Surface Mag: The Long-Awaited International African American Museum

The International African American Museum stands as a testament to the history of Gadsden’s Wharf, where tens of thousands of enslaved Africans arrived in Charleston Harbor during the 18th and 19th centuries. The museum’s journey to realization was marked by challenges and setbacks, but its elegant ship-like design by Moody Nolan and Pei Cobb Freed & Partners now graces the harbor. Outside, a tranquil park pays tribute to the victims of the Middle Passage, with life-size silhouettes serving as haunting reminders of the past. Landscape architect Walter J. Hood’s lush gardens create a contrasting backdrop, offering a space for solemn reflection. The museum stands as a powerful representation of Black creative and cultural energy, marking an important chapter in the United States’ history.

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