Tubman Museum facts for kids
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Front entrance of the Tubman Museum
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| Former name | Harriet Tubman Historical and Cultural Museum |
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| Established | 1981 |
| Location | Macon, Georgia |
| Type | Art museum |
| Founder | Richard Keil |
| Public transit access | Terminal Station |
| Nearest parking | on-street and back parking lot |
The Tubman Museum is a special place in Macon, Georgia, USA. It used to be called the "Tubman African American Museum." You can find it in a cool area with other museums, close to the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.
Contents
History of the Tubman Museum
Where the Museum Started
The Tubman Museum opened in 1981. It was created to save and show African American art, history, and culture. The first museum building was about 8,500 square feet. It was located on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Drive and Walnut Street.
In 2015, the museum moved to a much bigger building. The new building is about 49,500 square feet. It is located near Terminal Station and across from the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.
Plans for the new building started in 2001. The museum leaders began building that year. However, a tough economic time from 2007 to 2008 caused delays. The old museum closed on April 10, 2015. The new building opened on May 16, 2015. This happened during the Pan-African Festival in Downtown Macon. A parade marched from the old museum to the new one for the opening ceremony.
Why the Museum Was Created
The Tubman Museum was a dream of Rev. Richard Keil. He was a Catholic priest who worked in many churches. He felt Macon was the perfect spot for the museum. It was easy to reach and in a central location.
In 1981, he talked to many African American community leaders. He found a building on Walnut Street. He made a payment and took out a loan himself. He believed others would help.
Rev. Keil wanted to start the museum because he saw a need. He felt there were not enough places to learn about African American history. He wanted a museum to show the great things African Americans have done. He also wanted to celebrate their culture in a positive way.
Many people helped Rev. Keil make the museum happen. These included high school principal Gloria Washington and professor Bobby Jones. Contractor Albert Billingslea and his wife Margaret also helped. Pearlie and John T Oliver, and Maureen Walker, were also very supportive.
The museum moved to its new home on Cherry Street in 2015. It is now known as the largest museum in the Southeast. It focuses on African American art, history, and culture.
What the Museum Does
The museum's main goal is to teach people about African American culture and history. It has many different exhibits and programs. These are for everyone, from young students to college students.
The museum also offers fun classes. You can learn dancing, drama, drumming, and photography. There are also visual art classes. All these classes focus on African American culture.
Art and Exhibits
Galleries and Special Shows
The Tubman Museum has many interesting galleries and exhibits. One amazing piece is From Africa to America. This is a large mural by Macon artist Wilfred Stroud. It shows important events from Africa to America, starting in 1619.
You can also explore other galleries. These include I Dream a World: Portraits of Black Women Who Changed America. Another is Sankofa: A Century of African American Expression in the Decorative Arts.
The museum also has several art collections. These include The Mural, Inventors Gallery, Local History, Folk Art, and Black Artist of Georgia.
See also
