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Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture facts for kids
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| Established | 2005 |
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| Location | 830 East Pratt Street Baltimore, Maryland 21202 United States |
The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture is a special place in Baltimore, Maryland. It teaches us about the lives and history of African Americans in Maryland. The museum has a huge collection of over 11,000 items. These items show 400 years of Maryland's history! The museum opened in 2005 and works with the famous Smithsonian Institution.
Contents
How the Museum Was Built
Getting the Money
Building the museum needed a lot of money. The government said it would give $31 million. But first, $1.5 million had to be raised from other places. Peter G. Aguilar, who owned the Baltimore Orioles baseball team, gave all $1.5 million.
A Special Gift
After that, big companies promised more money. The biggest gift came from the Reginald F. Lewis Foundation. They gave $5 million! This money was set aside for educational programs. Because of this generous gift, the museum's founder, George L. Russell Jr., and its leaders decided to name the museum after Reginald F. Lewis.
Who Was Reginald F. Lewis?
Reginald F. Lewis was a very successful businessman. He was the first African American to build a company worth a billion dollars. His company was called TLC Beatrice International Holdings. Reginald Lewis started from humble beginnings in Baltimore. By 1991, he was listed among the richest Americans by Forbes magazine.
Exploring the Museum Building
Design and Colors
The museum building is five stories tall and very large. It was designed by architects Phil Freelon and Gary Bowden. When you visit, you'll see the bright colors of the Maryland state flag. These colors start on the outside of the building and continue inside. The designers wanted to connect the museum to Maryland's history.
What's Inside?
The museum has many cool features for visitors. There's a studio where you can record and listen to oral histories. These are stories told by people about their lives. There's also a special gallery for changing exhibits. You can find a 200-seat theater, a classroom, and a resource center too.
What You Can See Inside
Permanent Exhibits
The museum has exhibits that are always there. They explore Maryland's African American history. You can learn about families and communities, work, and art and ideas.
Past Special Exhibits
The museum also hosts temporary exhibits. Some past ones include "A Slave Ship Speaks: The Wreck of the Henrietta Marie." There were also exhibits featuring the art of Romare Bearden and Jacob Lawrence. Another exhibit was "Make Good Trouble: Marching for Change." This one showed items collected during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Museum Leadership
The museum's executive director is Terri Freeman. She has been leading the museum since 2021.