African American Museum in Philadelphia

You just have to tour this museum. It has interactive history lessons and art and story boards. This is real American history, from the Black perspective. And there is so much more. Such as a delightful musical performance on film from 1969, featuring the late Carol Channing and the late great Pearl Bailey. It's something you just have to see. The Staff are very nice and helpful. The museum is located at 7th and Arch Streets. Parking is conveniently located near the entrance. We had such a nice time there. I would recommend this experience for anyone who is interested in history and culture. It's a deeply moving experience.

While the museum isn’t very big it provided a nice overall experience. I especially liked the talking character screens, telling the stories of Black Philadelphians from the mid 1700s - early 1900s.

Really interesting and interactive exhibits. The variety is what really impressed me. I learned about several important historical figures I had not previously heard of before. The melancon glass beadwork exhibit was beautiful with the artwork and Mardi gras Indian costumes. The Pearl Bailey exhibit highlighted the accomplishments of the storied actress and performer. There is a variety of media and a little something to interest everyone. You could easily spend an hour or so walking around. Well worth the admission.

I recently visited during a private celebration of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. This is a wonderful museum with engaging exhibits of Black history. There is an inviting gift shop where souvenirs can be purchased. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

This was a great start. The museum has interactive exhibits for adults and children. To enjoy you must take your time to listen and read. I loved the different media used and the staff was welcoming. This museum is small but don’t be fooled, it is full of information and to be seen by all races.

Such an educational experience. Learned things I didn't even expect. I look forward to going back and bringing friends to see new exhibits! It was really cool.

Very wonderful museum! I experienced the Juneteenth Event outside of here, and I had a wonderful time celebrating!

I enjoyed walking through the various exhibits. Reading about our history and things we have overcome motivated me to do better in life! My struggle is not as bad after all!!

Came with someone who eanted t9 chexk this location out. Sunday is the best day!!! Not a lot of people, so you could enjoy the offerings and take your time. Parking: There's a parking lot right behind the museum that you enter via Arch Street. It'll cost you about 30 for a little over 1.5hr. Sundays street parking on most streets surrounding the museum are free. The cashiers were pleasant. I loved the videos of past essential African Americans who contributed to the Philadelphia history. There is a lot of reading, so bring your readers and get ready for some great information. They had a video you watched with headsets. I wonder if they clean them. Hmmmm! Don't mind me, I'm a germaphobe! We saw the Rising Sun Artist in an Uncertain American exhibit, and I really enjoyed a few pieces. We were able to get through everything in about 2 hrs. Overall, we enjoyed our time. I hope you do.

Very interesting and unique museum. They have a mini gift shop at the front and then about 3 levels full of items. The second level was VERY interesting. I loved the reenactments, that was a very cool idea. All the art work was fantastic , some i lingered very long on and others i breezed right past. A NICE selection of history. The parking is street parking only and i think i spent more time looking for parking then i did actually inside.

It hurts me to give this "museum" such a low rating but it warrants saying it left way to much to be desired. First, while it is focused on the African American experience in Philadelphia, that history only represents life in the late 1700's up to the Civil War. There is absolutely nothing after that. Nothing about the Great Migration, The Civil Rights Movement, The Black Power Movement, hell, MOVE which made headlines all over the world. Nothing about TSOP, our three African American mayors, our churches. Even my grandfather should be here as one of the first African American bus drivers in this city not to mention the many luminaries who hail/hailed from Philly. It's kind of mind boggling and left me wondering who dropped the ball here. The problem with the 2nd floor is if everyone there is pushing the buttons to hear the image on the screen speak it can get very loud and confusing and the 3rd and 4th floors are simply art installations. Not what I wanted or expected.

I love visiting museums it's one of my favorite things to do This one is for all the history people they have interactive movie panels and some art I even caught a guided tour guide who gave rich facts about some of Philadelphia rich history

Came on a whim since I had some time before my bus left. I came in and was greeted warmly and able to use my museums4all pass to enter. I went to the top floors to look at the contemporary art. "The Seven Crones" stood out to me, these beautiful and complex dolls painstakingly made with beads, paints, fabrics, and so much more blew my mind. I loved the white crone-- it had this eternal quality. The yellow crone was so fun and had a Josephine Baker quality to it. I recommend checking out these dolls they are unlike anything I've seen in modern museums as of late. The Derrick Adam's exhibit was based on the "Green Book" and had inspirations of travel, automobiles, leisure/pleasure through the lens of an African American experience from past to present. The hats on wheels instantly caught my attention. This museum is perfect for kids and adults alike. So much to learn and build on the parts of history that we didn't learn in school.

Great time you will learn a lot about African Americans in Philly. I was told it's the first African American museum in the USA

Even watching and reading every single exhibit all the way through, I only spent about an hour here. The top floor is closed right now--I'm assuming for the new exhibit coming later this month (which I would love to see). The basement has a few photos from the civil rights era. The first floor has an interesting collage? Mural? of many figures and events from black history. There is an audio component that takes you through multiple facets of a black person's life--home, family, religion, politics etc. there is a large semicircular surface that has short explanations for all of the photos included in the collage. It's very different from what most are used to--one photo and one placard. This is presented as an amalgam of works and little tiny micro explanations. It may be off putting for some, but it's very creative and unique. The second floor has some displays that play videos of actors playing historical black figures. You can push various buttons (with your feet, it's been adapted to covid times) and hear about their lives and trials as black people. Folks on site were nice. Price was 14.00. Not the biggest or fanciest, but creative and interesting.

I thought this museum was really interesting and I wished all the exhibits were open. The top floors were closed for updates so we only got to see two areas but I thought they were so informative and interesting and it evoked a lot of emotion within me to imagine what my ancestors endured. What stood out to me was the exhibit where there are different screens of actors portraying African American historical figures allowing you to "interact" with them by asking them pre-chosen questions and letting them tell you their stories. I found this so powerful. These screens all have buttons to press to ask these questions but they were replaced by foot pedals which was great so you don't have to actually touch anything (you know how times are so this is great). I definitely want to return when the rest of the museum is open. They have gender neutral and accessible bathrooms available.

My friends and I found the content to be interesting and mostly engaging, though we couldn't help but feel that the experience would have been more compelling if they had a larger space and better budget - so make sure you donate! The exhibits are separated by floors, of which there are 4. The ground floor was probably my favorite - it's a chronological walk through the history of Philadelphia and its role in the lives of African Americans through the 1870s, displaying a multitude of pieces of art and copies of source documents from the years covered, as well as explanatory plaques about them and the events and cultural shifts they represented. I liked it because I'm a big history fan and because it was cool that they gave this section a local focus, rather than just touching on the standard national equivalents that we hear more about. The second floor has a bunch of digital kiosks with actors in period clothes telling stories from the lives of African Americans who lived in the area in the 19th Century. There's a lot of interesting information being shared here, but this was where the restrained space of the museum most hurt it, for me. If they had a bit more space to spread the kiosks out, there's be a lot less sound from others bleeding into your space when you're trying to list to a specific one. And most of them have a closed caption option, but for one or two they weren't working and so it was a challenge to hear what was being said over the room full of others, plus visitors of various ages. The focus shifts as you go higher from a standard history to more about art, though it obviously remains engaged with the larger narratives, even as it moves closer to the present. The top floor offered a nice variety of photography, paintings, and material art that reached into the early 2000s. It seems like a bit of a missed opportunity that they don't have more content speaking to the 21st Century, but that doesn't detract from the quality of what's there. I'd say as long as you go in not expecting something on the scale of the museums along the Parkway you'll come away with a positive experience and having learned some new things. And I hope one day they'll be able to upgrade to the kind of space they deserve.

I have been wanting to come here the last couple months to bring my daughter so she can learn about her dads side and her culture and it was a nice experience for her. We attended a free family event that they were having and there were so many crafts for her and her friend to do while we were there. I thought the museum was bigger and I guess I expected to see more in the exhibit but there wasn't too much to really explore or learn besides a few articles of clothing and handmade cups, bowls and things. There was a sign however that said sorry for the look, they were remodeling and expanding, so that makes sense of why there wasn't really much to observe. When we went up to the other floor there were these TV things showing a character and explaining who they were and what they did in the African American community during the time when they were living. I thought that was pretty cool, because you would push a button and you could hear some things about them. The activities were pretty cool for the kids and they had the chance to design notebooks, bags and their own book markers. The staff was so friendly and helpful. I would go back once the new remodel is finished, I would like to see what else they add.

Very informative and well maintained museum. Great family outing spot. If you are buying City Pass/Philadelphia Pass, this museum is included in one of the attractions.

The New Year does different things for different people. For me it brings about a since of renewal overall and excitement for the approach of February. There's excitement because of my birthday which my bestie appropriately renamed Sho-eBruary due to my month long celebration and activities. With that excitement there is an appreciation that has matured as I get older for the awareness that I'm blessed to be born during the month when my ancestors are acknowledged and also celebrated. This year I wanted to visit the African American Museum in DC, but as much as my other bestie tried, tickets where not attainable. She decided we will start off Sho-eBruary with a trip to Philly the last weekend in January to the African American Museum in Philly. Prior to coming, I of course read the reviews while many are fair serval highlight disappointment and discouraging comments. I say that's unfortunate because while I'm sure this Museum doesn't compare to DC, I believe instead of highlighting the negatives everyone should approach this museum with an open mind. Unless you lived through slavery, the civil rights movement and are an African American historian all in one, everyone and anyone can find a piece of information here that is new knowledge to add to their expanding understanding of our history in America. The AAM is compact with an abundance of information clustered in some interactive displays. One of the first displays is in essence a time line and if you press the "play all" button it will go through the entire display by illuminating certain areas as it pertains to the audio. The second level has individual interactive story displays about some AA historical figures. As well as an area off to the right that would be nice for kids. In this area if all displays are pressed simultaneously it will make it difficult to hear the audio but there is an option to have the words displayed so you can read along. In January the 3rd level was John Dowell's COTTON exhibit. COTTON- The Soft Dangerous Beauty Of The Past. This exhibit displayed photos and installations demonstrating his creative way of taking something that has been a source of pain and anger driven by economic greed and turn it into a portrait of strength and power. In the photo portion he creatively overlaid pictures of Cotton over photographs of areas, landmarks and neighborhoods that were built on the blood, sweat and tears of slaves. His photos highlighting Seneca Village and the intersection of Wall Street between Pearl and Waters Street are very eye opening. As New York was the 2nd largest slave market in the US and the official Municipal Slave Market that opened in 1711 was located on Wall St. "Seneca Village was NYC's first predominantly middle-class African American community. The settlement of almost 300 residents had its own school and churches and was integrated with Irish and German immigrants. Over half of Seneca Village residents owned their land. In 1857, after 30 years of existence, it was demolished via eminent domain to create Central Park" In the city that is known for "brotherly love" and highlights the founding fathers (whom were Slave owners) and the creation of the USA, without properly accepting or acknowledging the tournament that was inflicted to do so. I appreciate any establishment that acknowledges African American's contribution and culture by emphasizing a truer version of American history. P.S. On the lower level is an auditorium with some awesome historic photos on the wall by Maurice Sorrell (1914-1998) titled Photographic Memory. I included as many pics as possible not all are attached to this review. Just A Note: I suggest arriving early it gives you the opportunity to view the museum virtually uninterrupted by other patrons. You can opt for street parking, which is a two hour max limit and you will be able to fully complete the museum. Hope you find a gem here that is just for you and Enjoy!

I used a Groupon for 2 to check out the AAM. The bldg. is well kept and nicely decorated inside/ out, with a small shop. Im will keep this short and positive, this was not a really informative museum compared to others Ive visited. Im positive Philly has more AAM blk history for others to learn from, I left feeling like maybe this should be a art museum. Lots of lovely art upstairs, great way for local talent to display. Staff was friendly, Im sure they have other events that locals attend at this facility, this review is strictly for my museum visit only. Tip: Maybe research and visit other museum for ideas on how to make this more informative for others.

This is a good place that I didn't know existed. We were following our daughter for her class assignment. At this time only two of the four exhibit areas are open to the public, so we have to return to see the other two floors. What we were able to view was very good. Give this place a try. A must see for any history buff. The museum is located right near all of the other national sights in Philly. I enjoyed what I was able to see and will return to see the rest. The staff was friendly and helpful when asked. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door. Visits are broken into time slots. They currently close at 3pm for cleaning and open again at 3.30.

The African American Muesem is not very large, however I will give it 4 stars because it supports the black culture in a positive way. I came here for a natural hair event called "Embracing your Roots" and the event was super fab and informative. After the event was over I was able to explore the museum. The featured exhibit was "Collective Conscious" which highlights local black artist in Philadelphia whose artwork promotes social change in our community. The artwork was very beautiful. I also enjoyed exploring past exhibits of Black Philadelphians who has made a difference in society. Overall the AAMP is 14.00 for general admission and it offers different workshops throughout the month. Come visit and learn a piece of history!

Road trip to Philadelphia led us to this museum. I enjoyed my experience and based on the other reviews I came here with an open mind. This museum is small, but I appreciate the rich history of our ancestors. As I sat listening to the journey of so many it made me smile at their strength. As I headed up the ramp to the next floor I listen to the stories intently. I have to say that it's best to go early to beat the crowd, because if everyone is listening to the interactive screens all at the same time it can get chaotic and you can't enjoy each character. The interactive wall of history is great for children. It will keep them engaged and they will get a kick out of trying to check their answers based on the the questions provided. John E. Dowell's cotton collection was creative. He took a period in history that is so painful for African Americans and turned it into strength, resiliency and beauty. Him honoring his grandmother created a gallery of beauty.

5 stars for the first floor exhibit and the unnerving second floor exhibit! My friend and I were randomly walking around Philadelphia exploring when we came across the African American Museum. She wanted to check it out so we went inside. Since it was the first weekend of the month, I was able to go in for free as a Bank of America cardholder. Yay for that! On the first floor, there is a lot to read and see. Once someone chooses a topic on the control panel, most people step back to listen to history unfold. It's hard to describe but using lights and photos/pictures/images, the lights highlight the areas that it is referring to as it goes through history. This was my favorite part of the museum. The second floor contained the "Audacious Freedom: African Americans in Philadelphia 1776-1876" exhibit. The actors seemed 4D so almost as if they were only separated to us by the screen since they were our height, it seemed. By pushing buttons, the likes of Octavius Catto or Richard Allen will tell their stories. It's easily to be mesmerized and sucked into their couple minute long stories or to be able to relate to the stories they tell and the stories you've heard before. The upper galleries, although interesting, weren't as exciting for me. I'm more into written history so photos of shoes and clothing aren't quite the same as stories with photos. All in all, this was one of my favorite spots during my visit to Philadelphia and I would definitely come back again with my friends if we're ever in the area!

This museum is definitely a spot to pass by. May not be the highest on the priority list, but a nice outing. The museum is kind of small, but the exhibits are interactive- they have exhibits where you can press buttons and the tell different stories and stuff. If it were bigger it would be better for the mere fact it could hold more information. The cover isn't bad. I went during MLK weekend so the prices were discounted- so I took advantage of it (it was 2 dollars pp instead of 10 dollars pp). The place is nice though. I found street parking which was cool. I would have been a little disappointed for ten dollars.

So, this is my second visit to the African American Museum of Philadelphia. Although a bit underwhelming due to its small collection of exhibits & art, no modern technology and overall few artistic options but none the less it still offers something to be gained. I'm hopeful there will be an effort soon to obtain benefactors to upgrade the potential of this museum. Made my donation on the way out. Came with a group of nine as an educational social outing and it was enjoyable. It was Family Fun Day and there were several stations for kids to stop by to be artistic and creative. Always a fan of children starting young in learning about and being exposed to art. The highlight of the visit was the various videos and photographic art about the LGBT community. Wonderful photographic art exhibit by Gerard H. Gaskin who captured the beauty, energy, creativity and originality of the House & Ballroom community through photographs in various cities throughout the northeast and mid-atlantic areas. I felt he brought a pure and raw insight into a world many know nothing about, have no interest or just discovering with curiosity and understanding. Yoruba Richen's 2013 The New Black, documenting a segment of the Black community's view on legalizing gay marriage, was playing in a small area of the museum. It gave a friend and I an opportunity to discuss our polar beliefs but mutual respect on the issue. That's why Art is so important. It brings controversial and impactful medium to a venue where people can view, discuss, emot and think how it is akin to their ideology, ideas or just plan like or dislike. That's Art and that's why it's important.

I enjoyed visiting this museum , nice staff and exhibits . I really enjoy the interactive experience to learn more about the lives and experience at that time period . It was nice to see some class experience take place at the museum by both field trips students and students at a table doing activities.i would've liked to see the T-shirt's available for sale and souvenir items stocked to further support although I was able to leave. Donation. I recommend anyone to visit while in Philly.

I really love coming to this museum it recaptures the history of the African-American experience in a poignant way. Not only do you have the daily displays of any ordinary museum there are a lot of sponsored events that are very exciting and fun to attend. Often you may find authors, poets, artist, musicians people of all walks of life professional and aspirational presenting their art or craft. These experiences are memorable and should be cherished not to mention appreciation for the African-American Museum should be shown by you offering a generous donation or simply having a membership. These are stories that must be told and kept alive and the only way to do it is by the generosity of those who appreciate all this museum has to offer. Check the museums website for events there are a lot of free events especially for children during the weekends.

I was here for a welcome reception as part of a work conference I attended. The exhibit I got to see seemed pretty cool. It was on the second floor and consisted of a wall of info and interactive blocks you could flip up as well as about 10 life sized videos of people (well, actors) telling about parts of their lives. I didn't get to see all the exhibits (I'm assuming there were more) since some were blocked off, but it was very cool to be able to visit it for free during the welcome event. I would be curious to see the other exhibits, but not sure I would pay the $14 admission when there are so many other free museums around.

Overall I was disappointed. Pros: It was free admission today, 6/19/19 so I saved $14 It's walking distance to the other museums and Chinatown 3rd floor Do or Die by Fahamu Pecou was quite good. That this museum even exists is a pro Cons: I visited on 6/19/19, Juneteenth and was hoping for some special events. There weren't any that I could see. There were some guys dressed up as soldiers. I waited for the 1:30 tour but no one showed up so I went through the museum on my own. It is really small. Basically there are two displays and that's it. 1st floor: The first display you come upon has text in front and images in back. I read through some of them and then noticed this kiosk in the middle of the room. I pressed one of the soft keys and all the lights went out and this narration started. Three people were reading the text displays and I felt bad and apologized and turned it off. This is really a poor design that a visitor can disrupt another visitors viewing like this. Anyways, I waited until the room was empty and played all. It's narration with spotlights that shine on what the narrator is talking about. This first display is too text heavy with no video. There should be an introduction video like the American Indian Museum in DC or the Constitution Museum a block away. Anyways, I read through most of the text and felt it was like pages from an African American History book, not really all that user friendly or accessible. The bench to sit on is broken and rocks back and forth. It's also too far away to see the displays so standing is required. 2nd floor The ramp leads up to the second floor where there are vertical screens of various historical people telling you about their lives. There was a kids program going on on the same floor so I couldn't hear the audio from the narrators voice due to all the kids talking. This was frustrating. I read the captions for a couple and then just went up to the 3rd floor. 3rd floor was just an art gallery. Do or Die by Fahamu Pecou was quite good, but belongs more in an art gallery than a museum right? So there were only 2 displays which is really underwhelming. No artifacts No documents No timelines No videos giving an overview of African American history in general or specific to Philly. No docents One museum can't tackle the entirety of African American History since it would be a massive undertaking, so I suppose the museum should at least focus on the local African American History. Overall I was disappointed and what I learned I could have just gone to the internet to do the same. Still as hypocritical as this may sound I hope you visit and donate since this museum is clearly underfunded and needs community support and funds to improve.

This was a nice place to visit on a random day. A great mix of history, culture and art. I wasn't entirely sure of what I was expecting. While not disappointed I wasn't overwhelmed. We used discounted tickets through a third party but left a donation for the cause. A lot of the information is Philadelphia based which is appropriate. I learned many things I wasn't aware of and new details of things I was aware of. I was told this would take approximately 45 minutes to get through. It's advertised as "great for kids" while the information can be useful, my children did not get much from our visit unfortunately.

Outstanding museum with plenty of hands on activities and experiences for kids and adults alike. If you've visited the African American museum in DC you'll know how crowded it can be. This Smithsonian museum is only about 2 hours away and is definitely worth the trip.

My boyfriend and I were highly disappointed! Such a disgrace to see a beautiful building that has so much potential have such lack of history and wasted space. The best exhibit was in the 1st room. Like others have mentioned the room is poorly lit and it's so much information to review at one time that you kind of want to move on to the next floor to see more. The 2nd floor were videos with buttons you could push to learn interesting facts aboyt that individual. They were long winded and i found myself loosing interest in waiting to find iut the answer. Also, two of them were broken and had an "out of service" sign posted on them. Such an eye sore and poorly done. The 3rd floor was an art exhibit of "Black Pulp" or something...it was random pieces of art and pictures that were very confusing to us. I almost forgot that there was a large school group that were very noisy and the docent leading their tour was not helpful by constantly fussing and yellin at the kids to settle down. It added to the dislike of our time there. They should have scheduled a private tour there were at least 30 kids in that tour all running around and not listening. The staff and administration of the museum should be ashamed at the lack of attention in the exhibits and lack of using this beautiful space to make the museum a true musesum. I'm so glad we bought our tickets on Groupon to save a little money. It was not worth our time or money.

Disclosure: I went here on MLK day and saw a performance in the auditorium that was amazing--like truly worth the two dollars we paid for admission (and possibly more). This museum is an absolutely disaster. First of all the only room with a detailed black history exhibit was so dimly lit that even young people were using their phones as flashlights. I just knew the next floor of the exhibit would be better..... nope. The second floor had about 8-10 talking exhibits that when you press a button it talks about their backstory. The concept is great, but two of the exhibits weren't functioning properly and one of them had the volume so low and no captions so it might as well have been take out of service too. But again, I figured there was more so I didn't sweat it. I was wrong. The last floor was dedicated to art exhibits that were very loosely related to black history in that they were created people who were black. I asked three volunteers to show me to the next part of the museum--they all told me that was it. For two dollars you get one room with a very, very broad timeline of black history, 6 talking machines and an art exhibit. This is so pitiful for a city with such a rich black history. Disappointed is not even the word for this. It was shameful. Oh before I forget, the museum is right across the street from the federal detention center where criminals are held before being transferred to prison for their federal crimes. If you come on a sunny day, they can see you and they'll be beating on the windows as you walk into the museum. Don't look up.

Great museum. I stopped in on a Sunday and definitely dont recommend the parking lot next door. It was pricey. Lots of good info about Black History in Philly. With a Pennsylvania EBT card up to 4 people can get in for $2 each. I'll certainly come back when I'm in town.

Do not waste your money. I paid $14 to see multiple pictures of cotton. African Americans had more of a life than picking cotton. There is so much more history they could put in there.

It was amazing to go and see of the galleries, however I will keep this review very short as the site is pretty straight forward in what you would be getting...or maybe not. The fee is $14 for adult admission. There are only 4 galleries with one visual presentation and one audio presentation. The site claims that it takes three hours to get through but it takes more along the lines of one hour and that's reviewing each gallery and listening to the audio presentation and watching the film. I along with my entire party were highly disappointed. Looking forward to the Smithsonian African American Museum in D.C.

Come look and see a piece of your history. During any travels, stopping by am African American museum is a must. There are definitely some interesting exhibits and there are really good reads for sale.

+ - The video walls of prominent Philadelphia African Americans is pretty cool. It can get tedious to sit through every presentation - - Half the museum was closed, they did give reduced fee, but the rest of the museum wasn't worth the $5 that we paid - The bottom half of the museum is more for children TIPS: - FYI, this is a museum of the history of African Americans in the city of Philadelphia, not the history of African Americans in the United States. It would be nice to know this beforehand, to avoid any confusion

Many interactive exhibits that bring history to life, especially for a new generation. I have been to the museum in Washington. It's not as large but wonderful nonetheless. We did get a Groupon.

Really doped place with so much history but only two floors were open. Why do we pay full price and the place isn't available ? Anyways they have really cool exhibitions.

WONDERFUL ..EXCELLENT presentations and events.. checkout current artist, community groups and organizations ,the DIASPORA MEETS HERE!! No matter your politics..GET ON CODE! Support the culture..You can see the African cosmology in clothes and artifacts, you can revisit the impact of the System of White Supremacy /Racism has on the African life by way of education, entertainment, health , labour , economics, legal, politics, culture and war.... we need clarity to PRODUCE JUSTICE!!

I was super excited about coming here only to be kinda disappointed. The displays on the second floor look good but most are hard to hear because the volume on some are extremely loud and drown the other ones out. I ended up skipping the last two after planning and attempting to listen to them all. I went upstairs to see two floors of cotton.... After paying the admission for 5 people and being really hype about being there I was let down on soooo many levels. I expected more. I have tickets to the one in DC and can't wait.

I can't believe some of these reviews- I thought the museum was incredible. The top two floors housed their fantastic current exhibit: The Art Of Social Change. That had sculpture, photography, a great and powerful range of work. The interactive exhibits that feature actors telling the stories of historic figures in Philadelphia history were honest, accessible for adults and kids and it was a pretty powerful way to get the information across. People got very into it. I couldn't get into the first room to watch the history exhibit because it was full. People are insane if they miss this museum. This article has helpful ideas of other places to see some great African American art in Philadelphia. Black culture and history seemed to be the heart of the city to me. I was so glad to see this museum. https://www.visitphilly.com/articles/philadelphia/where-to-see-african-american-art-in-philadelphia/

I held a movie premiere at the African American Museum in September 2017 for about 100 people and it couldn't have gone better. The staff took ownership for my event and met every need I had. They were available before the event, during the event and after the event. I am a stickler for detail so I had to go over everything in advance of the program and the staff was patient as I made sure everything would work smoothly. My guests complimented me on the choice of venue and had a wonderful time. Using the museum was good for my brand as guests were very impressed. I highly recommend the museum for events.

I'm glad we have this institution here in Philly. I came here to see a collection of Gerard H. Gaskin's photographs from the underground house ball scene. They were exhibited in gallery 3, upstairs. The gallery was airy and well-lit, with ample space to walk around and see each of the photographs. There was also a video installation with headphones set up, which allowed you to listen to interviews with various members of the Philadelphia ball scene. The museum also featured an installation by Colin Quashie called Plan-ta-shun. It was an ironic skewering of America's romanticization of plantation life. The exhibit was wonderful, and again, the gallery housing it was spacious and well-lit. There was also a nice amount of seating available. The Quashie installation was amazing--bitterly humorous and very keenly observant of America's obsession with romanticizing a lifestyle built on ugliness. The museum has a room full of life-size video displays with actors giving monologues that tell the story of African-Americans in Philadelphia. This is better in theory than in practice, maybe. I was enjoying it well enough until a bunch of kids came in and started pressing buttons all over the room. This resulted in a wild cacophony of scenery-chewing from every corner. At that point, I couldn't get out of there soon enough. All in all, it took my friends and I just about an hour to tour the entire museum. I was a little disappointed by that. I thought there'd be more to see. I also feel like the museum has a bit of an identity crisis. I would honestly call it more of a gallery and educational space than a museum, per se.

Great space and exhibits. Attended a book signing here by Jennifer Lewis, and she was great.

I thought I was coming to a "African American Museum" the artwork and the supposed sculptures didn't in my opinion depict that. I feel like it was more of like an abstract art gallery. I was personally confused. Please do not be fooled by the name of this place If you like to waste $14 then by all means

Unique Venue If your looking for something different to explore I suggest stopping in for a visit. They have really cool videos with actors telling the story of the historical figure each station portrays. The galleries are open and inviting and share a wealth of history. They also have an auditorium to host private events. The staff is welcoming and friendly.

I was delighted to have this institution available that tells the story of the role that African Americans played in the development of Philadelphia. The most memorable display for me was the silent bells in front of the museum that signify the silent, ongoing struggles of African Americans. There's a $14 entrance fee to visit, but when I visited it was 50% off due to the fact that one of the four galleries was not open to the public because of a private event. While there were some interesting, interactive audio/visual timelines and historic individuals central to the struggle, I would have loved to have seen more original photographs and artifacts. These are essential in connecting the past with the present. I also believe that there should be street signage (similar to those that lead to Independence Historic Park and the larger Philadelphia Museum) to increase foot traffic to the institution. Overall, I'm proud that this institution exists and hope to see more original artifacts when I visit again.

I went here on a weekend trip for my bday! I love museums they are my favorite thing to do! This museum was a little different but wasn't terrible. Access around were ramps. I don't believe there was an elevator but I'm sure I just didn't see it. They had interesting history of Blacks in colonial Philadelphia. They also had these videos of about 9 African Americans that made contributions to certain movements, such as suffragist or contributions to Methodist church or union army enlistment. I found that interesting would never know about their contribution or African Americans if it would not have been for this museum. I wish it was just a little more history in the museum. They had a picture gallery that had a lot of interesting images! One of my favorites were a black man dressed up like a cop then the same black man dressed in a hoodie! That image spoke to me! Other images had some nudity but the museum made you aware of that section before you approached! I didn't visit the gift shop but it looked cute!

I wanted to like this museum (for it's importance if nothing else) but, alas, it's disappointing. It's not the museum I remember from the school trips of my childhood. I bought a $30 family membership on groupon so I wasn't too broken up about the cost. The first two levels were great. They had 2 interactive exhibits about African Americans in Philadelphia. The third level's Smalls' exhibit was lackluster and tiny (think photos, a walking stick and musket and 2 model ships). As we ended our visit in 30 minutes, the museum attendant informed us that a movie was playing in the auditorium's basement. That PBS movie was the star of the museum; however, I could catch it on PBS. The museum's location across from the detention center is awful. I'm not sure who allowed that to happen but it's not ideal at all. 2.5 for this museum. Support them though because apparently they need the funding.

Went here on MLK day. What the hell. This museum was a disgrace to just life in general. They claim they just spent half a million dollars on redoing the place and for what?! Half of the museum is closed and the interactive portion has been there since 2010. Sounds like they should have spent their money on a curator Unless it's free, just walk on by.

I came to Philly on a girls trip last weekend and I enjoyed visiting the museum, however I feel that there could have been more history based on how the African American community and its history having evolved from great politicians of today, doctors, actors and many other accolades that are influential and have shaped African American history. Very interesting and fun experience overall.

This museum underwent a multi million dollar face lift, features numerous exhibits through out the year, and hosts awsome seminars.

What a wonderful experience. I loved the video demonstrations with the actors telling the stories of Philadelphia historical leaders who made great contributions in history. They also were giving honor to the Negro Leagues, and Carol Swan was kind enough to have a Q&A section.

If you or the child you are with is older than 10 years, do not waste your money here! This "museum" has no original artifacts. It has artful reproductions of people, documents and photos that are displayed in a juvenile fashion. The first hall bears a mish-mash of all of these things mounted on wood and positioned so far away that you can't read them. Perhaps the placards in front would provide information, but when someone is pressing buttons to hear the interactive display (and don't kids love pressing buttons???), the lights go down and you can't read a damn thing. The interactive display is the recording of someone reading a script, blithely glossing over what you are supposedly looking at. The second hall has several large screens that show actors portraying people of the past. They speak in the first person to describe their lives and opinions. This is a great way to teach a child about history but far too simplistic to satisfy an adult who has paid $14 for a museum experience. The top floor had an exhibit about a prominent artistic family in Philly but was poorly done. There was no information introducing the art or explaining why it was there, and no dates on anything. This is a tourist trap. The Museum is affiliated with the Smithsonian but the employee I spoke to said that only means that they pay annual dues to be able to smack the Smithsonian label on doors and websites. This is absolutely nothing like the Smithsonian.