Permanent Exhibit

"Doorways: A History of African Americans in Iowa" opened to the public in September 2003, it offers a fascinating overview of the history of African Americans in the United States with specific focus on Iowa. Included are sections on plantation life and slavery; the Abolitionist and Anti-Slavery Movement Era; the Iowa Migration and Underground Railroad Era; Civil War and Reconstruction; Military History and Church Activity.

“African Americans in Iowa” includes sections on Arts & Entertainment; Agriculture; Athletics; Legal Aspects; Occupations and Small Business.

The Africa section, which opened in 2004, takes visitors to West Africa, where they will pass through the “Door of No Return” and enter a slave ship to experience the famous “Middle Passage” from Africa to Iowa.

Western Africa

• Culture of Africa
  
  
• Faith, traditions and important ceremonies of the peoples in Africa before the slave trade
  
  
• Diorama of an African Village and a real red soil floor

Slave Trade

• Reconstruction of a slave ship, touch and feel shackles and experience the tight spaces, and spin a wheel that demonstrates the likelihood of survival
  
  
• Listen to a speech by Fredrick Douglass and learn about the underground railroad and slavery in Iowa

National African American Themes

• Social Issues of the early 1900s
  
  
• African Americans and military service
  
  
• Faith and churches of African Americans

African Americans In Iowa

• African American firsts and achievements in society, politics, business and athletics in Iowa
  
  
• Opportunity to reflect on their experience and leave thoughts on the “wall of reflections”
  

Take the AAHMCCI Virtual Tour