African American Museum of Iowa

What African American Museum of Iowa does

The African American Museum of Iowa (AAMI) is a Cedar Rapids-based nonprofit cultural institution founded in 1993 that operates as the only statewide museum in Iowa devoted to preserving African American history and culture. It educates over 30,000 people annually through on-site tours, traveling exhibits, research services, youth and adult education programs, and community/fundraising events delivered in more than 30 Iowa communities. The core exhibit platform is the permanent "Endless Possibilities" installation (covering Western African origins through the Civil Rights Movement), supplemented by rotating exhibits such as "Rooted: Labor, Land, & Legacy" (Oct 2025 – Aug 2026); supporting assets include a PastPerfect-powered online collection database, an oral history video archive on YouTube, and a FamilySearch Lab for genealogy research.

Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit stack: paid admissions ($5 students / $8 adults, with a $1 first-Saturday discount), a five-tier annual membership program ($35–$400), facility rentals of the Aldeen Davis Celebration Hall ($75–$135/hour via One Umbrella Event Planning), traveling-exhibit leases to schools and libraries ($50 for 2 weeks), group tours ($5/student), fee-based educational presentations ($100–$200), gift shop merchandise, tax-deductible donations via PayPal, an endowment administered through the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, and signature annual events — the Juneteenth festival and the History Makers Celebration gala. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, supported by organic social (Facebook, Twitter/X), Constant Contact email, content marketing via the website blog, earned media (KCRG-TV9), and partnerships with the NAACP Cedar Rapids Branch, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area, and the Iowa Museums Association.

The organization completed a major building renovation and reopened in May 2024, appointed Anne Harris Carter as Executive Director in May 2026, and is funded by a corporate and foundation donor base that includes Aegon Transamerica Foundation, Cargill, Hall-Perrine Foundation, Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, Alliant Energy Foundation, and Enterprise Holdings Foundation, among others. Operating technology is standard for the small-museum sector: PastPerfect for collections, Constant Contact for email, PayPal for donations, and Google Maps/YouTube for digital engagement. No AI/ML capability is in evidence.

Name

African American Museum of Iowa

Legal name

African American Museum of Iowa

Website

https://blackiowa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The African American Museum of Iowa is a Cedar Rapids-based nonprofit, founded in 1993, that operates as the only statewide Iowa museum devoted to preserving African American history and culture, educating over 30,000 people annually through exhibits, traveling programs, and signature events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Heritage Museum

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Historical Sites (712120)

akta.pro primary industry

History Museums (THAJADAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)

Keywords

• Historical museum exhibits
• Cultural heritage education
• Community education programs
• Museum event rentals
• Genealogy research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cedar Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Museum Admission: Visitors pay admission fees to tour the museum exhibits. Adults $8, Students $5, with children under 5 and members admitted free. $1 admission days on first Saturday of each month.
2. Facility Rental (Aldeen Davis Celebration Hall): The museum rents out its Aldeen Davis Celebration Hall for weddings, fundraisers, luncheons, formal dinners, dances, business meetings, and training workshops. Managed through One Umbrella Event Planning. Rental fees range from $75/hour to $135/hour depending on day and time, plus a $100 housekeeping fee.
3. Museum Membership: Annual membership program with multiple tiers: Individual $35, Family $50, Century $100, Golden $200, Platinum $400. Members receive unlimited admission, discounts at the museum store, invitations to member-only events, and other benefits.
4. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations accepted online via PayPal or by mail. The museum also runs annual fundraising events including the History Makers Gala and accepts recurring gifts. An endowment fund is maintained through the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation.
5. Traveling Exhibits: The museum offers sets of informational banners on topics in Iowa's African American history for lease to schools, libraries, museums, and businesses across Iowa. Standard fee of $50 for 2-week periods; Suspended exhibit $250 for up to 6 months.
6. Group Tours and Field Trips: Educational tours for youth and adult groups. Youth field trips are $5 per student with free admission for the first two chaperones. Additional chaperones are $8. Audio guides available for $1 per participant.
7. Educational Programming and Presentations: The museum offers fee-based educational presentations and workshops for schools and community groups. Programs run 30-45 minutes with fees ranging from $100 to $200 depending on organization type. Hands-on youth workshops available for additional fees.
8. Gift Shop (Nikee Museum Store): Merchandise sales at the on-site museum store. Members receive 10% discount.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The African American Museum of Iowa operates a statewide museum in Cedar Rapids preserving and presenting African American history and culture in Iowa. It sells admissions to permanent and rotating exhibits, leases traveling banner exhibits to schools and institutions, delivers fee-based educational presentations and workshops, and offers annual memberships, facility rentals, and gift shop merchandise as revenue-generating offerings. The museum also operates a FamilySearch genealogy research lab and produces signature events including the Juneteenth festival and History Makers Celebration gala.

Product overview

The African American Museum of Iowa operates as a single-site cultural institution with a unified museum experience. Its core offerings center on the permanent exhibit 'Endless Possibilities' and rotating exhibits like 'Rooted: Labor, Land, & Legacy.' Supporting services include educational programming (presentations and workshops), traveling exhibits for institutional lending, an online collection database (PastPerfect), oral history video archives, research services with a FamilySearch Lab, and facility rentals (Aldeen Davis Celebration Hall). The museum also runs membership programs, the annual History Makers Celebration gala, and the Juneteenth Festival as signature branded events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Museum Admissions and Exhibit Visits Paid in-person access to the museum's permanent exhibit "Endless Possibilities" and rotating exhibits at the Cedar Rapids facility, including self-guided and guided tour options for individual visitors, families, and walk-in guests.
• Endless Possibilities (Permanent Exhibit) The museum's permanent exhibit tracing Iowa's African American history from its origins in Western Africa to the present, covering slavery, the Civil War, the Underground Railroad, segregation, and the Civil Rights Movement.
• Rooted: Labor, Land, & Legacy Exhibit Current exhibit celebrating the role farming plays in Black resiliency and activism, exploring how Black farmers are reclaiming land and promoting sustainability.
• Traveling Exhibits Program Portable free-standing informational banner exhibits available for lease to schools, libraries, museums, and businesses across Iowa. Topics include African American migration, civil rights, military service, and cultural history. Standard fee $50 for up to 14 days; Suspended exhibit $250 for up to 6 months.
• Educational Programming and Presentations Presentations and hands-on workshops covering topics including African American music history, civil rights, the Tuskegee Airmen, George Washington Carver, Juneteenth, and Iowa's Underground Railroad. Programs run 30-45 minutes with fees ranging from $100 to $200.
• Aldeen Davis Celebration Hall Event Venue Event venue rental space with 38' x 72' room, capacity up to 240 guests theater-style, featuring Cedar River views and audio-visual equipment. Ideal for weddings, fundraisers, meetings, and workshops. Rental fees $75-$135/hour plus $100 housekeeping fee.
• Annual Membership Program Annual membership tiers (Individual $35, Family $50, Century $100, Golden $200, Platinum $400) offering unlimited admission, store discounts, event invitations, and reciprocal museum access.
• Group Tours and Field Trips Guided educational tours for school groups (grades 3+) at $5 per student with two free chaperones, and adult group tours (minimum 10 people) with audio guides available for $1 per participant.
• Research Services and FamilySearch Lab Archive access, genealogy research assistance, FamilySearch Lab with dedicated computers providing access to the world's largest free genealogy database, and off-site research inquiries for patrons unable to visit the museum.
• Nikee Museum Store (Gift Shop) On-site museum store selling merchandise including apparel, books, and cultural items. Members receive 10% discount on purchases.
• History Makers Celebration Gala Annual gala recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to Iowa's African American community through awards in categories including Trailblazer, Change Agent, Legacy Maker, and Role Model.
• Juneteenth Festival Annual festival celebrating the end of slavery, featuring live music, local vendors, food, family activities, and community organizations at the museum. Attracts thousands of attendees with corporate sponsorships from GreatAmerica, Cargill, and others.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30,000 people educated annually through museum tours, traveling exhibits, research services, youth and adult education programs, and community and fundraising events

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Hotel at Kirkwood CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 October 2026Venue partner for the annual History Makers Celebration gala event, hosting the cocktail reception and program.
• GreatAmericacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 June 2026Presenting sponsor of the 2026 Juneteenth festival. GreatAmerica provides significant financial support enabling the museum to host its largest annual community event.
• CargillcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 June 2026Co-sponsor of the 2026 Juneteenth festival, supporting the annual celebration of African American emancipation.
• HyVeeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 June 2026In-kind supporter of the 2026 Juneteenth festival and sponsor of the History Makers Gala, providing food and beverage support for events.
• NAACP Cedar Rapids BranchminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026Partnered with the museum to create a Black History Month pop-up exhibit featuring art by Ames CSD elementary school students led by art teacher Brian Randolph.
• One Umbrella Event PlanningcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party event planning company that manages all rental bookings for the Aldeen Davis Celebration Hall, handling inquiries, contracts, and coordination for event rentals.
• FamilySearchcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides access to the world's largest free genealogy database through the museum's FamilySearch Lab with two dedicated computers and volunteer assistance for genealogical research.
• Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage AreaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting the museum as part of Iowa's heritage area network. Listed among museum partners on website.
• Iowa Museums AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide museum association partnership providing professional network and resources for Iowa museums.
• Cedar Rapids Museum of ArtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with the museum during its building renovation to co-produce the Power and Impact visual arts exhibit featuring Black artists in Iowa.
• Johnson County Historical SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with the museum on the 2012 The Only One exhibit exploring the experience of being the only minority in various settings.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Museum of the African Diaspora: San Francisco-based museum focused on African diaspora history and culture. Comparable peer with similar exhibit-based operating model, educational programming, and community event-driven revenue.
• Northwest African American Museum: Seattle-based museum preserving and presenting African American history in the Pacific Northwest. Comparable peer as a single-state/region African American history museum with educational programming and community events.
• Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History: Largest African American history museum in the world, based in Detroit. Directly comparable as a mission-aligned peer focused on preserving and interpreting African American history through permanent and rotating exhibits, educational programming, and community events.
• Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History: Maryland's statewide museum of African American history and culture. Direct peer with comparable statewide mission, exhibit programming, school field trip offerings, and donor-supported operating model.
• African American Museum and Library at the University of Texas at Austin: Texas's primary African American history archive and museum operated in partnership with the University of Texas. Comparable as a state-focused African American history institution with archival collections, oral histories, and educational programming.
• DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center: Chicago-based museum dedicated to African American history, founded in 1961. Comparable peer with similar focus on collections, exhibits, K-12 educational programs, and community cultural events.
• National Civil Rights Museum: Memphis-based museum at the Lorraine Motel site of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. Comparable as a high-profile African American history museum with strong K-12 field trip demand, traveling exhibits, and donor-supported operating model.

Regional players

• State Historical Museum of Iowa: State-operated history museum in Des Moines with broader Iowa history focus. Comparable as a regional/statewide history museum competing for the same Iowa school field trips, tourist visits, and cultural programming dollars, though not African American-specific.
• Cedar Rapids Museum of Art: Co-located in Cedar Rapids and an active programming partner of AAMI (e.g., 2024 Power and Impact exhibit collaboration). Comparable as a same-city cultural institution with similar visitor base, facility rental model, and donor network.

Broad incumbents

• National Museum of African American History and Culture: Smithsonian-operated national museum in Washington, D.C. Operates broadly in the same space as AAMI but at vastly greater scale, with overlapping mission of preserving African American history — sets the national standard against which smaller state museums are benchmarked.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/BlackIowa
• Facebookfacebook.com/africanamericanmuseumofiowa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blackiowa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about African American Museum of Iowa