A brief History

1981

Idea of African American Museum to be housed in Colman School building proposed to Mayor Royer by the Community Exchange, a multi-racial coalition.

1984

Formation of Task Force to establish an African American Museum.

1985

African American community activists,
Earl Debnam, Michael Greenwood, Charlie James and Omari Tahri occupy the recently closed Colman School to establish and claim
the site as the desired museum location.

1986 –1990

The City, Seattle School District, and community activists explore other possible locations for the Museum.

1993

A not-for-profit organization called the African American Heritage Museum and Cultural Center is formed. A Board of Directors is selected to oversee the project with Mayor Norm Rice’s office.

1995

Mayor Norm Rice appoints Bob Flowers to chair African American Heritage Museum Board.

2001–2003

Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, under the leadership of the Board of Directors and CEO James Kelly, takes on the project and purchases Colman School buiding in 2003 from Seattle School District.

2004 –2005

Carver Gayton becomes Director and Barbara Earl Thomas, Curator, of the Northwest African American Museum.

James Kelly,
CEO Urban League

Carver Gayton,
Executive Director NAAM

Barbara Thomas,
Curator NAAM