National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center facts for kids
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| Established | 1987 |
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| Location | 1350 Brush Row Road, Wilberforce, Ohio, 45384 |
| Type | Public |
The National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center is a special place in Wilberforce, Ohio. It's a museum that tells the amazing story of African Americans. From their beginnings in Africa to today, the museum shares their rich history and experiences. It's part of a group of museums run by the Ohio History Connection.
You can find the museum at 1350 Brush Row Road. It's right next to Central State University.
Contents
How the Museum Started
Early Ideas for a Museum
The idea for a national museum about African American history began a long time ago. It started in the early 1900s. In 1915, African American soldiers who fought in the Union Army met in Washington, D.C. They were still facing unfair treatment. So, they decided to create a committee. Their goal was to build a memorial to celebrate African American achievements.
Their hard work led to something big in 1929. President Herbert Hoover chose Mary Church Terrell, Mary McLeod Bethune, and ten others. They formed a group to build a "National Memorial Building." This building would show off African American successes in art and science. But Congress didn't support the plan. Also, they couldn't raise enough money from people.
For the next 40 years, people kept suggesting an African American history museum. But none of these ideas got much support. It wasn't until 2016 that a big national museum finally opened. This was the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Ohio's Role in Creating the Museum
In the early 1970s, new ideas for a museum started in Congress. At the same time, leaders in Ohio also wanted to create an African American history museum. Wilberforce was a very important place. It was a major stop on the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved Black people find freedom. Wilberforce was also home to Wilberforce University.
In 1972, Ohio passed a law to build a museum in Wilberforce. Then, in 1981, the U.S. Congress agreed to create a National Afro-American Museum there. The museum was built using money from private donations. It officially opened its doors in 1987.
Exploring the Museum
Museum Building and Leadership
The museum building itself is quite modern. It's made of glass and steel. Inside, there are about 10,000 square feet (about 929 square meters) of exhibits. Many leaders have guided the museum over the years. Dr. John Fleming led it from 1988 to 1998. Mr. Vernon S. Courtney was director from 1999 to 2007.
Later, Ms. Edna Diggs, a curator, became the Interim Director. Sadly, she passed away in 2011. Dr. Floyd Thomas then became acting director. In late 2011, Dr. Charles Wash, who was the museum's archivist, became the director.
What You Can See Inside
This museum is special because it focuses on one important part of history. It tells the story of African Americans. The museum keeps important papers from Ira Tucker. He was a singer in the famous gospel music group, the Dixie Hummingbirds.
You can also watch a film called Music As Metaphor. This film shows popular African American musicians and singers. It explores how their music connected with the ideas of the American Civil Rights Movement.
In 1992, the Association of African American Museums started renting space at the museum.
Special Exhibits and Collections
The museum has hosted many interesting exhibits. In 1998, it had a unique show of African American dolls. The museum actually has the third-largest collection of these dolls in the United States!
When Barack Obama became President in 2009, the museum had a big exhibit. It showed 95 quilts inspired by his election. In 2011, the museum received a huge gift. It was a collection of papers, letters, photos, and items from Colonel Charles Young. Young was a very important figure. He was the third African American to graduate from West Point. He was also the first Black U.S. national park superintendent. He was the first Black military attaché and the first Black person to become a colonel. He was the highest-ranking Black officer in the United States Army until he passed away in 1922.
In 2016, the museum opened Kojo: Eyewitness to History. This exhibit showed the work of Columbus photographer Kojo Kamau, known as Kojo. He had photographed famous African Americans, from Muhammad Ali to President Barack Obama, for over 50 years.
In 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.
Museum Renovations
On January 5, 2011, the museum had to close suddenly. There was a big problem with mold and humidity. The roof had been leaking for a while. Mold was found all over the building's heating and cooling system (HVAC). 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. This was after many repairs, system upgrades, and work to protect the artifacts.
See also
