Northwest African American Museum facts for kids
 |
|
Northwest African American Museum (NAAM) in 2008
|
|
| Former name | Colman School |
|---|---|
| Established | 2008 |
| Location | 2300 S. Massachusetts Street Seattle, Washington |
| Type | African American, art, history, culture |
| Architect | Donald King and Rico Quirindongo (museum conversion) James Stephen (school) |
| Public transit access | Beacon Hill Station King Street Station |
| Designated: | 2009 |
| Reference #: | 122950 |
The Northwest African American Museum (NAAM) is a special place in Seattle, Washington. It helps everyone learn about and celebrate the history and culture of African Americans in the Pacific Northwest. The museum shows how Black experiences are an important part of American history.
NAAM is located in Seattle's Central District. This neighborhood has a rich African-American history. The museum building used to be the Colman School, built in 1909. It is now a special Seattle landmark. Part of the building also provides homes for people.
The museum was closed for about three years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But it still stayed active online! NAAM reopened its doors on January 16, 2023. This was on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Recent exhibits have included "Colors of Life- African American Abstract Art and the Regathering of Community." This show features amazing abstract art by Black artists from the Northwest. Other exhibits explore visual art by Black artists and show photos from Seattle's Martin Luther King, Jr. marches.
Contents
How the Museum Started
The idea for this museum began a long time ago, in 1981. A group of people from different backgrounds worked together. In 1984, a special team was formed to make the museum happen.
The next year, some community leaders, including Earl Debnam and Omari Tahir-Garrett, took over the empty Colman School building. They wanted it to be the museum's home. Omari Tahir-Garrett's son, Wyking Kwame Garrett, also joined them. This effort to claim the building continued for eight years. During this time, the city and school district looked at other possible places for the museum.
In 1993, a non-profit group called the African American Heritage Museum and Cultural Center was created. They worked with the city to plan the museum. The Urban League later became involved in 2001. They bought the Colman School building in 2003.
Carver Gayton became the museum's director in 2004. Barbara Earl Thomas was named the curator, who helps choose and arrange exhibits. In 2006, the museum became its own independent non-profit organization. Construction work began in the spring of 2006.
When the museum officially opened in March 2008, some people who had worked hard to get the building felt left out. Wyking Kwame Garrett spoke up during the opening. He felt the museum wasn't what they had fought for. He was arrested for not leaving. However, Carver Gayton recognized the important role these activists played. He said, "They had a role in improving visibility of the African American Museum. They were part of that."
NAAM is one of several cultural places in Seattle that started because people protested and occupied a building. Other examples include El Centro de la Raza and the Daybreak Star Cultural Center.
Building Design
.jpg)
The museum is inside the old Colman School. This school was designed by James Stephen and built in 1909. It has a special style called Jacobean architecture.
A local architecture company, Donald King Architects, was chosen to design the museum. Rico Quirindongo was the main architect for the project. They changed the building so the ground floor became the museum. The upper floors were turned into 36 affordable apartments.
The building was suggested as a city landmark in 2005. It officially became a Seattle landmark in 2009.
What You Can See Inside
The museum has a large space, about 17,000 square feet. This includes a gift shop, galleries for different art shows, and rooms that people can rent for events. It is also right next to Jimi Hendrix Park.
The first art show at the museum featured works by Jacob Lawrence and James W. Washington, Jr.. These were two very famous African American artists who lived in Seattle. The show included Lawrence's paintings about George Washington Bush, who was the first African American settler in Washington State. It also showed Washington's sculpture "The Young Queen of Ethiopia" from 1956.
These artists had different styles and topics. But they both strongly believed in their own artistic path. Their art moves people because they felt a deep need to create it. They wanted to share important truths about society or their inner feelings. Both Lawrence and Washington worked hard to find their unique artistic voice. This is a difficult journey for any artist. It was even harder for them as Black men in a country with many racial challenges. They were pioneers, opening doors and helping others. We can all learn from their amazing work.
Museum Programs and Events
NAAM offers many fun and educational programs. These include story times for kids, movie nights, and talks about books. They also have lectures and workshops to help people with research and writing.
The museum also hosts online exhibits and events. One special program is the Dr. Carver Gayton Youth Curator Program. This program helps young people learn how to put together museum exhibits.
In 2009, the museum started a nine-month internship program for people interested in working in museums. This helped strengthen its connection with the University of Washington's museum studies program.
More to Explore
