5 Things You Can Learn from the International African American Museum

Twenty years in the making, the International African American Museum (IAAM) in Charleston, South Carolina sits on Gadsden’s Wharf, a bustling tourist area where cruise ship goers, history buffs and aquarium visitors congregate. Overlooking the Charleston Harbor and Ravenel Bridge, the wharf from 1670 to 1807 was the landing place for approximately 260,000 enslaved Africans during the transatlantic slave trade. Today, the IAAM chronicles the history of the Middle Passage, but it is so much more than that! Here are 5 things you can learn from the International African American Museum. 

Discover Charleston’s Newest Museum

Joseph P. Riley, the longest-serving mayor of Charleston – ten terms – first put forth the idea for the museum. Initially, the land was going to be a restaurant, but upon construction, traces of Gadsden’s Wharf were discovered; it was then that Riley and the city repurchased the land with hopes of building a testament to Charleston’s true history. 

5 Things You Can Learn from The International African American Museum

Art Exhibits at the IAAM

The art gallery at IAAM is a showcase of the African American experience in a wide variety of art styles. Paintings, sculptures, and interactive galleries celebrate the African American experience and the highs and lows. Here you’ll experience art, activism, and everything in between. From news stories, headlines, and popular culture, it is a true fully immersive experience in Black culture. 

Explore Your Ancestry

One of the most frustrating aspects of life in America for Black Americans is being unable to trace our ancestry back beyond, often in some cases, the year 1850. Enslaved Africans were property, and listed as such. They were not included din the population census. The IAAM is home to the Center for Family History. The center is dedicated to helping African Americans trace their genealogy. Historians and genealogists are on hand to assist visitors and allow them to discover their African lineage. 

Learn About the Transatlantic Slave Trade

Of course, as mentioned, the IAAM highlights the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The engaging exhibit will truly leave you speechless. The museum features nine galleries and includes 150 artifacts. These pieces of history tell the story better than any outdated textbook can.

Immerse Yourself in Interactive Experiences

One of the most interesting of the 5 things you can learn from the International African American Museum involves augmented and virtual reality. These immersive technology exhibits will seemingly transport museum-goers to the past. You’ll virtually walk through a reconstructed slave ship. Or, transport yourself to the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement.  

Explore Digital Resources From Home

Finally, for those unable to visit in person, the IAAM provides a treasure trove of digital exhibitions housed on the Google Arts & Culture site. This is ideal if you’re far from Charleston but want to experience the museum, or if you’d like to immerse yourself before your visit. 

Who You’ll Discover at the International African American Museum

As part of the 5 things you can learn from the International African American Museum, you’ll get to know countless individuals who had a significant impact on life in America. Denmark Vesey was the planner of a rebellion in 1822. This rebellion had the potential to change history. The museum also highlights Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglas, and many others. African American trailblazers in a variety of industries and fields are also featured at the IAAM. Madam C.J. Walker, who was the first female millionaire in the US, James Baldwin, Duke Ellington, Angelou; the list goes on. 

Hours and Admission Fees

The IAAM is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday through Sunday. (Closed on Mondays) General admission is $19.95 for adults, $9.99 for children ages 6 through 17, and children under the age of six get in free. There are special admission rates for educators and military personnel.  

Over 700 slave ships from West Africa arrived in Charleston at Gadsden’s Wharf. A little less than half of enslaved Africans brought to North America, came through the Charleston Harbor. We owe it to our ancestors, ourselves, and our future generations, to fully understand, appreciate, and embrace our history, and the IAAM is the perfect place to begin that lifelong journey.