The African American Museum of Iowa is a statewide museum dedicated to preserving, exhibiting, and teaching Iowa’s African American history. As Iowa’s leading educational resource on the topic, we educate more than 30,000 people each year through museum tours, traveling exhibits, research services, youth and adult education programs, and community and fundraising events.
Our permanent exhibit, Endless Possibilities, traces Iowa’s African American history from its origins in western Africa to the present—through slavery, the Civil War, the Underground Railroad, segregation, and the Civil Rights Movement. Our temporary exhibit gallery is currently home to Unwavering: 21st Century Activism. This exhibit explores contemporary social movements and how they are entwined in the lives of African Americans throughout the country, with a special focus on events that have sparked activism in Iowa. Visitors will not only explore how technology has shaped modern movements built on the work of earlier black activists, but also have the opportunity to reflect on ways to create positive change.
