Honoring Enslaved Ancestors: IAAM Opens as a Sacred Ground for African Americans.

The International African American Museum has opened in Charleston, South Carolina, overlooking the old wharf where nearly half of the enslaved population first entered North America. The museum houses exhibits and artifacts exploring how African Americans’ labor, perseverance, resistance and cultures shaped the Carolinas, the nation and the world. It also includes a genealogy research center to help families trace their ancestors’ journey from point of arrival on the land. The $120 million facility features nine galleries that contain nearly a dozen interactive exhibits of more than 150 historical objects and 30 works of art.