3 New African American Museums and Cultural Sites Debuting in 2005

Lew Myers
919.941.9790

03/24/2005

Cultural Tourism, Rising Interest in Civil Rights History Fuels Visitor Demand for Museums

Rising interest in African-American history and culture is creating a new wave of museums, cultural centers and civil rights commemorative sites in cities across the US. Featuring exhibits, performances, oral history recording studios and learning workshops, more than 25 new destinations are providing both a place and a renewed focus to the vibrant history of the African-American experience. Travel industry estimates show that African-Americans, the largest minority group in the US, spend an estimated $25 Billion annually on tourism.
The Freelon Group, an architecture firm based in Research Triangle, North Carolina, is designing several African-American cultural projects in the US, including three new museums scheduled to open this summer and fall in Baltimore, San Francisco and Greensboro. According to firm Principal Phil Freelon, FAIA, the increase in museum openings and expansions is due to a growing awareness of the cultural and historical experience of African-Americans. "The Baby Boom generation in particular is now looking back and contemplating our history," he reports. "Seeing such history come alive in tangible ways, and being able to share it with one's family and children, offers an inspiring visitor experience."

Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture
On Baltimore's Inner Harbor, The Freelon Group and Baltimore-based RTKL are preparing for a June 2005 opening of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture. Projected to generate $9.5 million in direct spending to the state of Maryland, the new museum expects nearly 300,000 visitors in its first year. What they will see is a modern five-story structure clad in black granite, aluminum, glass and red brick containing:
- Two-story theater with seating for 200
- Exhibits chronicling the history and culture of Maryland's African-American people
- Oral history recording and listening studio allowing visitors to listen to stories or record their own experiences.

International Civil Rights Center and Museum, Greensboro, NC
During ceremonies held February 1 2005, the 45th anniversary of the day four college freshman sat down at the Woolworth's 'whites only' lunch counter, the facade of the new International Civil Rights Center and Museum was unveiled in Greensboro, NC. Saved from the wrecking ball, the infamous Woolworth site will become a new four-story civil rights museum set to open in 2006.
The Museum's exterior recreates the Woolworth's storefront exactly as it looked on February 1, 1960, when four University of North Carolina freshmen launched a national civil rights sit-in movement by refusing to leave the counter until being served. The museum includes:
- Fourteen signature exhibits and a changing art an exhibit gallery
- "The Lunch Counter Experience" at the museum's street level recreating the historic scene and exact setting of Feb 1, 1960
- Video, news clips and film footage showing the progression of the civil rights struggle in the US and around the world

Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD), San Francisco
Scheduled to open in the fall of 2005, San Francisco's Museum of the African Diaspora aims to explore and celebrate the history, culture and contributions of African-descended people around the world. The $11 million museum, which is being financed with a mix of public and private funds, will occupy 20,000 square feet on the first three floors of the St. Regis Museum Tower, a 40-story luxury hotel and condominium complex under construction at Third and Mission streets in downtown San Francisco.
The museum will have its own signature entrance on the Mission Street side of the Tower, with a glass curtain wall framed by limestone cladding that will set it apart from the rest of the building. Located in the heart of one of America's major business and cultural crossroads and in the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts district, MoAD is close to the Moscone Convention Center, The SF Museum of Modern Art, and numerous other art and cultural attractions. Over a million people visit the area each year.
About The Freelon Group: Known for cultural, life science, corporate, government, and education design work, The Freelon Group is a full service architectural firm providing services from pre-design through post-occupancy. Freelon is African-American owned, one of the few minority-owned and operated design firms of its size in the US. Founded by Philip G. Freelon, FAIA in 1990, the firm has grown by seeking out projects that add value to the community, and by delivering award-winning solutions.