Mount Pleasant Magazine Jan/Feb 2020

31 www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.BestOfMP.com | www.ReadMPM.com This one-of-a-kind research center — scheduled to open in late 2021 on the Charleston Harbor on the site of the former Gadsden’s Wharf — will have a special focus on African-American genealogy. It will be an interactive place of education and discovery featuring exhibits, galleries and multimedia theaters with touchscreen displays designed to cater to visitors of all ages. Brenda Tindal, director of education and engagement, stated, “The IAAM is poised to be a state- of-the-art museum and memorial to honor and interpret the rich and complex stories and experiences that shape the history and culture of people of African descent. In this way, the IAAM will be a site of pilgrimage for an international, national and regional community of visitors who are interested in learning about Charleston’s African American heritage and its unique connections to other parts of the African diaspora, including West and West Central Africa and the Caribbean, to name a few. Our immersive exhibitions and menu of public programs, symposia, workshops, tours, school fieldtrips and special events will ensure that the museum is a hub for robust community engagement, dialogue and enrichment experiences for diverse and multigenerational audiences.” WHY CHARLESTON? “Know from whence you came. If you know whence you came, there are absolutely no limitations to where you can go.” — James Baldwin Approximately half of all North America’s enslaved Africans entered this country through Gadsden’s Wharf, commonly known as the “Ellis Island of African Americans.” It is now referred to as “hallowed land.” Today, millions of African Americans can trace their ancestors to Charleston. The IAAM’s goal is to create a unique center of learning for individuals and families to advance their understanding and knowledge of their own family’s lineage. Through resources and programs, people will learn the roles their ancestors played in shaping American history. This museum will provide us all an opportunity to learn, understand and appreciate African-American history and the people who came ashore here. It will be a must see for everyone. EXHIBITS AND GALLERIES ATLANTIC CONNECTIONS Atlantic Connections will allow visitors to follow the interwoven relationships between key port areas in Africa, Europe and America, including Charleston. CENTER FOR FAMILY HISTORY The Center for Family History will be the museum’s main feature and biggest draw. Visitors will have access to state-of-the-art technology to help uncover information about their ancestors. FAMILY HISTORY GALLERY The Family History Gallery will attract visitors interested in tracing their genealogy, some for the very first time. SOCIAL JUSTICE ACTION LAB The Social Justice Action Lab will be a place to collaborate with local, national and international partners for discussions, outreach and resources for addressing social justice issues connected to people of African descent throughout the world. AMERICAN JOURNEY American Journey will be a timeline, punctuated with insights from individual and community voices and experiences. It will take visitors on a journey through South Carolina’s unique history by looking at key moments and movements connected to the state. POWER OF PLACE Power of Place will feature exhibitions and artifacts as well as an interactive media table with a large-scale map of South Carolina. ORIENTATION THEATER When visitors enter the new museum, they will be able to view a short film in the Orientation Theater. The film will convey the emotional power of the IAAM’s location at Gadsden Wharf and will orient guests to the significance of Charleston history. Viewers will learn about the African-American resistance, sacrifice, survival and achievements. RICE CULTURE IN THE LOWCOUNTRY Guests will learn how the enslaved West Africans brought a rich knowledge of rice cultivation to South Carolina’s coastal wetlands and converted them into lucrative rice fields. Later known as “Carolina Gold,” rice along with tobacco, sugar and cotton plantations in the South — based on enslaved labor — fueled the growth of the United States. GULLAH GEECHEE GALLERY The Gullah Geechee Gallery will celebrate historic African-American communities, their culture and diverse experiences. in honor of black history month