Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum

06/19/2026

Join us this Father’s Day weekend as Amplified Father’s host their Call to Lead: Ingredients of a Man Expo!

It’s sure to be a fun time as we celebrate on the museum lawn, with great weather, food and fellowship!

Saturday, June 20th
11 AM - 2 PM
Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum: 1440 Monument Ave., Springfield, IL 62702

06/19/2026

Happy Juneteenth❤️🖤💚

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and enforced the freedom of more than 250,000 enslaved Black people, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued.

This day is more than a celebration of emancipation. It is a tribute to the strength, resilience, and determination of African Americans who endured slavery, preserved their humanity in the face of oppression, and built communities, families, institutions, and traditions that continue to shape our nation.

Juneteenth honors the generations who fought for freedom, from the enslaved people who resisted bo***ge to the leaders, educators, activists, and everyday citizens who carried the struggle for civil rights and equality forward. It reminds us that freedom was not simply granted... it was demanded, defended, and continuously pursued by Black Americans throughout our history.

Happy Juneteenth. Today we celebrate Black history, Black resilience, Black excellence, and Black freedom.

06/19/2026

🎸 African American Music Appreciation | Song of the Week 🎸

This week's featured artist is Chuck Berry, the "Father of Rock and Roll." Through his innovative guitar playing, energetic performances, and storytelling lyrics, Berry helped shape the sound of modern popular music and influenced generations of musicians across rock, pop, and beyond.

🎵 Song of the Week: "Johnny B. Goode" 🎵

Listen here: https://youtu.be/xHM3uGATtT4?si=cSnvxsPF336Jivgd

When people think of rock and roll, they are often thinking of a sound that Chuck Berry helped create. By blending rhythm and blues with country influences, Berry developed a style defined by driving rhythms, electrifying guitar riffs, and storytelling lyrics that became the foundation of rock music.

Released in 1958, Johnny B. Goode is one of the most recognizable rock and roll songs ever recorded. Its iconic opening guitar riff helped establish the electric guitar as the centerpiece of rock music, while its story of a young musician rising from humble beginnings captured the spirit of ambition and possibility that became a hallmark of the genre.

Berry's innovations influenced countless artists and bands that followed. His guitar style, stage presence, songwriting, and performance techniques helped shape the sound of rock and roll for generations. Many of the elements we associate with rock music today, from guitar-driven melodies to energetic live performances, can be traced back to his groundbreaking work.

As you listen to Johnny B. Goode this week, consider how Chuck Berry helped lay the foundation for one of the most influential genres in music history. His contributions not only transformed American music but also left a lasting impact on popular culture around the world.

Join us in celebrating the legacy of Chuck Berry, whose creativity, talent, and innovation helped define rock and roll.

Check Berry performed on The Midnight Special December 6, 1974Fol...

06/12/2026

🎶 African American Music Appreciation | Song of the Week 🎶

This week's featured work is the Mississippi River Suite by Florence Price, a trailblazing composer whose music helped break barriers in American classical music.

Listen here: https://youtu.be/q9PdUvNACu8?si=pGCu_PoltyX_mMiP

In 1933, Price became the first African American woman to have a composition performed by a major symphony orchestra when the Chicago Symphony Orchestra premiered her award-winning Symphony in E Minor. A critic praised the work as "a faultless work... worthy of a place in the regular symphonic repertoire." Despite this success, Price continued to face discrimination because of both her race and gender, writing in 1943 that these realities created significant obstacles throughout her career.

Composed in 1934, Mississippi River Suite reflects Price's unique ability to blend African American musical traditions with classical forms. The work follows a journey down the Mississippi River and features musical quotations from several well-known spirituals, including "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen," "Go Down, Moses," and "Deep River." Through these melodies, Price captures themes of struggle, resilience, faith, and the experiences of Black migration across the United States.

As you listen this week, consider how Price transforms familiar spirituals into a powerful orchestral story. Listen for the moments when these melodies emerge from the orchestra and think about the history, hope, and perseverance they represent. More than 90 years after it was written, Mississippi River Suite remains a moving tribute to African American culture and experience.

Take a few minutes to listen and discover why Florence Price's music continues to inspire new generations of musicians and audiences.

Provided to YouTube by Musical ConceptsMississippi River Suite · Apo Hsu · The Women's PhilharmonicFlorence Price: Mississippi River Suite, The Oak, Symphony...

06/12/2026

The Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, and members of the Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum extend their heartfelt condolences to our Museum President, Aaron Pearl-Cropp, and the Pearl family following the passing of their beloved mother, Geneva Pearl.

Today, as family and friends gather to celebrate her life and honor her memory, we join them in reflecting on the lasting legacy she leaves behind. Her life was marked by devotion to family, her faith in Christ, and the values that continue to inspire those who knew and loved her.

During this time of sorrow, we offer our thoughts, prayers, and deepest sympathies to our President, Aaron, and all who mourn her loss. May they find comfort in cherished memories and strength in the support of family, friends, and community.

06/12/2026

**Museum Closure Notice**

Please note that the museum will be closed today from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM for our Summer Camp Finale Showcase.

We appreciate your understanding and invite you to visit before or after the showcase. Thank you for supporting our summer camp participants as they celebrate their accomplishments and keep an eye out for updates from the performance!

06/10/2026

We had a wonderful time hosting our Summer Campers for their field trip to the museum!

Our young historians put their detective skills to the test with our “History Detective Hunt”, exploring the galleries and searching for clues to uncover the answers along the way!

In honor of this year’s camp theme, “Behind the Mask: Exploring History, Expressing Identity,” we also featured a special mini-exhibit highlighting African artistry, including a Yoruba mask and Maasai-inspired beaded bowls.

Thank you to our campers for bringing curiosity, enthusiasm, and energy to the museum. We loved sharing this learning adventure with you!

Thank you to our sponsors, Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln, the Lumpkin Family Foundation, and Union Baptist Church for making this possible!

06/06/2026

🎶 African American Music Appreciation Month | Song of the Week 🎶

This week, we're celebrating African American Music Appreciation Month by highlighting a song that has left a lasting impact on music and culture:

🎵 "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke
Listen here: https://youtu.be/1oZ6Z9xRxo8?si=mjCUXUsBtQlHVpxN

Released in 1964, this powerful anthem became a symbol of hope, resilience, and progress during the Civil Rights Movement. Its message continues to resonate today, reminding us of music's ability to inspire change and bring people together.

💡 Why we chose it:

A timeless masterpiece of soul music
A defining song of the Civil Rights era
An enduring example of the influence of African American artists on American music and culture

Take a moment this week to listen, reflect, and celebrate the countless African American musicians whose creativity and innovation have shaped the soundtrack of our lives.

🎧 Song of the Week: "A Change Is Gonna Come"

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music GroupA Change Is Gonna Come · Sam CookeAin't That Good News℗ 2015 ABKCO Music & Records, Inc.Released on: 2024-06-21Co...

06/05/2026

Happy Pride Month! 🌈

This month, we celebrate the courage, resilience, and contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals whose stories have shaped our communities and our nation. Among them is Ruth C. Ellis, a Springfield, Illinois native who became one of the oldest openly le***an women in the United States, living to the age of 101.

Born in Springfield in 1899, Ellis witnessed the Springfield Race Riot of 1908 as a child and grew up amid both racial injustice and family support. Open about her identity from a young age, she went on to become a beloved advocate and community figure whose life reminds us of the importance of authenticity, perseverance, and belonging.

As we honor Pride Month, we also recognize the legacy of Black LGBTQ+ trailblazers like Ruth Ellis, whose journey reflects the rich and diverse history of both Springfield and the broader fight for equality.

05/26/2026

Final week to experience the remarkable Lucy McWorter dress, handcrafted by Mary Helen Yokem. This extraordinary piece will remain on display through Saturday, May 30.

Visitors are also encouraged to view the accompanying documentary, which explores both the meticulous construction of the dress and the history of the McWorter family. We extend our sincere gratitude to the Illinois State Museum for the opportunity to showcase this important work, and to Mary Helen Yokem for her continued support of AAHM.