The Griot Museum of Black History facts for kids
Griot Museum of Black History
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| Former name | The Black World History Wax Museum |
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| Established | February 1997 |
| Location | St. Louis, Missouri |
| Type | wax museum |
| Founder | Lois Conley |
| Public transit access |  MetroBus |
The Griot Museum of Black History is a special wax museum located in St. Louis, Missouri. It first opened its doors in 1997. The museum was originally called The Black World History Wax Museum. In 2009, it changed its name to The Griot Museum of Black History.
In some West African countries, a "griot" is a very important person. They are like a historian, storyteller, or musician. A griot keeps and shares the traditions and stories of their community. In the same way, this museum collects, saves, and shares the stories, culture, and history of Black people. It especially focuses on those who have a connection to the St. Louis area.
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Discovering the Griot Museum's History
The Griot is the second African American wax museum in the United States. The first one is the National Great Blacks In Wax Museum in Baltimore. The Griot's founder, Lois Conley, was born in St. Louis. She studied Communications and Education at Saint Louis University. She also earned a special certificate in Museum Studies at University of Missouri–St. Louis. Museum Studies (or Museology) is the study of how museums are run.
In 2009, the Missouri Humanities Council started a project called the Urban Museum Collaborative. The Griot Museum joined this project with two other St. Louis museums. These were the Eugene Field House Museum and the Campbell House Museum. They worked together to share resources and create educational programs. This project helped connect museum exhibits with the neighborhoods around them.
Exploring Exhibits and Programs
Permanent Exhibits: Stories in Wax
The Griot Museum has many displays. These include amazing wax sculptures, art, and historical items. You can see wax figures of important historical people. Some of these figures include Carter G. Woodson, Josephine Baker, and Dred and Harriet Scott. Other figures include Elizabeth Keckley, William Wells Brown, and James Milton Turner. Famous musicians like Clark Terry and Miles Davis are also featured. You can also see Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Madame C.J. Walker, York, and Percy Green. Lois Conley, the museum's founder, made many of these wax sculptures herself.
The museum also features a real slave cabin. This cabin was built on the Wright–Smith Plantation in Jonesburg, Missouri. There is also a small model of a slave ship. This model shows how Africans were brought to America during the Atlantic slave trade. A film about the Middle Passage plays alongside it. The Middle Passage was the difficult journey across the Atlantic Ocean. Another exhibit shows how auctions happened at the Old Courthouse. It includes items from people who were enslaved at that time. Other exhibits highlight famous people and important moments in St. Louis Black history. These stories are told through music, farming, community service, and fighting for rights.
The museum also hosts art and history exhibits. It supports educational projects, talks in the galleries, and cultural celebrations.
Seasonal Exhibits and Special Programs
The Griot Museum also has special exhibits and programs that change throughout the year.
- 40 Acres and a Mule: This is an annual art show and fundraiser. Its name comes from a promise that was not kept. After the Civil War, formerly enslaved Black farmers were promised forty acres and a mule. This promise was meant to help them start new lives.
- Eminent Domain/Displaced: This exhibit shared stories of the historic Mill Creek Valley. It also covered nearby parts of St. Louis Place. These areas were torn down to make space for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency site.
- Black HIV/AIDS Awareness: In 2019, the Griot marked 50 years since the death of Robert Rayford. He was the first known person to die from HIV/AIDS in the United States. The museum held events around National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on February 7. They encouraged people to share memories and offered health screenings.
- Black HerStory Initiative: In 2021, the Griot received a special grant from Monument Lab. This project honors Black women who have made important contributions to St. Louis. These women helped shape the city's culture, society, and politics. New monuments will be built to honor St. Louis natives Pearlie Evans and Mary Meachum.
See also
