National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center

Established in 1987, the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center is operated by the Ohio History Connection within a building near Central State University and the Wilberforce campus. The building features 10,000 square feet of exhibit space. The museum offers a variety of exhibits and programs that educate the public about African American history, art, and culture. Permanent exhibits trace the history of the Black experience in the United States from freedom in Africa to enslavement in America, the experience of slaves and free people of color in the colonial and antebellum period, the end of slavery and the Civil War, the quest for equality during the era of Jim Crow, and the quest for civil rights from World War II to the present.

A movement to create a national museum dedicated to African American culture and history began in the early 20th century but stalled due too the lack of Congressional support. This museum is the result of a renewed effort that began in earnest during the 1970s. The Ohio state legislature approved a bill to create such a museum in Wilberforce but the museum still relied upon private rather donations. In 1987, these fundraising efforts paid off when the 10,000-square-foot museum opened its doors.

Ohio History Connection: http://www.ohiohistory.org/museums-and-historic-sites/museum--historic-sites-by-name/national-afro-american-museum--cultural-center/exhibits-collections