Alexandria Black History Museum: Celebrating African-American history
For centuries, America's black community was kept hushed and down as the country continued to grow up and forward. But the country wouldn't have prospered the way it did if it wasn't for its African-Americans contributing economically, socially and culturally – and the city of Alexandria began to recognize their place in history. A sit-down strike in 1939 led to the creation of the Robert Robinson Library, the first public library for African-Americans, and today is the location of the Alexandria Black History Museum.
The ABHM opened in 1989 with the help of the Parker-Gray High School Alumni (the first and only school for African-Americans in Alexandria before de-segregation) and the Alexandria Society for the Preservation of Black Heritage. The ABHM pays tribute to the black community of Alexandria's history, through careful preservation and presentation of historic documents, photos, artwork, religious objects and other items. If wax figures do not frighten you, there's a life-like wax display of people dressed in period wear through a variety of scenes frozen in time.
Items on permanent display include sculptures by a well-known African-American artist, documents related to the first public schools for black students in Alexandria, Civil War documents about its “colored soldiers” and other ones pertaining to local organizations. There are relics and art pieces from Africa, a 100-year-old Bible and pipe organ from a local Baptist church, and a collection of advertisements showing marketing towards minorities in the 1950's and 1960's (a contribution from the Moss Kendrix Organization, one of the major black PR firms in the country). Photographs are continually being added to the collection, also on display. There are more than 3,000 pieces to the permanent collection.
The Watson Reading Room was an extension completed in 1995 that holds periodicals, videos, books and documents. Visitors are welcome to peruse through them but the items are non-circulating. Also completed in 1995 was a nine-acre park centered around a 19th century African-American cemetery, located several blocks from the museum.
HelloMetro Tip: Tours, lectures and other activities related to the museum and to the history of African-Americans in Alexandria and beyond are offered throughout the year. The ABHM is a living museum, and continues to serve as a forum for Alexandria's present-day black community to get together and discuss issues affecting their community.
Posted by Rin-rin Yu
