Alexandria Black History Museum, African-American history museum in Old Town Alexandria, United States.
The Alexandria Black History Museum occupies multiple exhibition spaces within a historic building that once functioned as a segregated library, located in the Parker-Gray district. The Watson Reading Room houses thousands of documents, books, and periodicals that record African American experiences and contributions across different periods.
The building opened as the Robinson Library in 1940 and was the first public library serving African Americans in Alexandria during segregation. It later became a museum dedicated to preserving the history of the community and its struggle for equality.
The building once enforced racial division, but has been transformed into a space where the community comes together to remember and honor shared struggles and achievements. Visitors walk through rooms filled with stories of resilience that shaped the neighborhood's identity.
The museum is open Thursday through Sunday with varying hours, and Alexandria residents receive free admission. It is located near the historic Old Town district and can be reached easily by public transportation.
The museum collection documents one of the first successful sit-in strikes during the American Civil Rights Movement, an important but often overlooked chapter of resistance. This local action shows how communities fought for change through direct action before gaining broader national attention.
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