The International African American Museum (IAAM) in Charleston, South Carolina has set 27 June as its new opening date, following more than 20 years of planning.
The museum, which was originally due to open in January, sits on the site of Gadsden’s Wharf, a former slave trading port.
It features nine exhibition galleries, a special exhibition gallery, and a ‘floating’ gallery that offers contemporary art throughout the museum.
The institution will launch with more than 700 artefacts dating from the 17th century, as well as 1,000 images and other media pieces.
New museum at Gadsden’s Wharf
Additionally, the museum is home to the Center for Family History, a world-class genealogy and ancestry resource centre.
Tonya Matthews, president and CEO of the International African American Museum, said the venue will “showcase the incredible breadth of African American history“.
The museum will “provide a space for all visitors to celebrate and connect to this history, to these stories, and to this art, but also to find meaning within their own stories”.
“The African American journey is far longer than the 20 years it took to build this museum and we are humbly proud to step up and play our part in this story. It is time.”
Debut to coincide with Juneteenth
Designed by architect Henry Cobb, the 150,000-square-foot museum shares and honours the untold stories of the African American journey.
The museum’s opening date coincides with Juneteenth, an annual national holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.
“As this magnificent new museum demonstrates, Charleston isn’t just a city where history happened – it’s a city where history is still being made every day,” said John Tecklenburg, Charleston’s mayor.
Ahead of the launch, the International African American Museum will host various community events, including an opening ceremony on 24 June.
