Work set to begin on African American Museum renovation

The transformational renovation and expansion project at the African American Museum of Iowa (AAMI) formally began Wednesday morning with a groundbreaking ceremony. Museum leaders and local officials gathered outside the museum, at 55 12th Ave. SE, to mark the construction launch for the project, as work on a permanent east-side floodwall continued in the background near the museum site. A key element of the project will relocate the museum’s front entrance to the east side of the building and implement upgrades to the lobby. It will also address some long-term issues, including the museum’s roof, HVAC, sprinkler and other infrastructure needs – all designed to improve sustainability and expand the museum’s operational capacity, program delivery and exhibit implementation. In her remarks at the ceremony, AAMI executive director LaNisha Cassell lauded the work of the museum’s staff, supporters and board of directors, along with former executive director Tom Moore, for envisioning the project’s possibilities. “We have been able to make incredible strides over the last 16 months, and you have been a phenomenal support system,” Ms. Cassell said. “So thank you for demonstrating how important the museum is to the present and the future of our young and mature minds of our communities across the state.” Cedar Rapids mayor Tiffany O’Donnell tied the project to one of the city’s newest marketing themes, “Welcome is our language.” “For us, it doesn’t just mean we're open physically,” Ms. O’Donnell said. “It means we're open to new ideas, to innovation for visitors and residents alike, inviting everybody to be seen and be a part of this incredible community. Likewise for decades, the African American Museum of Iowa has really been that golden door.” Ms. O’Donnell also hailed prominent African Americans in Iowa’s history, including Obediah “Obe” Claire, who became Cedar Rapids’ first African American police officer in 1890, and LaMetta Wynn of Clinton, elected in 1995 as the state’s first African American mayor. “I certainly recognize the importance and the power of embracing and recognizing our community's diversity with opportunities like this project,” Ms. O’Donnell said. “It's going to provide countless people the opportunity to experience and be a part of Iowa’s rich Black history and culture. It’s another way that we can foster real inclusion here in our city. “When you think about the importance of belonging, it's important for all of us to understand where we came from and our roots," she continued. "It's critical to our success as a city, as a society and as a culture, to understand that we are a part of something greater, and this museum will do that. It’s not only about our past, but it will provide fuel to ignite countless futures. The resilience, the challenges, the barriers and the ability to overcome will provide huge dividends for us.”

Planning for the project began in 2020 when the museum, which was founded in 1993 and bounced between several temporary locations before completing its permanent facility in 2003 at 55 12th Ave. SE in Cedar Rapids, was notified by city officials that a planned flood wall and gate was going to cut through the museum’s parking lot and impact other aspects of museum operations, including the facility’s front entrance. After conducting an assessment of the flood protection system’s impact on the museum, the city offered $340,000 to address the issues. Ms. Cassell said she counter-offered $1.5 million, and a compromise of $1.07 million was approved by the city council in December 2021. That settlement served as the foundation for museum officials to pursue a larger project to address several museum needs. The museum’s $6 million fundraising campaign, including $5 million for the renovation project itself and an added “stretch goal” of $1 million to enhance the museum’s endowment fund, has brought in about $4.6 million so far in contributions from government agencies, dozens of local companies and individuals – enough to get work started, but short of the overall goal, said Zach Bohannon, who has led the fundraising effort. He said he’ll continue to solicit contributions so the project can cross its financial finish line. “Our goal is to put this project and this museum on a path for long-term success," he said. "We truly want this to be a statewide cultural institution.” Chris Wheeler, senior vice president of Point Builders, the project’s general contractor, said work on the project will begin next week with interior demolition work on the current museum, which has been closed since September in preparation for the project. “You will start seeing some changes made to the outside as well,” Mr. Wheeler said. “This will take place for quite a few months, but over a gradual sense of time you're going to see what this new vision will look like sooner than later.” Museum officials said they expect the project to be ready for a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony in January 2024.