International African American Museum

The International African American Museum (IAAM) is a museum of African-American history being built in Charleston, South Carolina, on the site where Gadsden's Wharf, the disembarkation point of up to 40% of all American slaves, once stood. Construction of the IAAM began in January of 2020 after 20 years of planning.[1]

Conception and construction

The idea of the museum was initiated by former Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr.[2] The city had previously sold the land to a restaurateur however after construction on the site discovered traces of Gadsden's Wharf Riley decided to repurchase the land.[3] The construction budget of the museum is $75 million. Joe Riley raised money for the project as a private citizen. The $25 million private donation goal was met in 2018.[3] The South Carolina General Assembly delayed a $25 million contribution to the project which delayed construction of the 40,000-square-foot facility.

The city of North Charleston donated $1 million to the project. Keith Sumney, the mayor of North Charleston, stated that he hoped the museum would include an exhibit on Liberty Hill, a historically black neighborhood in North Charleston.[4]

The design architect is Harry Cobb, of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, working in collaboration with Moody Nolan architectural firm of Columbus, Ohio; the landscape designer is Walter Hood, of Oakland, California.[5] The museum will be built on the Cooper River, with a view towards Ft. Sumter and out to the Atlantic Ocean.[2][6]

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References
  1. "IAAM, the International African American Museum Is Now Under Construction". ArchDaily. 2020-01-22. Retrieved 2020-02-08.
  2. "Charlestown's New Museum: Cobblestones and bones". The Economist. 5 January 2017.
  3. Kimmelman, Michael (2018-03-28). "Charleston Needs That African American Museum. And Now". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
  4. Williams, Emily. "City of North Charleston plans to give $1 million to International African American Museum". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
  5. Kimmelman, Michael (28 March 2018). "Charleston Needs That African American Museum. And Now". New York Times. nytimes.com. Retrieved 1 April 2018. Print version, "In Charleston, a Museum Long Past Due", 29 March 2018, p. C1, 4.
  6. Waters, Dustin (23 September 2016). "International African-American Museum to go before architectural review board next week". Charleston City Paper. Retrieved 11 January 2017.

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