important place. It was a major stop on the Underground Railroad. This secret network helped enslaved Black people find freedom in northern states and Canada. Wilberforce was also the former home of Wilberforce University.
In 1972, Ohio passed a law agreeing to build a museum in Wilberforce. Then, in 1981, Congress approved the creation of a National Afro-American Museum in Wilberforce. The museum was built using private money. It officially opened its doors in 1987.
About the Museum and Its Collections
The museum building has a modern look. It is made of glass and steel. Inside, there are about 10,000 square feet (929 square meters) of exhibits. The museum focuses on one specific part of history. This makes it a "specialized museum."
The museum holds many important items. For example, it has the personal papers of Ira Tucker. He was a singer in the famous gospel music group, the Dixie Hummingbirds. The museum also shows a film called Music As Metaphor. This film highlights popular African American musicians and singers. It explores how their music reflected the ideas of the American Civil Rights Movement.
In February 1992, the Association of African American Museums began renting space from the museum.
The museum has hosted several important exhibits over the years. In 1998, it held a special show of African American dolls. This was the first exhibit of its kind. The museum actually has the third-largest collection of African American dolls in the United States.
When Barack Obama was elected President, the museum created a big exhibit in late 2009. It displayed 95 quilts inspired by Obama's election. In November 2011, the museum received a major gift. This included papers, letters, photos, and items from Colonel Charles Young. Young was a truly remarkable person. He was the third African American to graduate from West Point. He was also the first Black U.S. national park superintendent. He became the first Black military attaché and the first Black person to reach the rank of colonel. He was the highest-ranking Black officer in the United States Army until his death in 1922.
In October 2016, the museum opened Kojo: Eyewitness to History. This exhibit showed the work of Columbus photographer Kojo Kamau. Kojo photographed many famous African Americans, from Muhammad Ali to President Barack Obama, for over 50 years. In May 2017, the museum opened Freed Will: The Randolph Freedpeople From Slavery to Settlement. This exhibit shared the story of nearly 400 newly freed people. They traveled from Charlotte County, Virginia, to Ohio's Miami Valley.
On January 5, 2011, the museum had to close suddenly. A big problem with mold and humidity was discovered. The roof had been leaking for some time. Mold was found throughout the building's heating and cooling system. The museum director, Dr. Charles Wash, said it would be closed for at least three months. A $433,000 cleanup project began. The museum reopened on January 27, 2013. It had new renovations, updated mechanical systems, and conserved artifacts.
See also
