The International African American Museum in the port city of Charleston, South Carolina, has drawn more than 100,000 visitors since opening its doors last summer.
Nestled on Gadsden’s Wharf, where an estimated 40% of enslaved Africans first set foot in this country, it is the second-largest museum focused on Black history. It took more than 20 years to complete the $120 million project. The museum features artifacts, exhibits, and a genealogy center that helps visitors trace their ancestry.
Just before its grand opening last June, we sat down with the museum’s president and CEO, Dr. Tonya Matthews, who shared what visitors can expect to experience at this 150,000-square-foot facility. Watch the video below to learn more.
Watch: Experience the International African American Museum
Guests tour the International African American Museum on Friday, June 23, 2023, in Charleston, S.C. Overlooking the old wharf at which nearly half of the enslaved population first entered North America, the 150,000-square foot museum houses exhibits and artifacts exploring how African Americans' labor, perseverance, resistance and cultures shaped the Carolinas, the nation and the world. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)