| Great Plains Black History Museum | |
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| Established | 1976 |
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| Location | 2213 Lake Street Omaha, Nebraska |
| Website | http://www.greatplainsblackhistorymuseum.org |
The Great Plains Black History Museum is located at 2213 Lake Street in the Near North Side neighborhood in North Omaha, Nebraska. It is housed in the Webster Telephone Exchange Building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A nationally renowned institution for more than 30 years, the museum includes more than 10,000 displays. It is the largest museum devoted to the black experience west of the Mississippi River.[1]
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About
In 1962, Omaha community leader Bertha Calloway founded the Negro Historical Society. In 1976 she opened the Great Plains Black History Museum, in the Western Telephone Exchange Building. This had been a community center for recovery efforts after the disastrous 1913 tornado. From 1933-1952, it was used by the Urban League as a community center, featuring a variety of services, such as medical, a library and others.
Calloway's goal over the next 25 years was to teach Nebraskans and other visitors about the contributions of African Americans in the Midwest. In a 1996 interview Calloway explained, "People must see black history in order for the images they have of black people to change. That’s what our museum is all about... revealing a history that’s been withheld."[2] In 1976 Calloway opened the Museum, aided by a $100,000 grant from the United States Bicentennial Commission.[3]
Since then, the Museum has featured paintings, rare books, photographs, and films of the African-American experience in the Midwest. Most African Americans arrived in the Midwest from the South during the first half of the 20th century, in two waves of the Great Migration. The museum chronicles their transformation to urban workers, the development of churches and other community institutions; and music, literature and other culture. The museum is one of the largest historical and cultural institutions devoted to African-American life west of the Mississippi River.[4]
The Museum closed in 2001 after director Jim Calloway, the son of founder Bertha Calloway, refused funding from the City of Omaha and Douglas County after relying on that funding since the beginning of the museum. Chairing the Committee for the Preservation of Historic North Omaha Sites, Jim Calloway argued with City officials for more funding than the City Council allotted. When the City refused the Museum was forced to close. The University of Nebraska at Omaha Black Studies Department and the Metropolitan Community College showed interest in helping the Museum recover.[5] In 2004 the Museum received a new roof and other renovations, and has been re-opened on reduced hours and now charges admission.
References
- ^ "Bertha Calloway", Omaha Black Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved 8/2/08.
- ^ Biga, L.A. (2006) "Burden of Dreams", The Reader
- ^ "Did you know that...", Amnesty International USA. Retrieved 8/2/08.
- ^ (n.d.)"Great Plains Black History Museum", Nebraska Studies, Nebraska Historical Society, accessed 7 Jul 2008
- ^ "Did you know that...", Amnesty International USA. Retrieved 8/2/08.
See also
- History of North Omaha, Nebraska
- Landmarks in North Omaha, Nebraska
- List of museums focused on African Americans
External links
- Cliff, M. (1994) History as Fiction, Fiction as History Ploughshares. - Article including an extensive write-up about the Great Plains Black Museum
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