Exploring history at the Tubman Museum

  • Published
  • By Angela Woolen
  • Robins Public Affairs
The color on the front of the building is edo or yellow, a color found in West African structures, according to Andy Ambrose, executive director.

The 49,000-square-foot structure is home to African American art, history and culture. It also regularly hosts school-aged tours complete with reenactors who dress up as the museum's namesake, Harriet Tubman, as well as other important historical figures.

Harriet Tubman was considered the "black Moses" because she led hundreds of slaves to freedom before the Civil War. She was also employed by the Union Army during the war. On the second floor of the museum is a tribute to her with a statue and photographs as well as a biography of her life.

On the first floor is an exhibit by Jim Alexander, an award-winning photographer. It features powerful images from the civil rights movement and Ku Klux Klan members. Alexander will speak at the gallery Monday at 6:30 p.m.

Permanent galleries include African American inventors. Some of the products that have been invented by African Americans include gas masks, fire extinguishers, pencil sharpeners and the Super Soaker water gun.

As a tribute to African American music, Little Richard's piano stands in a hallway lined with posters of James Brown, Otis Redding and Ray Charles.

Around the second floor are 3-D works of art including sculptures of a lion and leopard which were created by O.L. Samuels. He used alligator teeth, hair from wigs, and marbles for the eyes for the lion figure.

"It's a unique museum for the fact that it's one of a few museums in the nation that focus on African American art, history and culture," Ambrose said.