International African American Museum to Be Open for Memorial Day

May 20, 2025

PRESS RELEASE: IAAM Open on Memorial Day

Contact: Paul Holston, IAAM Marketing & Communications Manager, [email protected]; IAAM Marketing Division, [email protected]

International African American Museum to Be Open for Memorial Day

Charleston, S.C. – The International African American Museum (IAAM) will be open on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, from 10:00AM to 5:00PM, with last entry time at 4:00PM. This special holiday opening provides an opportunity for visitors to explore the museum’s exhibitions and engage with the rich history and culture of African Americans.

IAAM is a museum dedicated to telling the stories of the African American journey, from the Middle Passage to the present day. The museum is located on the site of Gadsden’s Wharf, where approximately 40 percent of enslaved Africans arrived in the United States. IAAM is home to 12 permanent exhibitions that include nine galleries and one Special Exhibitions gallery.

Visitors at IAAM can explore a variety of exhibitions, including:

• Gullah Geechee (Supported by the Yawkey Foundation): Define and demystify what it means to be Gullah Geechee by examining the history of the Gullah Geechee peoples and the contemporary issues facing their communities today.
• Atlantic Worlds (Supported by Nucor Corporation): Explore the nuanced historical connections throughout the Black Atlantic World and the deep interconnectivity between Africa, the Americas, and Europe.
• South Carolina Connections (Supported by Dominion Energy): Experience stories of resistance and achievement from the many locally, nationally, and internationally influential African Americans in South Carolina’s history.
• American Journeys (Supported by the Lilly Endowment Inc.): Discover people, events, and stories that shaped United States history through the international lens of the African Diaspora.

IAAM currently sells timed-entry tickets, and those tickets can be purchased online for that day HERE. 

Admission includes access to our Center for Family History (CFH), which offers a unique opportunity for visitors across the United States to trace their ancestry, uncover untold stories, and preserve their family legacies. IAAM’s CFH offers free digital resources on family genealogy and African American-centric databases.

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About the International African American Museum

The International African American Museum (IAAM) explores the history, culture, and impact of the African American journey on Charleston, South Carolina, the nation, and the world, shining light and sharing stories of the diverse journeys, origin, and achievements of descendants of the African Diaspora. Located at the historically sacred site of Gadsden’s Wharf, IAAM honors the untold stories of the African American journey. Learn more about IAAM at www.iaamuseum.org and follow IAAM on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, andBlueSky.