The 6,000-square-foot African American Museum provides regularly scheduled exhibits and events.

African American Museum and Center for Education and Applied Arts

Hempstead, 110 North Franklin Street
516-572-0730
Open: Tuesday - Friday, noon – 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Monday by appointment.
Admission: Free for individuals; admission charge for groups of 30 people or more

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The museum also holds numerous community-based events, including celebrations of Black History Month and the lives of historical figures such as Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcolm X, along with educational programs.

In addition, the museum houses the African Atlantic Genealogy Society, Inc., which provides workshops and individual research instruction into family genealogy, as well as the E-Learning Program, providing instruction for visitors of all ages in how to conduct research.

The African American Museum was granted the 2005 Museum Preservation Award by American Legacy magazine, one of only 10 museums to be honored for work done to preserve African-American history and culture.

Click here for the link the the African American Musuem's Website.

African American Museum Celebrates Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with Range of Events

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano announces that the African American Museum and Center for Education and Applied Arts will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life with an exhibit of photographs, letters and other documents.

The exhibit includes photos of Dr. King taken by Moneta Sleet, Jr., who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1969 for his photograph of Coretta Scott King at her husband’s funeral. The photo exhibit, running from January 11 - 29, is sponsored by the Moneta Sleet Foundation. Sleet, who was born in Kentucky but later resided on Long Island, died in 1996.

On January 15 from 8 - 10 p.m., the museum will host a one-woman play about Rosa Parks, the civil rights activist who entered public consciousness in 1955 when she challenged the segregationist rules on public transportation in Alabama. The performance, featuring actress Sherrie Tolliver, is presented by the African American Geneaological Society, Inc. Living History Theatre. Tolliver, a graduate of New York University, is a member of the Ohio-based Women in History nonprofit performance group.

On the January 17 holiday, in addition to displays of Sleet’s photographs and other documents about Dr. King’s life, the museum will host a series of films about the civil rights leader, including “Eyes on the Prize,” “Citizen King,” “Mighty Times: Children’s March” and “Our Friend Martin.”

African American Museum Changes Name to Reflect Educational Mission

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano announces that the African American Museum of Nassau County has changed its name to the “African American Museum and Center for Education and Applied Arts” to better reflect the museum’s role as both an educational and arts center.

“It is clear that the mission of the African American Museum has been educational and the name change will take account of that while also providing the museum with new fund-raising opportunities,” says Mangano.

The museum, founded in 1970 and centrally located in Hempstead, offers a rotating series of exhibits showcasing local and national African American artists. In addition, the museum houses the African Atlantic Genealogy Society, which provides workshops and individual research instruction into family genealogy; and the E-Learning Program, providing instruction about research techniques.

Importantly, much of the programming at the museum tracks the New York State Department of Education curriculum. By adopting the new name, the museum will gain entry to the educational institute category, making it eligible for an array of grants offered by the Department of Education. In 2009, the museum was awarded a five-year federal grant for an ongoing “gear-up” after-school program with the Uniondale school district.