Curator Dot Guthrie welcomes you to the African American Museum
Curator Dot Guthrie welcomes you to the African American Museum of History & Culture in Gastonia, North Carolina.
Time recently highlighted 100 destinations for travelers to explore, from designer Christian Louboutin’s Vermelho Hotel in Portugal to the snow-capped slopes of Italy and the Matterhorn Alpine pass in Switzerland.
The magazine’s roundup of “The World’s Greatest Places to Visit in 2024” featured a South Carolina museum honored for its “interactive journey from tragedy to triumph.”
The International African American Museum (IAMM) in Charleston opened its doors last summer in a former shipping port. Since then, the institution has strived to bring African American history to life and inspire visitors through stories of hardship and bravery.
For this reason, Time has named IAMM one of the most worth seeing places in the world.
What did Time say about the IAAM?
The IAAM is the second largest African-American museum in the country. According to Time, former Charleston Mayor Joe Riley came up with the idea over 20 years ago. U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn from South Carolina’s 6th Congressional District also supported it.
The museum’s location – 13 feet above the ground – will be a topic of conversation for visitors. Its placement symbolizes the museum’s sacredness at Garden’s Wharf, where thousands of African captives arrived, according to Time. Other carefully designed parts of the museum include the African Ancestors Memorial Garden, designed by landscape architect and MacArthur Genius Grant recipient Walter Hood.
Core exhibits that visitors shouldn’t miss at the museum include “African Roots/African Routes,” an exploration of the pre-slavery history of West and West Central Africa, and “Carolina Gold/Memories of the Enslaved,” a deep dive into the Lowcountry’s complex past.
Visitors who wish to explore their family history and ancestors can do so at IAAM’s Family History Center, which offers genealogical counseling and records oral histories.
Who is the CEO of IAAM?
Dr. Tonya M. Matthews is the President and CEO of IAAM. According to the IAAM website, she is a leader in the areas of institutionalized equity and inclusion, social entrepreneurship, and the intersection of formal and informal education. In addition to her work at the museum, Matthews is a recognized engineer, poet, and visionary for community projects and boards, and uses her voice as a public speaker for communities of all ages and locations.
What is the address and opening hours of the museum?
Would you like to visit the IAAM on your next trip? If so, it is located at 14 Wharfside St., Charleston. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Hourly parking is available in the City of Charleston parking garage at 24 Calhoun St., Charleston. Metered parking is available along Concord and Washington Streets.
Nina Tran covers current affairs for The Greenville News. You can reach her by email at [email protected].
