Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum

08/18/2026

We are incredibly grateful to Jesse White Foundation, Official, for providing "Back to School" bags for two of our Black History Bowl participants!

Ms. Arielle and Ms. Yaccari are proud graduates of Springfield Public Schools - District 186 and are headed off to begin their freshman year of college.

Thanks to this thoughtful donation, each student received a laptop and other essential school supplies to help ease the financial burden of starting college.

Thank you for investing in our students and helping them begin this next chapter with the tools they need to succeed! 📚💻✨

Congratulations, ladies, and best wishes on your college journey! 🎉

08/08/2026

Join us next Saturday at the "3 Hot Days in August: The Aftermath" Closing Reception of the city-wide commemoration of the 1908 Race Riot, held at AAHM (1440 Monument Ave., Springfield, IL 62702) at 3 PM. This gathering marks the conclusion of a series of events dedicated to remembrance, reflection, and education about the lives impacted, the history that shaped our city, and the ongoing pursuit of justice and reconciliation.

During the ceremony, the winners of the “3 Hot Days in August” Essay Contest will be announced, and their essays will be shared through live readings.

Refreshments will be provided by the Springfield Branch NAACP.

07/31/2026

Springfield and Central Illinois African American is screening our Historical/Cultural Short Form Content Regional Emmy award winning documentary the “Negro Baseball League” until the end of August! Come learn about Springfield’s history with the NBL, Comer Cox and Satchel Paige!

AAHM has you covered for the baseball season, come check out our “Negro Baseball League” merchandise in the gift shop!

07/23/2026

The Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum will be closed today, July 23rd, 2026. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause on your plans!

07/11/2026

Today is the day!

Join Historic Voices, Miss Laura Keyes, as she brings to life the stories of African American revolutionaries, their history, their bravery, and their surprising legacies. Don't miss this engaging presentation on today, July 11th at 4 PM at AAHM (1440 Monument Ave., Springfield, IL 62702).

07/08/2026

Join Historic Voices, Miss Laura Keyes, as she brings to life the stories of African American revolutionaries, their history, their bravery, and their surprising legacies. Don't miss this engaging presentation on Saturday, July 11th at 4 PM at AAHM (1440 Monument Ave., Springfield, IL 62702).

From the very beginning of European colonization in North America to the final shots of the Revolutionary War, African Americans built pathways for American independence. Erased from so many history books, the daily lives, the stories, the loves and losses of enslaved Africans are a part of this country's patchwork quilt.

Now, hear the stories of soldiers, writers, spies, sailors, scientists, and common everyday people, who found themselves in amazing circumstances.

Join Laura Keyes as she shares their history, their bravery, and their surprising legacies. Miss Keyes will be delighting audiences with her presentation on Saturday, July 11th at 4 PM at AAHM (1440 Monument Ave., Springfield, IL 62702).

For more information, check out Historic Voices!

07/04/2026

What does it mean to celebrate freedom?

As the United States marks 250 years, the Fourth of July invites us to celebrate the nation's founding ideals while also reflecting on the distance between those ideals and lived reality.

On July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass delivered his now-famous speech, What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July? In it, he challenged the nation to confront the contradiction between its promise of liberty and the reality of slavery. Yet even amid that critique, Douglass expressed hope for the country's future:

"America is young, and... still in the impressible stage of her existence. May... wisdom, justice and truth... yet give direction to her destiny."

More than 170 years later, those words remain a powerful reminder that democracy has never been static. The American story is not only one of independence in 1776, but it is also the story of generations of people who expanded the meaning of freedom, challenged exclusion, and worked to bring the nation's ideals closer to reality.

This Fourth of July, we honor that history in all of its complexity. To tell the full American story is to celebrate both the ideals that inspired the nation and the people who demanded that those ideals include everyone.

07/02/2026

The Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum will be closed July 3–4 in observance of the Fourth of July holiday.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to your holiday plans. We hope everyone has a safe, enjoyable, and memorable holiday weekend. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!

Happy Fourth of July!

07/01/2026

From the very beginning of European colonization in North America to the final shots of the Revolutionary War, African Americans built pathways for American independence. Erased from so many history books, the daily lives, the stories, the loves and losses of enslaved Africans are a part of this country's patchwork quilt.

Now, hear the stories of soldiers, writers, spies, sailors, scientists, and common everyday people, who found themselves in amazing circumstances.

Join Laura Keyes as she shares their history, their bravery, and their surprising legacies. Miss Keyes will be delighting audiences with her presentation on Saturday, July 11th at 4 PM at AAHM (1440 Monument Ave., Springfield, IL 62702).

For more information, check out Historic Voices!

06/26/2026

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

This week’s spotlight is “I'm Every Woman” by Chaka Khan, a 1978 empowering anthem from her debut solo album Chaka.

Listen here: https://youtu.be/DVDCNmdi7QI?si=uxExbTdPIzL7kHLv

Born Yvette Marie Stevens in Chicago, Chaka Khan grew up on the South Side, influenced early by jazz, R&B, and her family’s musical roots. She began performing as a teen, joined civil rights-era activism, and developed into one of music’s most powerful and influential voices.

Decades later, “I'm Every Woman” remains a timeless celebration of strength, confidence, and identity.

Official music video for Chaka Khan - "I'm Every Woman" from 'Chaka...