Cedar Rapids African American Museum of Iowa roots and opening
Curious reader explores how Cedar Rapids became home to the African American Museum of Iowa and the museum’s evolution from Mt Zion Church beginnings in 1993 to the 2003 opening of a $3.1 million facility. Founders Johnny Brown James Clark BeBe Davis Thomas Levi Sr. Thomas Moore and Marvin Steward built a donor driven collection and a lasting local history focus. The 2008 flood caused damage, but the museum salvaged most artifacts and reopened in 2009.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Towa
Iowa
Brianna Kim
Cedar Rapids
Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church
12Th Ave. SE
Mount Zion Missionary
Kim
Parks Department
Westdale Mall
Buxton
Hunter
Barack Obama
Viola Gibson piano centerpiece at African American Museum
The Cedar Rapids pastor Viola Gibson played the piano now in the African American Museum of Iowa collection. The instrument, recovered after a flood, bears a diagonal line marking its flood history and ties to Gibson’s civil rights work with the Cedar Rapids NAACP in 1942. The museum charges $1 on the first Saturday and hosts Coffee Conversations for visitors to discuss exhibits.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cedar Rapids
Marcus Irvin
Viola Gibson
Christ Sanctified Holy Church
Kim
Gibson
Hunter
African American Museum of Iowa expands programming and leadership
The African American Museum of Iowa promotes The Life of an American Girl exhibit focusing on Addy Claudie and Melody with programming tied to Claudie and the Harlem Renaissance. New Nota Monolith series explores Black contributions, and a February AfroFuturism event features Eass Afia. The museum reopens after a $5 million renovation and appoints Hunter as executive director beginning March 38, replacing LaNisha Cassell.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Addy
Claudie
Melody
Hunter
Eass Affia
Sensul Studios
Midwest
Iowa
Dr. King
Blackiowa.org
12Th Avenue
Kim
Gazette
Cedar Rapids
Iowa Economic Development Authority
Destination Town
Hall-Perrine Foundation
LaNisha Cassell
Voices Underground
Kennett Square
Tam
Also Mentioned on This Page
African American Museum OF Iowa
Nancy Kraft
University of Iowa
Steve Stenstrom
Des Moines
Bailey,ci
Jacqueline Hunter Africanamercan Museum of
Ette.com
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!