Poindexter Village African American Museum

05/20/2026

The groundbreaking held earlier this month marks the public launch of the Lift Every Legacy Campaign, a $25.9 million effort to bring the Poindexter Village African American Museum to life.

Thanks to strong community support, more than half of the goal has already been raised.

Follow along for updates and behind‑the‑scenes moments as the museum takes shape.

Learn more at ohiohistory.org/poindexter.

Image: Three of the four Honorary Chairs for the Lift Every Legacy Campaign are pictured in this photo: James L. Ervin Jr. of the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, Mary Auch of PNC which offers support through its PNC Foundation, and Anthony Joseph of White Castle and the Ohio History Connection Board of Trustees. Also pictured, second from left, is State Senator Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus).

05/09/2026

Poindexter Village tells a national story through a local place.

Dedicated in 1940, Poindexter Village was one of the nation’s first federally funded public housing projects, shaped by progress and promise, as well as segregation, disinvestment and urban renewal.

The Poindexter Village African American Museum will connect personal stories to broader social change through photographs, oral histories and interactive exhibits preserving the legacy of generations who called this community home.

Opening early 2028.

Learn more at ohiohistory.org/poindexter

05/08/2026

05/08/2026

05/07/2026

Yesterday, we broke ground on the Poindexter Village African American Museum on Columbus’ Near East Side, marking a major step toward opening this new historic site in early 2028.

The museum will share powerful stories of public housing, African American heritage, urban renewal and community resilience through immersive exhibits and interactive experiences all rooted in the history of Poindexter Village.

Thank you to everyone who attended and made this worthwhile project a reality.

Learn more: ohiohistory.org/poindexter

05/07/2026

Poindexter Village was one of the first public housing complexes in the nation when it opened in Columbus in 1940. Now two of its original buildings are set to become a museum featuring African American and Columbus history.

05/04/2026

Did you know we're part of the Ohio History Connection site network? Read the story from NBC4 below and visit ohiohistory.org/poindexter-village/ to learn more.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – On Wednesday morning, ground will be broken on a project more than a decade in the making, one with roots dating back to President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal. Poindexter …

04/03/2026

Welcome to the official Poindexter Village African American Museum page!

Poindexter Village holds a powerful place in American history. Dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940, it was one of the nation’s first public housing communities designed specifically for African Americans. Located on Columbus’ Near East Side, Poindexter Village became home to Black families relocating from the South, as well as servicemen and federal workers returning from World War II. More than a housing project, it was a close‑knit community, a place defined by shared stoops, neighborhood schools, churches, theaters and stores, and a deep sense of responsibility for one another. Within its walls, future artists, leaders, educators, activists and professionals built lives rooted in dignity, culture and resilience.

Today, that legacy lives on. Following the demolition of most of the neighborhood in 2013, a new vision emerged: to preserve Poindexter Village’s story and reclaim the African American narrative through the creation of the Poindexter Village African American Museum. Looking ahead to the museum’s anticipated opening in 2028, this space will honor the people who called Poindexter Village home while exploring broader stories of public housing, redlining, discrimination and Black culture, past, present and future.

Follow along as we share stories, memories, museum updates and milestones on the road to 2028.