African American Museum of Iowa

The African American Museum of Iowa is the only institution in the state whose sole purpose is to preserve exhibit and teach the African American heritage of Iowa.

Welcome to Iowa’s state museum for Black History and culture. 2024 is a very exciting year for the African American Museum of Iowa (AAMI)!

After undergoing a $5-million renovation and months on the road displaying exhibits across the state, the AAMI reopens this year with a whole new look and exhibits on the heels of its 30th anniversary. The grand reopening features, Thirty Years of the AAMI, a celebration of the Museum’s three decades of operation. Visitors will also experience the re-opening of the permanent exhibit, Endless Possibilities, which 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.

In September 2024, the AAMI will open another brand-new exhibit which will thoughtfully consider the impact of Reconstruction, Jim Crow laws and other beliefs that enabled the use of caricatured Black imagery to sell products and perpetuate stereotypes. Plan to visit the newly renovated AAMI and immerse yourself in African American history and culture in the state of Iowa.