Northwest African American Museum facts for kids
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Northwest African American Museum (NAAM) in 2008
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| Former name | Colman School |
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| 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 us learn about and celebrate the history and culture of African Americans in the Pacific Northwest. The museum shows how Black experiences have shaped America through its exhibits and events. It is located in Seattle's historic Central District neighborhood. The museum building used to be the Colman School, built in 1909. It is now a recognized landmark in Seattle. The building also has 36 affordable apartments for people to live in.
The museum reopened on January 16, 2023, after being closed for about three years. It had to close because of the challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic. Even when the building was closed, the museum still offered programs online. In 2023, some exhibits included "Colors of Life," which showed abstract art by four Black Pacific Northwest artists. Another exhibit, "Freedom of Expression," featured art by Black artists from the region. It aimed to challenge ideas about what "Black" art is. There was also "A Long Walk to Hope," which displayed photos of Seattle's annual Martin Luther King, Jr. March.
The Museum's History
The idea for the museum started in 1981 with a group called Community Exchange. In 1984, a special team was formed to work on the idea. The next year, some community activists, including Earl Debnam and Omari Tahir-Garrett, took over the empty Colman School building. They wanted it to be the museum's home. Tahir-Garrett's son, Wyking Kwame Garrett, also joined in this effort, which lasted for eight years. During this time, the city of Seattle and the Seattle School District looked at other possible places for the museum.
In 1993, a group called the African American Heritage Museum and Cultural Center was created. It was a not-for-profit organization, meaning it uses its money to help its cause, not to make a profit. A board was chosen to guide the project. In 2001, the Urban League became involved. They bought the Colman School from Seattle Public Schools in 2003. This was a big step toward making the museum a reality.
Carver Gayton became the museum's director in 2004. Barbara Earl Thomas was chosen as the curator, who helps choose and organize the art and exhibits. In 2006, the museum became its own separate non-profit organization. Construction began in the spring of 2006. The museum officially opened in March 2008. Many people, including Rev. Sam McKinney, thanked the activists who had worked so hard for years to make the museum happen.
NAAM is one of several cultural places in Seattle that started because of community protests. Other examples include El Centro de la Raza and the Daybreak Star Cultural Center.
Building Design
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The museum is located in the old Colman School building. It was designed by James Stephen and built in 1909. The building has a special style called Jacobean architecture.
Donald King Architects (DKA), a local Black-owned architecture company, was chosen to design the museum. Rico Quirindongo from DKA was the main architect for the project. They changed the building so the ground floor became the museum. The second and third floors were turned into 36 affordable apartments.
The building, which used to be an elementary school, was suggested as a landmark in 2005. It officially became a Seattle landmark in 2009.
What You Can See and Do
The museum has about 17,000 square feet (about 1,580 square meters) of space. This includes a bookstore, gift shop, and galleries for both temporary and permanent exhibits. There are also spaces that people can rent for events. The museum is right next to Jimi Hendrix Park.
The museum's first exhibit showed art by Jacob Lawrence and James W. Washington, Jr.. They were two 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 featured Washington's sculpture "The Young Queen of Ethiopia," made from volcanic stone. These artists were trailblazers who created opportunities and helped others.
Programs and Events
The museum offers many activities for visitors. These include interactive story times, movie nights, and book talks. They also host lectures and workshops for research and writing. NAAM also has virtual exhibits and online events. One special program is the Dr. Carver Gayton Youth Curator Program. It helps young people learn how to create museum exhibits.
In 2009, the museum started an annual nine-month internship program for curators. This helped to strengthen its connection with the University of Washington's museum studies program.
See also
