Museum of African-American
History

Illustration: A recreation of the hold of a slave ship at the Museum of
African-American History in Detroit.

 From African tribal masks to the flightsuit worn by African-American astronaut Mae Jemison in 1992, exhibits at the Musuem of African-American history in Detroit celebrate the heritage of black Americans. Founded in 1965, the museum moved into a new $38 million building in April, 1997. Today, it's the worlds largest mesuem devoted to African-American history.

Several of the museum's exhibits trace the history of the slave trade. Amoung them is a re-creation of an 18th century slave ship, showing captive Africans chained in the hold. Schoolchildren served as models for the exhibit's plaster-cast figures because the average captive blacks shipped to America were just 14. Other exhibits focused on the Underground Railroad, the network of people and organizations that helped the slaves escape in the years before the Civil War, and on the civil rights movement of the 1950's and 60's. The museum also showcases the accomplishments of African-Americans in all walks of life- inventors, musicans, political leaders, sports figures, and war heroes. It is also a major educational center, with a reference library open to children as well as scholars. The museum sponsors several annual events, including the African-World Festival.

DID YOU KNOW....The Museum of African-American History began as the Afro-American Mesuem of Detroit. It was first housed in the home of Dr. Charles H. Wright.

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