International African American Museum

05/27/2026

Preserve your family’s legacy! 📸✨

Join us on Saturday, May 30, for a IAAM History Free Document Scanning Day in historic Lincolnville as part of the 2026 Lincolnville Hometown Festival. We’re partnering with the Lincolnville Preservation & Historical Society at Ebenezer AME Church to help you digitize your precious family history.

Bring up to 10 family photos (pre-1970s) or documents to be scanned and saved. Whether it's birth records, funeral programs, or family bibles, help us keep these stories alive for generations to come.

What to expect:
✅ Free document scanning (up to 10 items)
✅ Genealogy 101 workshop
✅ Oral history sessions
✅ Fun activities for the whole family!

🗓 Date: Saturday, May 30, 2026
🕙 Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📍 Location: Ebenezer AME Church (124 E. Pinkney St, Lincolnville, SC)

Learn more at the "IAAM Programs & Events" link in our bio on how to register.

05/24/2026

This Memorial Day, we invite you to spend the day with us at the IAAM.

We will be open for regular hours this Monday, May 25, providing a space for reflection, learning, and remembrance. Whether you are coming to view the new permanent exhibit honoring Medal of Honor recipient Pfc. Ralph H. Johnson or exploring our galleries, we look forward to welcoming you.

Plan your visit at www.iaamuseum.org.

05/22/2026

Join us at the International African American Museum (IAAM) for a profound experience during this year’s Spoleto Festival USA!

We are honored to present "HOMEGOING," a powerful short film by filmmaker Julie Dash and operatic bass-baritone Davóne Tines. Filmed at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston and the Angel Oak Tree in John's Island, this collaborative musical tribute honors the Emanuel Nine, asking a beautiful, challenging question: What if a memorial was a monument to joy?

🗓 Film Showcase: May 22 – June 7 (Included with museum admission and held in IAAM's Theater)
🎙 Special Talk-Back: Join us for "Monuments to Joy: The Making of HOMEGOING" with creator Davóne Tines on Tuesday, May 26, at 12:00 PM in IAAM's Studio Time room. Tines will discuss the process of creating the film, recounting the artistic journey and creative process, involving director Julie Dash, and his band THE TRUTH.

Come for reflection, leave with hope. Learn more at iaamuseum.org/events.

05/21/2026

In recognition of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, we continue our journey of discovery and truth-telling.

Join us on Thursday, June 4 for "Revolutionary Conversations: Humanity in History." Hosted at the IAAM and in partnership with Gaillard Center and the Gibbes museum, this session invites you into a space of intentional reflection.

Guided by the expert facilitation of Tina Singleton of Transformation Table, we will explore the themes of freedom, justice, and belonging. This is an invitation to engage with history not as a static record, but as a living conversation that informs who we are today.

Reserve your seat: https://iaamuseum.org/event/revolutionary-conversations-humanity-in-history/

05/20/2026

A legacy of courage, permanently honored. 🎖️

It was a privilege to host the family of Medal of Honor Recipient Pfc. Ralph H. Johnson for a private preview of his new permanent exhibition at the IAAM. His shadow box and portrait are now on view in our South Carolina Connections gallery, which honors his life, his service in the U.S. Marine Corps, and the selfless act that earned him the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration.

As we prepare to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice this Memorial Day weekend, we invite you to experience this special installation of one of Charleston’s most honored military heroes.

Plan your visit at www.iaamuseum.org.

05/19/2026

The countdown to one of our biggest programs of the year officially begins for our third annual J.O.Y. | Juneteenth on the Yard, proudly sponsored by TD!

The day of celebration is in commemoration of June 19, 1865, when news of emancipation finally reached the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, with Juneteenth marking a powerful turning point in American history.

Join us on Friday, June 19, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in our African Ancestors Memorial Garden for a day dedicated to celebrating Black liberation, resilience, and community. Explore unique onsite experiences across the garden that include live on-stage performances, family-friendly activities in our Ubuntu Village, local Black-owned businesses at the Vendor Bazaar curated by Charleston Black Expo, diverse cuisines from our Food Hall, and personal photographic moments through TD's .

We are also offering free, complimentary museum admission all day long! Timed-entry tickets are strongly recommended and go live to register on Monday, June 1, at iaamuseum.org. Walk-ups will be accepted on the day of, but will be based on building capacity. Stay tuned for updates on when pre-registration officially opens to the public.

Mark your calendars, invite your community, and make plans to celebrate freedom and joy with us!

05/18/2026

On , we reflect on the true mandate of modern museums.🏛️

As our President and CEO, Dr. Tonya M. Matthews, powerfully articulates in this clip, the core of our work lies at “the simultaneous intersection of trauma and joy.” At the International African American Museum (IAAM), we believe that authentic storytelling requires an unvarnished approach to history.

We cannot fully appreciate the triumph and cultural legacy of the African Diaspora without understanding the fractures and trauma of the past. By honoring both, museums become catalysts for radical empathy, sparking crucial conversations that move people from inspiration to action.

Thank you to our global community for walking this journey of discovery, truth, and healing with us. 🖤

🎥Watch the full 10-minute cinematic video “Where The Journey Begins: IAAM” here: https://vimeo.com/1192608122

05/15/2026

For the second year in a row, we want to give a huge thank you to everyone who voted for the us here at IAAM as best museum for Charleston City Paper's 2026 Best of Charleston!🖤

This award belongs to our community, to the ancestors whose stories we tell, and to the visitors and supporters who keep those stories alive.

Congratulations to all the fellow winners and runners-up! We are honored to be part of such a vibrant, talented, and resilient city.

We’ve cracked the case, and we didn’t even need a magnifying glass. Well, OK, some of us probably will. Yes, we’re back again with all your old favorites and new ones, too. Introducing 15 new categories from Best Place to Dance Your Butt Off to Best Estate Planning Attorney, bringing the tota...

05/15/2026

Where the Journey begins.🏛️

Standing on the hallowed ground of Gadsden’s Wharf, the International African American Museum (IAAM) serves as a portal to the past and a bridge to our future. From the shores of Africa to the spirit of resilience that defines the diaspora, every story deserves to be told.

This is more than a museum: It’s a homecoming.

🎥Watch the full 10-minute cinematic journey: https://vimeo.com/1192608122

05/15/2026

The International African American Museum (IAAM) announces the addition of a significant donation to its South Carolina Connections gallery.

The donation includes a shadow box of military medals belonging to Charleston hero and Medal of Honor recipient Private First Class Ralph H. Johnson, gifted by his family, alongside a photographic print of a portrait of Johnson painted by professional artist Rick Austin.

This installation will be permanently on view for the public in time for this year’s Memorial Day weekend.

IAAM honors Charleston hero Ralph H. Johnson with a new installation featuring his Medal of Honor shadow box in its SC Connections gallery.

05/15/2026

SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION IS STILL OPEN! ☀️⛺️🏛️✊🏿

IAAM's 2026 Summer Camp "Full Op Wid Joy" runs from June 22nd through July 17th.

Each week will present a unique theme, inspired by the Gullah Geechee tradition of resilience and well-being.

Scholarships are available at the registration link! If you're interested in sponsoring a summer camp child, please contact us at [email protected].

Sign up your child up today: https://iaamuseum.org/event/iaam-summer-camp-2026-full-op-wid-joy/