The National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center is in Wilberforce, Ohio, on the western edge of Central State University’s campus. Its collections span African American art, history and culture, making it a distinct cultural stop near Xenia.
- Location: 1350 Brush Row Road, Wilberforce, OH
- Regular hours: Wednesday through Saturday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Admission: $6 for adults; reduced rates are available for seniors and youth
- Time to allow: at least 1 hour for an average visit
Where is the National Afro-American Museum?
The museum stands at 1350 Brush Row Road in Wilberforce, on the western edge of Central State University’s campus. It opened to the public in April 1988, following federal legislation introduced in 1970 by Ohio Congressman Clarence Brown to establish an African American museum at the historic Wilberforce University site.
Its collection includes more than 10,000 artifacts and artworks, 350 manuscript collections and thousands of photographs. Examples range from Alex Haley’s typewriter and final draft of Roots to a Buffalo Soldier’s buffalo-hide coat, Gregory Hines’s tap shoes and Black dolls.
The subject matter extends across African American art, historical documents of Black organizations, inventions, childhood memorabilia, sports, military history and Civil Rights history.
What should you check before your visit?
Check the museum’s current hours and admission details before setting out, since they can change. Ohio History Connection provides the regular hours: Wednesday through Saturday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Check the official site before you go.
Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $3 for youth ages 6–17; children age 5 and younger enter free. Ohio History Connection members and students at Central State University or Wilberforce University also enter free.
Allow at least 1 hour for an average visit. The National Park Service describes accessible rooms, benches or seating, automobile parking, restrooms and accessible restrooms. Ohio History Connection manages the museum.
Archive visits are by appointment only. For information, email InfoNAAMCC@ohiohistory.org.
How do you get from Xenia to Wilberforce?
Plan a drive to the museum’s Brush Row Road address in Wilberforce. It is about 9 minutes by car from a two-star inn in Xenia.
If you are using the museum’s address to plan your route, enter 1350 Brush Row Road, Wilberforce, OH. The museum is on the west side of Central State University’s campus.
What can you combine with a museum visit?
The museum’s campus setting makes it possible to pair a visit with nearby Wilberforce institutions. Central State University is next to the museum, while Wilberforce University is another local campus. For planning details about both schools, see visits to Wilberforce University and Central State University.
Payne Theological Seminary is another Wilberforce landmark, about 9 minutes by car from Xenia Country Inn.
A visitor’s guide to Payne Theological Seminary can help you plan that stop separately.
FAQs
How much time should you allow for the museum?
Allow at least 1 hour for an average visit.
What are the museum’s regular hours?
Regular hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Check the official site before you go for current details.
Do you need an appointment to visit the archive?
Yes. Archive visits are by appointment only; email InfoNAAMCC@ohiohistory.org for information.
What kinds of collections does the museum have?
The collections include artifacts, artworks, manuscripts and photographs, with subjects ranging from African American art and inventions to sports, military history and Civil Rights history.