African American Museum of Dallas

An excellent history of Afro Americans in the Dallas area! They did have some wonderful folk art pieces! When I visited in the morning it was a little warm touring the exhibits in the museum - but well worth a visit in looking at the Texas State Fair area!

Everyone should visit this amazing museum! We went with our co-op Homeschool Collective on this field trip. Dr. Dulaney was our docent tour guide and his information was invaluable for the students. The different exhibits, the textiles, the architecture, every detail was just incredible. I can't wait to go to one of the freedom school classes!

It used to be bypasses through sacred sites and burial grounds. Now it’s delete buttons from museums, national parks, Arlington cemetery, and federally funded curriculum. This history is prescient!!! Thank you for preserving American History!!! I went to Freedman’s cemetery first, and was glad that SOME headstones had been preserved when I saw them here. Liberty and justice for all!

The docents were amazing! They maintain the knowledge of our ancestors which we should all visit and refill upon! Expire facts you won't get taught until you learn them. Feel the expression of Being Black and Proud is here!

We went to a pre-show event at the African American Museum prior to The Lion King musical. We toured the facility and saw the artwork and a special Lion King display of masks. Very nice!!

My first time visiting I really enjoyed it. Learning about the financial history of cotton and the monumental part our people played in that commerce was quite the shock.

Gorgeous venue. The Juneteenth celebration was a great success 🙌🏾. Thank you for your hard work.

Super interesting. Great “folk” art collection downstairs and 3 - 4 special exhibits upstairs. Recommended if you are interested in Black history in Texas.

This a great museum to explore Dallas black history. For it to be a nonprofit museum, it was a very nice experience.

As we walked in we were quickly acknowledged and greeted. The nice gentleman gave us an over view of the museum and it's exhibits. Museum exhibits are set up very nice with a lot of information to educate you on each piece. Hubby and I enjoyed walking through each exhibit and meditating on each piece and the history behind it. The museum is free to get in which is awesome. This allows anyone to come in and experience what it has to offer without worrying about any financial limits it maybe impose by charging. So glad we took the time and went to see what the African American Museum has to offer and educate us on. These are things not taught in school. And don't forget to stop by the store, it has a lot of really nice souvenirs you can buy and affordable prices.

I visited on a recent quiet Saturday morning to see a South African exhibition. It's nice but it would be great to see more AA works of art in this museum. The SA exhibition was a little different but I still enjoyed it. I hope the City of Dallas will do more colourful exhibitions like this one in the future.

A good museum leaves you with something you'll remember. This museum has a wealth of knowledge and resources. Parking is free and there are several spots. Admission was also free making this a great place to visit on a hot summer day. The exhibits are impactful and memorable. It's becoming a bit dated (carpet, design, etc.), but the content is up to date. There are memberships for sale that give you access to private events and a nice gift shop near the main entrance / exit.

Great staff! Updated exhibits and step into the past and future. Very nice architecture in the building.

I loved this museum! The art was beautiful, it taught me many things about African American history, and it showed me things of my culture. This museum made me very happy and I am proud of being African American, my culture, and my ancestors history!

Educational birthday weekend fun. This exhibit is not very big, but as very interesting content. Me and my family learned a few extra things by visiting. Most of the art seems like it's from locals and are made in different ways with different materials. There is no certain price to come in, but you can donate which I highly recommend to keep this available for others to enjoy. It's two stories, but most of the exhibit pieces are on the second floor there's a few on the first. All in all it took us about 30 to 45 minutes to get through this exhibit, that's with us reading the text as we walked. There's also a few interactive question areas for you to learn more information. You should definitely come show your support to this museum.

Inspiring. It is free of admission and the exhibits rotate. Extremely relevant and speaks to our time. The museum takes advantage of the technology and speaking to tbe social climate. I advise everyone to visit because, you will learn something and have your thoughts provoked. Clean, spacious, excellent lighting and everyone who worked there was so polite. It's a must!

I've lived in dallas for almost 30 years and this was the first time i've step foot in this museum. However, it won't be the last. This is a very nice collection of Dallas area history and artifacts. It's really a well presented and documented way to see and learn about this part of Dallas history. This is a real gem and I recommend you visiting. Parking: You can ride the train and walk 3 min from the Fair Park dart rail. Or you can pay to park your vehicle in their parking lot. Cost: Free

Coming here was super emotional. As a black woman - Nigerian American. I always find ways to understand all of black history. Coming here brought everything pertaining to slavery alive - the truth about the EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION. Brought me to tears. Growing up Nigerian - Nigerian history was my reality. I actively had to seek information on Black history here in the states. To hear the truth from my black historians counterparts has been refreshing and insightful. I'm not a big museum person - I always go and just look around and take "nice pictures" but this was different. This was history brought alive in two full stories. There's a store downstairs ad artifacts and art upstairs. This is an obvious co-sign. I recommend coming! For everyone. Great history to learn especially as a Texan.

I visited the African American Museum this past weekend while visiting Dallas. I've been to a number of African American cultural and history museums in different cities and this museum offered a variety of things that the other museums didn't have. I should also mention that it's free, which is always a bonus! The building of the museum is a beautiful and large structure with a high dome and two levels. There are numerous galleries to walk through and a really nice outside courtyard that features sculptures and a tall bottle tree, which people can throw coins at its base for good luck. The exhibits that were there while I visited included a folk art exhibit, an exhibit called "Facing the Rising Sun Freedman's Cemetery", a fine art museum, and a gallery that housed artwork by local elementary school children. Although the exhibits were relatively small, they all provided a special view of the black American experience in Dallas and the entire country. I had never seen anything like the Freedman's Cemetery exhibit in my whole life. It is an exhibit chronicling and curating the excavation of an old cemetery in the community of Freedmantown, which is now considered North Dallas. The exhibition included artifacts, photographs, and even a replica of one of the above-ground graves! It was truly an aspect of the African American experience that I will NEVER forget, and feel blessed that I was able to see. The artwork in the other galleries are also great and worth checking out, and for $free.99, you seriously shouldn't miss the opportunity to visit this museum. It's well worth the trip!

Pre covid review: What an amazing space and art selection/exhibition. I've been blown away by museums in Dallas, and this one was for the fact that I've never heard of a museum like this before, and have never seen a collection like this of artifacts.

Where were all the Black women? There are three galleries dedicated to highlighting Black men who are important to both culture and history. But it feels incomplete without mentioning even the likes of Harriet Tubman or Angela Davis. So much Black history is neglected when we fail to acknowledge the importance of women. Otherwise, very informative and gripping stuff. Just couldn't seem to get past that misstep.

This museum is phenomenal! I went intentionally to go see my of friend's pieces that was in an exhibit there. The museum met and exceeded my expectations for all the artwork there. They had 4/5 different exhibitions available to stroll through and amazing work for artists from all over. The building itself was beautifully designed and was spacious and well lit with natural light. It's free to enter and they have a donation box for monetary support (please support!!!!!) This place is truly a gem and I can't wait to visit it again.

Let's just get the cost question out of the way. This museum is located in Fair Park and is F-R-E-E! Upon entering the museum I was happy to find that although free, it was classy, warm and inviting. The staff that they have chosen to work the museum are kind and personable which set a nice tone for my adventure. I must have come on the right day because the 1st anniversary of "Remembering Black Dallas" (www.RBDallas.com) was in celebration. It was the first time I've heard of them. They're a non-profit organization that preserves and promotes the African-American life, history, artifacts, and culture. During my visit they showed a vintage movie in the auditorium and held a nice reception in the Solarium to follow. Don't mind if I do! Word of advice: If you're watching a movie here, don't show up late because the room is SO dark that you can't see where you're walking...like, at all. And this isn't one of those theaters with lights on the floor to guide your way. Nope. You're either gonna walk with grace or fall on your face. I'm just glad I made it through to save your life! You're welcome. I knew the museum would be interesting considering my ethnic and educational background, but aside from that, I really enjoyed the many parts that represented the history of African-Americans in Dallas. You can't get that everywhere. The "Facing the Rising Sun" Freedman's Cemetery exhibit was certainly insightful. There was a replica of a receipt given to a slaveowner for the purchase of a 35-yr. old African-American woman. He paid 1,500 lbs. of sugar for her. Wow. Things are not perfect today, and racism is certainly prevalent (and masked), but the truth is...we have indeed come far and that should be celebrated. You can listen to audio recordings of music and speeches. Watch interview clips of people sharing bits of history and recollections. Throughout the rest of the museum you'll find different rooms containing some art, artifacts, and sculptures. I thought the mixed media pieces were pretty cool. The museum has a little store, but unless you're a shopaholic, I doubt you'll find anything that you can't live without. Poor guy sitting in there. Note: Photos are not allowed to be taken upstairs where the bulk of the museum is. From the looks of a few pics on Yelp though, some of you took pictures anyway ha. I don't recall if there was a sign, but let's just say I learned the hard way as my "museum aunt", yelled from the bottom of the stairs that I couldn't take pictures. Lol. Yes ma'am! Really though. There were moments of familiarity when I felt as if I were just walking down the hallway of a great-grandmother's house, and hearing the white noise of family in the background; soothing. The museum is on the small size, but information overload is no good anyway, so it's a great place to start if museums aren't your thing. Give it a chance...I look forward to seeing your review.

An enlightening stop after the State Fair. The staff so welcoming, the exhibits so well spaced (and not as crowded to walk around). Very interesting and colorful items on display and great history descriptions. A brief stop in the Museum offered much more insight into more of the African American history and lovely sale items and fair prices. Good stop and escape from the overcrowding outside. I would likely go again when they may have more exhibits.

This museum is an awesome Little gem tucked away at Fair Park! I gave the Museum of 5 out of 5 because it is an amazing place to learn something educational without the cost of a dime. Kids may not find it that entertaining it is more of an educational experience but if you are aware and interested you will enjoy your time. The environment and staff are so relaxed and made it a very enjoyable day. There are several rooms in a three-story circular building. Each room has different content. There are a couple of art galleries as well. Since there are no fees to get in there is a donation box in the front by the entrance, make sure you donate! That's the only way they can keep this place open and not be able to charge for our future children to be able to enjoy the experience of an African American Museum for free

The museum is very nice. It is small, but they do have some very interesting pieces. There is an auditorium that occasionally hosts lectures. It's a great place to take visiting family and friends. The ambiance is warm and inviting, in direct contrast to the aloofness and arrogant environment of some other museums. The museum is free, unless you request a docent guided tour.

I'm not sure what "museum" people on here went to and maybe my expectations were high because I went to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in D.C. first (years ago) but this place was a HUGE letdown. And funnily enough, we had planned the day to wake up early to do something before coming here, anticipating spending hours here, only to get here and spend less than 30 minutes here. It's basically three exhibits. One about Prairie View, one about "Culture" and one about Racial Issues and it's a lot of random pictures spewed across the wall with little address labels you can get at Office Depot with descriptions of who's in the photos. That's not even the sad part. The sad part is they're asking for donations when they haven't really put in a viable effort to make you want to donate. I could literally create this museum with my computer, Google Images and a printer (with some address labels) in a couple of hours. This was an opportunity to show up and spread knowledge to people from other cultures and younger generations to explain the struggle, celebrate the advancements and set the pace for the opportunities that still lie ahead. For comparisons sake, we visited the Holocaust and Human Rights Museum the day before and I mean it's an experience from start to finish. Comparatively, everything about this place was subpar, even the building it's in.

I have had this on my list of places to visit. I've been to fair park several times and forget it's there. There are several exhibits from artwork to artifacts sifted from the burial grounds in Dallas. The museum is free and ran by volunteers, make sure to leave a donation in the box on the first floor. Talk to the volunteers they are a wealth of knowledge. I learned so much about slavery in the Dallas area from them. Even though the museum is mall there is so much to look at and it can be quite sobering. Just grab a seat and take it all in!

I took a trip and I wanted to be a tourist of everything wrapped around culture and I went to this Beautiful Place in Dallas with rich history. I didnt know what to expect but I did want a culture shock and that's what I found. I went in and was met by q older Gentlemen with a great voice and strong stature that did welcome to African American Museum and I felt welcomed . Me being a African American put me in a place of wanting more of my heritage taught to me during the Black History Month. They had several exhibits but the one that pointed out to me the most was the one about the cemetery that was desecrated and the process it took to restore what was left was a amazing story . I just wish that they had more contributions from more people to make it larger than what I seen , Because without Knowledge people perish and I LOVE knowledge. It's free if its groups less than 10 but I donated anyways and also purchased books and memorabilia for gifts in the future .

I think my expectations were a little too high as I was a little underwhelmed by some of the exhibits. However, the museum is beautiful. It is the perfect place to host an event! I loved the Freedman's Cemetery exhibit it was really well done and loved all the interactive videos. The parking was free. The museum is usually free but when they are hosting certain special exhibits you may have to pay. Today, I had to pay $5 as student price. The parking is plenty and location is easy to find! I would recommend checking it out if you have some free time in Dallas and want an educational experience.

Lovedddd this museum. I took the time and read the exhibits. I love how they had videos artifacts of elders taking about Dallas. The staff was friendly and helpful. The museum is free but they accept donations. I gave $60 because I appreciate the work they do and want this museum to continue, so I suggest giving a donation if you're able to do so. Keeping in mind that most museums cost about $20 or more. I also took a black history tour of Dallas which I would highly recommend. The tour included a lot of sites mentioned in the museum so it was a good combination. The tour was called Hidden Tours (if you Google Dallas hidden tours you'll be able to find it).

This place is beautiful! I was there for a Wedding, and it turned out great. There is so much great information, and history there. Awesome pictures and artifacts. Highly recommend going and experiencing it.

The staff was very warm and inviting, they greeted us with smiles and information on the facility. There is a great art exhibit and video logs to listen to regarding many of the pieces. This is a good museum to take ages 12 and up...very informative about past civili rights ... this is a good place to donate money to so they can expand and build on their facility.

My first time at the African American Museum was for a " Mingling over Mimosas"event. Great idea! I enjoyed the history of dallas as well as our cultural history. Amazing, liberating art that shows how imperative it is to express yourself with different tools. It was a wonderful experience. Everyone, whether black or not should visit this place. Learning about everyone's cultural can help us better understand each other.

I'm new to Dallas, but inn conversation heard about this museum so I was intrigued to go. When I went I had a little bit of trouble getting there because it was around the same time as the state fair and a lot of things were blocked off. However, once it is found there is plenty of parking directly in front of the museum. Upon entrance we were greeted right away with a brochure as well as guidelines to follow. (Where we could take pics and where we couldn't). The museum was pretty interesting and had plenty of audio to listen to as well as visuals. It's also free, so keeping that in consideration it was very nice and informational. It probably took us about an hour to get through everything so it's not an all day thing and it's pretty small.

It's freeeeee! I'm spending the first half of my Spring Break in Dallas with a friend & was looking for something to do. Always up for a history lesson, we decided to visit this museum. The facilities are nice. Could be better but could definitely be worse. It's a small museum so I didn't really expect much but was pleasantly surprised at what I found. There's only about one floor of solid exhibits. The museum hosts interesting lecture series in conjunction with the exhibits so it all fleshes out. We happened to be visiting today when another group was touring & were invited to step in on the tour for free by the tour guide. He was very knowledgeable and amicable, the history behind the artifacts was amazing. Overall, I'm so glad Dallas has a museum like this. I imagine that over time it will continue to blossom.

This museum was a beautiful place. The outside is misleading as it looks unappealing and almost vacant. However, when we walked in we were immediately greeted by a very lovely older gentleman who told us a great deal about the museum and directed our path. He gave us some Texas history and was very knowledgeable and kind. The museum was lovely and some of the local art was very beautiful. I especially loved the section of Art devoted to African American women and their strength. One section of the museum was closed and that's the only reason for the four stars. There is no entrance fee and they only ask for a small donation to keep the museum going. It is a wonderful little tucked away treasure of African American culture.

The slavery exhibit was probated hardest exhibit to view. Despite the ability for African Americans to overcome oppressive conditions it was unmistakably commonplace to further oppress our race by threats with the Ku Klux Klan. Today the opportunity to unite and surpass the evilest of our society we fail to do so. The museum only highlights a fact so well known.

Great museum, thoroughly enjoyed the exhibits of Hale Woodruff's paintings and murals, as well as all the pieces and information into Freedman's Cemetery! It was all wonderful and such a historical treat for visitors and Dallas dwellers alike. My only request is that they update their website to reflect the $5 entry fee, cheaper for kids. We paid $3 because it was MLK holiday weekend. Now I do not mind supporting the arts; if they had a donation basket like the MLK museum in ATL, I definitely would have given the same amount, if not more. But I'm about knowing what I'm coming off from the jump so they definitely should make people aware. That being said, please don't let the entry fee sway you. It's worth EVERY penny of that amount and much more.

I think Dallasites are missing out on a great museum. It is small and could use some more art, especially sculptures, but the exibit on the Freedman's Cementary was very interesting. The museum is free and has xeriscape garden outside. I also think you can rent it out for events.

Lovely cultural venue for everyone! The African American museum is one of the many free things you can do in Dallas with friends or your family. There's lots of neat artifacts here and such rich history. I've been here a few times and once a friend had a book signing many moons ago. It's a cool thing to do on the weekends and of course with it being in Fair Park there will be plenty of parking. Take a glance online at their event calendar as there are lots of out of the box things going on. Check it out among the other cool museums in the area and get your education on!

I visited the museum so I would be able to get a better look into the African American art and cultural scene in Dallas. The museum was a little smaller than I expected but the content was vast and powerful and needs to be visited atleast once if you live in the connecting area. There were exhibitions that were there for a limited time and brought the artists ideals and representations. this was a great experience.

I recently visited the African American Museum in order to view the Hale Woodruff exhibit. I was so glad that I got a chance to see the Amistad murals, and at the same time I felt so bad that I hadn't been to experience this museum before now. The staff is helpful and friendly first of all. They answered any questions that we may have had, and offered extra pieces of info on some of the exhibits! The Woodruff exhibit was very impressive. The murals which depicted the events before, during, and after the Amistad mutiny, and murals depicting the building of Talladega College were awesome and beautiful! I'm so glad that I got a chance to see them! The other permanent exhibits in the museum were hard hitting and very educational. I had no idea about the history of the Freedman's Cemetery in Dallas. Every single Dallasite should know the full story of their city, and this place provides access to these hard to find facts. From the atrocities of the KKK, to influential business owners, this museum does an awesome job of covering the impact of African Americans in the North Texas area and beyond. This place is a must see.

This was my first visit to this museum and I brought my out-of-town family and the overall feeling leaving was that we enjoyed the exhibits, but felt that it was a fairly short walk-through for the size of the building. We went through the entire museum in a shade over an hour. The tour starts off with a walk-through of the garden outside and that was the only place photography was allowed, but it was a nice photo op nonetheless. There were 3 wings up a set of stairs labelled part I-III. Hale Woodruff's murals from various private collectors and Talladega College (AL) were displayed in the first 2 parts. There was works from his early days through his prominent murals of the events revolving around the mutiny on the Amistad. It was a very nice exhibit, but did not hold enough content. The 3rd part was a very interesting history that intertwined African American history in the South in general and in Dallas. There was an exhibit about the Freedman's Cemetary, Civic and Healthcare reform and leadership. This part of the museum seemed to be alot more packed with information, had interactive media, and they made great use of the space. If the rest of the exhibits were like this, we could get so much more information. The individuals working throughout the museum were very pleasant and there was a culture show in the foyer, which was an additional cost, but you should check the website or call ahead to ask if/when they are hosting such a show, we just so happened to be there and opted to sit and pay and it was worth it. Parking is free, which is always nice....had to throw that tid bit in there. ENJOY!

While visiting Dallas I had the opportunity to visit the African American Museum specifically for " Rising Up: Hale Woodruff's Murals from Talldega College." It's a beautiful exhibit showcasing Woodruff's commissioned work in 1938 potraying the Amistad mutiny and aftermath, as well as the founding of Talladega College. Just a vivid exhibit that told a great story through its art which was broken down by years at the Museum so you can take a true journey through the story of art. I loved the way the Museum displayed this work and leaving me with many thoughts. The museum's permanent collections in African Art, African American fine art, Dallas African American History and more spoke volumes to me, with many pieces found on and inside the graves of Freedman's cemetry, a powerful Klu Klux Klan costume on display and what I enjoyed the most the wonderful history of the successful African Americans in Dallas. The building is truly a beautiful building which is built in the shape of cross made of ivory stone to represent African culture. The building alone is a powerful piece of art in my opinion. The staff is friendly and helpful and truly go out their way to help the art of their location tell a complete story to aid you in leaving out of their moved.

Very educational. The videos were very informative, seeing how Dallas was and how it is now is impressive. The various rooms had a lot to offer as well.

My daughter's father had a mtng at this museum Independence Day wknd, and while he was in his meeting, my daughter and I checked out the exhibitions and displays.This small museum offers alot of history! Very educational, visual, and important for ppl of all colors. I truly enjoyed my time spent here. A constant reminder that we stand on the shoulders of greatness!!! What better way to spend a Holiday I do not celebrate.

I love this museum -- but I love Fair Park!!! Wishes for the museum: 1. Someone would organize a clean up and planting for the beautiful courtyard which is shamefully and unforgivably neglected. That is embarassing. 2. A permanent exhibition of the sculpture of Freeman Cemetery would be established, David Newton. I first became familiar with his work here and now it has been removed. A loss, plain and simple.

I absolutely love the exhibit featuring Hale Woodruff''s murals. The vibrant, recently restored images are a sight for any art lover or history buff. But more interesting is the tale of Woodruff him, a Black artist who studied mural painting with famed Mexican painter Diego Rivera. But ask for a guided tour, if possible. The images became so much more meaningful when they were dissected by the museum's director. Definitely a must-see: http://www.aamdallas.org/

This is a jewel in the Fair Park (where they hold the state fair). Mr. George Harris is a wealth of information and spent quite a bit of time taking us to some high points in the exhibits. There is a good mix of historical items and current work. There was a wonderful display of photographs by high school students. We really enjoyed spending time here.

Visited on Saturday, first arrived there was no one to greet us and give us insight to the museum or a map of exhibits. Over all enjoyed the exhibits they also offer audio exhibits! Wished there was more! Did spend about two and a half hours enjoying the history, moving experience. Not sure how often new exhibits are offered. The outside sculptures were not as enjoyable wished there were more. Gift shop didn't offer many exciting items really wanted to purchase something.