Current Exhibits
Timeline: A Walk Through History
This exhibit features 15 displays starting with African Heritage, moving to American experiences in slavery, fights for freedom, histories of community building and education, the Harlem Renaissance, Civil Rights, Kwanzaa, and returns to Africa with "A New Day Begins: Free Elections in South Africa." Visit the online version of this exhibit
here.
The Masquerade: A Diverse Selection of African Masks
This exhibit features nine masks from African countries, a gift from the family of Mrs. Lovette Harper. A quilt in the shape of Africa, an original design on loan from Jean A. McMurren, locates the countries of origin and accompanying text describes the ceremonial function of each mask.
A Research Center on The Underground Railroad
This exhibit includes a variety of printed material, videos, and a rare original copy of William Still's 1872 publication of
The Underground Railroad. The museum is listed as a facility on the National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.
Museum Wings
Harmie Davis Baker Research Room
This room provides space for quiet study of the museum's reference library, perfect for researching, designing lesson plans for students, or just reading a good book. It features various family portraits and art by Arthur Dillard and Gale Fulton Ross.
Annie Lucy Williams Children's Room
Designed especially for children, this colorful, inviting room has built-in seating suited for story-telling and group sharing. It houses a display of dolls and numerous children's books.
Etta Moten/Claude Barnett Gallery
This exhibition space is perfect for small tour groups and includes the Timeline exhibit as well as permanent displays such as a diorama of former Central Avenue West, historical business and domestic items, and an authentic travel trunk from the family of our co-founder, Ernest L. Brown, Jr.
Carter G. Woodson Multi-Purpose Room
This room can provide seating for large groups. It has exhibition space as well as a large screen for viewing educational materials. It currently houses Timeline and other revolving exhibits.
Past Exhibits
Junkanoo
The exhibit of costumes curated by Jane Smith on loan from Art Center of
Sarasota. Junkanoo is a cultural event not only of the Bahamas, but also the
world at large. Junkanoo street parades are showcased twice per year, the
day after Christmas and New Years Day. For addtional information visit www.junkanoo.com
What Price Freedom?
The art exhibit, "What Price Freedom?" was on display in the museum's Carter G. Woodson Multipurpose Room from May to November 2008. Featured regional artists were: Arthur Dillard, Eleanor Merritt, Gale Fulton Ross, and Gregory Rumph II. Curated by Fulton Ross, the exhibition derived its name from a collage donated to the museum by Merritt. The mixed-media paintings and text tended to evoke a dramatic remembrance of black people who risked imprisonment, and even death, in pursuit of freedom.
Many Faces, One Story
A collection of life experiences, memories and unforgettable moments. Share in the lives of friends, neighbors, artists, leaders, builders, healers, children, and thinkers...through their stories. Their stories are expressed in a variety of media. Some are handwritten, others are told through photography, textiles, collage, poetry, music, drawing, and painting. This exhibition ran through the Fall of 2006.
A Jazz Event to Remember
On May 22, 2005, Family Heritage House celebrated its 15th Anniversary with a fundraising celebration entitled A Jazz Event to Remember. Features and performances included: Local Artist Lillette Jenkins-Wisner, George Nix, Smooth Jazz, WSJT FM 94.1, Moejo Sound, Gumbo Boogie Band, "Jazzy Kids" from Rowlett, MCC Jazz Band, The High Notes Band, Southeast High Jazz Band, Lee Middle Jazz Band, Festival of Jazzy Foods and Salute to the 15th Anniversary.
Click here for a list of activities, speakers, and movies during the museum's 2005 Black History Month Activities. This page features an audio clip of Dr. Edwina Stanley explaining the secret messages in Negro Spirituals.
From Obscurity to Excellence - Celebrating African American Achievements in Sports
Images and artifacts from the collection of Family Heritage House and on loan from the Hal McRae family.
The images and material in this exhibition represent the broad range of the holdings in the Family Heritage House collection. The photographs, books, articles and other memorabilia seen here trace the pathways of individuals who have strived to become greater athletes.
In some cases, these athletes have achieved amazing feats of speed, physical strength and athletic prowess - breaking boundaries previously considered human limitations.
In every case, the athletes' goals and determination mirror values that provide us with the strength to overcome the daily challenges in our lives: fortitude, courage, leadership, resilience, ingenuity, and endurance.
This exhibition salutes those who have handed down this legacy.
Encounters, Gazes, and Stereotypes
In this exhibition you will find a variety of objects and images that reflect historical and contemporary ideas about stereotypes. We hope it will raise questions, provoke thinking, and conversation about personal experiences with encounters, gazes, and stereotypes.
Building Community: More than a Craftsman
This exhibition focuses on area craftsmen and builders, including Henry Webb, J.E. Rainey, James William King, John Henry Floyd, Gene Evans, and James Moreland, III. It includes historic tools, photographs, and archives about local contractors, carpenters, furniture makers, inventors, and others.
