The leaders of the International African American Museum in South Carolina recently announced the opening of the museum to the public.
Opening up its doors last Tuesday, the new International African American Museum, otherwise known as IAAM, features nine galleries and over 700 objects as part of its exhibits.
Along with the new museum, here are five other museums to visit in celebration of Black history and culture.
- National Civil Rights Museum: Located in Memphis, this museum, founded in 1920 traces the history of the Civil Rights Movement and highlights its impact on modern-day culture. Featuring over 260 objects and over 40 interactive media and films, the museum covers over 200 years of history, highlighting Black Power, the Freedom Rides and the Montgomery Bus Boycott as part of their permanent exhibits. As of now, the National Civil Rights Museum is also temporarily home to the “Voices of the Civil Rights Movement” exhibit and will soon also host the “Solidarity Now! 1968 Poor People’s Campaign” exhibit as part of its tour.
- Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts: Founded in Brooklyn in 1999, the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts, or MoCADA, focuses on exploring art mediums that revolve around the social and political issues in the African diaspora. Led by artist Amy Andrieux as executive director and chief curator, the museum currently has multiple collections on display; along with a permanent display on the Pan African flag and Black nationalism, MoCADA currently houses three displays on Black maternity, culture critic Greg Tate and an Octavia-Butler inspired series on the planet’s wellness.
- National Museum of African American History and Culture: Considered the largest museum dedicated to Black history and culture, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, otherwise known as NMAAHC, has almost 37,000 objects in its collection. As part of the Smithsonian Institution, the museum currently displays multiple exhibitions about a variety of topics, including history, religion, sports, visual arts and Afrofuturism. The museum also offers guests a digital exhibit about literary giant James Baldwin, exploring his life and writings.
- Motown Museum: Located in Detroit, the Motown Museum chronicles the history of the famed Motown record label. The museum gives visitors a tour of places such as the Hitsville U.S.A. building, Studio A, where the Supremes first recorded “Stop! In the Name of Love,” and the control room where Motown founder Berry Gordy worked as he recorded the young artists that are now synonymous with the label. Events, such as Tiny Porch Concerts and Motown Mic, are also available for guests.
- Northwest African American Museum: This Seattle museum recently reopened its doors this year in January following a brief closure. The Northwest African American Museum, or NAAM, focuses on chronicling Black history in the Northwest and across the U.S. with a variety of different exhibits, programs and events.
Specializing in history, the arts and literature, the museum features two main exhibits, with a third one dedicated to celebrating Oregon Black Pioneers coming soon. Along with programs dedicated to holidays such as Juneteenth and historical figures such as James Baldwin, NAAM offers free interactive events, including interactive story times and yoga classes. Online exhibits are also available; the latest online exhibit is “Iconic Black Women: Ain’t I A Woman,” a series of 25 portraits of influential Black women by artist Hiawatha D.
