About the Museum
Plan your visit
to the Museum today!
To reach a staff member, see the Staff
Directory.
For a list of the Museum's board members, see the
Board of Directors
page.
The AAMI conducts programming all over Iowa. See
our annual report
for information about our work in your community in 2008.
Mission: To preserve, publicize, and educate
the public on the African American heritage and culture of Iowa.
Organizational History: The heritage of African
Americans in Iowa was in danger of being lost without major efforts
to preserve it. In 1994, a small group from Mt. Zion Missionary
Baptist Church in Cedar Rapids began the project in celebration
of Black History Month.
Milestones:
1994 -- African American Heritage Foundation, Inc.
chartered in Iowa as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
1998 -- First full time employee, Joseph McGill,
hired as Executive Director
2000 -- Temporary museum opened at Westdale Mall,
Cedar Rapids
2002 --Construction began in April on the new 17,000
square foot state-of-the-art museum
2003 --Thomas Moore named interim Executive Director
in May. The position becomes permanent in November.
2003 -- Grand opening September 19th for permanent
exhibit "Doorways: A History of African Americans in Iowa".
The exhibit offered a fascinating overview of the history of African
Americans in the United States with specific focus on Iowa.
2004 -- Endowment fund opened.
2004 -- The Africa section of the permanent exhibit
opened. Visitors started in West Africa, where they passed through
the “Door of No Return” and entered a slave ship to experience
the famous “Middle Passage” from Africa to Iowa.
2005 -- The 12th Ave. bridge renamed the Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge and the memorial art piece “Trumpet”
was unveiled.
2006 -- Museum chapters established in 8 communities
across Iowa.
2007 --The Museum received grant from the Institute
of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to hire and train two staff
members to coordinate the chapter program.
2007 --The Museum received a second grant from the
Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to conduct a statewide
oral history project entitled, "Adult Voices--Children's
Eyes: Iowa African American Oral History Project". This innovative and ongoing
project trained youth groups across Iowa to conduct oral histories
in their communities. These histories record important history
at risk and spark a passion for heritage among African American
youth.
2008--The flood of 2008 damaged the Museum building.
See the flood timeline
for more information about how the Museum was affected by the
flood.
2009 -- Museum re-opened to the public on Jan. 17th.
Facilities:
Permanent Gallery
Gale Sayers Changing Gallery
Aldeen Davis Celebration Hall (This room is available for rentals)
Nikee Museum Store
Louis Dade Conference Room
Learning Lab (This room is available for rentals)
Susan Kuecker Curatorial Department
Joseph McGill Administrative Office
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