George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center
The George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center is the first neighborhood museum in Austin, Texas dedicated to African-American history. It collects books, photographs, manuscripts, maps, and also presents exhibits that focus primarily on Black history and culture. The Carver Museum is a member of the Texas Association of Museums and the African American Museum Association.[1]
In 1947 the building was renamed the George Washington Carvers Library in honor of the famous inventor and scientist, George Washington Carver. The library served African-Americans and others in the community until 1979. At that time work began to convert the building to a cultural center. The museum opened on 24 October 1980 and expanded with new facilities in 2001.[2]
Background
The museum originally served as the main public library and was located on the corner of Ninth and Guadalupe streets and moved to East Austin. It became the Austin Public Library's first branch and the city's first library for the Blacks. During the mid-1970s, East Austin residents were able to successfully lobby for a larger branch library, which was completed in 1980 on a site adjacent to the old building.
Community members determined that the original building, which in 1977 received a historical marker from the Texas History Commission, would be the ideal site for a Black history museum. Renovations of the old library building began in September 1979, and the museum opened to the public on October 5, 1980.
The museum features annual exhibitions on popular themes such as Texas music and the Austin Black pioneer family. The Carver Museum provides invaluable support for black artists by hosting solo exhibitions of their work, and since 1983 it has hosted the Regional Black Artists exhibition, an annual event organized by the Black Arts Alliance that attracts painters and sculptors from across the state.[2]
References
- ↑ Curlee, Kendall. George Washington Carver Museum. Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center. Wikipedia Retrieved January 22 2021.