Just Announced: The African American Museum Is Moving to the Parkway

Talk about big moves…

The City of Philadelphia announced today that The African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP) — the first institution built by a major U.S. city to preserve, interpret and exhibit the heritage and culture of African Americans — will move to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway . (Yes!)

The future location: a 240,000-square-foot historic building at 1801 Vine Street, next to the Parkway Central branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia near Logan Square.

Speaking of the library, the city also announced plans for the lot at 1901 Wood Street, which will be the future home of the library’s Children and Family Center and an auditorium (as well as storage and administrative offices).

For now, The African American Museum is staying put in Old City, and no timeline for the final move has been announced.

An exhibit at the current location of The African American Museum in Philadelphia in Old City. — Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia

Founded in 1976, AAMP — currently located at 701 Arch Street — takes a fresh, bold look at the roles of African Americans in the founding of the nation through the core exhibit Audacious Freedom. Visiting exhibitions and frequent programs reveal the history, stories and cultures of those of African descent throughout the African diaspora.

AAMP will join the other cultural institutions on Logan Square and on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway , which, if you need a refresher, include iconic Philly institutions like the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Barnes Foundation, The Academy of Natural Sciences, The Franklin Institute, the Rodin Museum and more.

The Benjamin Franklin Parkway as seen from above the Philadelphia Museum of Art — Photo by Elevated Angles for Visit Philadelphia