Chattanooga African American Museum

Africa Like You Have Never Seen

As you open the doors to the museum take note that they are made of African wood over 100 years old! Warren Parker, designer of the museum, picked this wood for its beauty and craftsmanship.

Inside the museum your tour starts with a mural of a thriving metropolitan city of east Africa in the 12th century; moves to the constructed replica of the Bushman's hut followed by a model of a stucco church in Ethiopia.

The wall size multi-media presentation uses projected images, sound, fiber optics, photographs, colored-plexiglas to tell in compelling fashion, the history of how the African was enslaved and brought to America.

Push another button on the wall and off you go to more high-tech history!

African Presence in Chattanooga

Explore the unique history that Africans in Chattanooga have experienced. Unlike other parts of the south, there were few plantations in this city. Most Africans were bought to be personal servants or laborers, rather than field hands. The Africans also used the winding river in this city as a source of life and inspiration much like our Egyptian ancestors used the Nile River.

Find out about the many African businesses such as a Dairy Farm, Insurance Company and Retail outlets that thrived in the 1800's. This was a world full of energetic African American doctors, lawyers, and movers and shakers rarely explored in current day history books. Discover towns surrounding Chattanooga that were founded and run by Africans.

Visitors will experience the view of the black towns, and early black settlement, a dug out house with a recreated image of the structure. Africans in the city even owned factories producing grates, fenders, and other metal works.

The Chattanooga African American Museum also houses a Gift Shop featuring a variety of Afro centric gift items, and a research library containing rare collections of resource material revolving around the African experience. Order the "Chattanooga Then and Now" resource guide for the study of the African-American presence in Chattanooga.. The book list historic sites, selected personalities that made the city great, and research activities to enhance any classroom.

Chattanooga African American Museum
200 East Martin Luther King Blvd.
Chattanooga, TN 37403