Museum Launches First Digital Exhibit in Partnership with Google Arts & Culture

Charleston, S.C., Mar. 9, 2021 —This past Black History Month, the International African American Museum and Google Arts & Culture launched their first collaborative digital experience, which offers audience members a chance to take a closer look at Sol Legare Island, an 860-acre island, located on the coast of South Carolina on James Island.

Named after antebellum plantation owner, Solomon Legare, the historic Sol Legare community is a rare, surviving example of a largely African American community in the South Carolina Sea Islands, where most community members are descendants of its African American Freedmen founders. 

Google Arts & Culture lists Sol Legare as one of many locations essential to Black History in the United States. Through their online, interactive platform, audience members can view high-resolution images, videos of artwork, and cultural artifacts from partner cultural organizations around the world. 

The Seashore Farmer’s Lodge No. 767, once a members-only meeting place and mutual-aid cooperative is highlighted in a digital exhibit entitled “The Seashore Farmers Lodge: Preserving the Past to Educate the Future.” The Lodge united a thriving agricultural farming community and inspired the creation of similar lodges and community-led organizations in the Lowcountry. 

The digital experience features over 60 pieces of media, curated by the Museum. This includes images related to Sol Legare and its residents, as well as documents and artifacts illustrating historic Civil War battles and cultural events which took place near the Lodge. 

In addition to providing information about the Lodge’s importance in the Sol Legare community, the exhibit also highlights historic Mosquito Beach, which was a gathering place for African Americans all over the Lowcountry, excluded from other beaches during the Jim Crow era. 

“We are delighted to partner with Google Arts & Culture to showcase an important piece of Lowcountry history,” said Elijah Heyward III, the Museum’s chief operating officer. “Google’s platform enables us to share rich in-depth stories about African American history and culture, and highlight it in a way that both engages and excites members of our community. We look forward to continuing to partner with Google Arts & Culture to bring these educational experiences to future visitors of the museum.”

Interested audience members and future Museum visitors can view this exhibit here.

About the International African American Museum

The International African American Museum strives to foster empathy and understanding, empowering visitors with the knowledge of the past. The museum journey will challenge, illuminate, inspire and ultimately, will move people to action. The Museum’s exhibitions will share untold stories using classic techniques as well as new approaches driven by innovation, technology and digital interactivity. Themes will include connections across the African diaspora, the spread of African American culture and influence, and the movements for justice and equality. The Center for Family History will enable visitors to trace their genealogy, while changing exhibitions and special events will keep the Museum energized. Educational programs will provide life-long learning opportunities for visitors both young and old. 

The International African American Museum will open in 2022. For more information, visit our website at www.iaamuseum.org or connect with us on social media @iaamuseum on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. 

About Google Arts & Culture
Google Arts & Culture puts the treasures, stories and knowledge of over 2,000 cultural institutions from 80 countries at your fingertips. If Google’s mission is to make the world’s information more accessible, then Arts & Culture’s mission is to make the world’s culture accessible to anyone, anywhere. It’s your doorway to explore art, history, and wonders of the world. Discover stories about cultural heritage ranging from Van Gogh’s bedroom paintings, Puerto Rico’s heritage, Sports in Australia or the women’s right movement to ancient Maya temples, Japanese Food and Indian Railways.

Press Inquiries:

International African American Museum 
Dr. Elijah Heyward III 
Chief Operating Officer
[email protected] 
(843) 824-4606

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