African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey

What was once one man’s personal collection of cultural treasures has grown over the years into the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey. Here, people from all over can gather to learn about African American history.

Their collection and exhibits offer a well-rounded view of the past and encourage visitors to acknowledge and discuss important pieces of this cultural history.

A Personal Collection to a Massive Museum

While it formally became a museum in 2002, Ralph Hunter’s collection of treasures and artifacts was known as “The Museum” by his friends for a long time. Now, visitors will find artifacts that bring to light both flattering and unflattering portrayals of African American people to learn about their multifaceted historical image.

The goal is to inspire larger conversations about the African American experience, both in the past and present. With two locations and over 12,000 pieces, visitors will learn a lot as they view the paintings, ceramics, advertising, and branding memorabilia of the past.

Permanent Exhibits and Rotating Displays

While the rotating displays change frequently—having featured works from over 60 artists since 2002— there are a number of permanent displays you’ll always be able to see when you visit the museum.

One of the most popular of these permanent installations is Portraits of A People. As a collection of donated and restored decades-old portraits, this collection offers a look into the lives of an African American family with status.

There’s also the Stereotypes: From Little Black Sambo to Aunt Jemima and Beyond exhibit. This provides necessary education and reminders of the negative ways African American people’s images were used in marketing over the years.

You could check out the Home Furniture & Fixtures of Early African American Life collection, full of artifacts from the homes of African American families. To learn more about local history, stop by The Northside: The Way We Were exhibit that will take you to another era of Atlantic City.

On top of all that, they offer a traveling museum to educate locals. They’ll visit local schools, communities, and corporate events alike to share knowledge and help people learn about these essential pieces of history.

Visit the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey

If you want to learn more about African American history, start planning your visit to the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey. To learn more about these carefully curated exhibits and other events hosted here, make sure to follow the museum on Facebook!