The African American Civil War Memorial Freedom Foundation

What The African American Civil War Memorial Freedom Foundation does

The African American Civil War Memorial Freedom Foundation, operating as the African American Civil War Memorial Museum (AACWM), is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 by Dr. Frank Smith and headquartered in Washington DC. Its mission is to document and share the contributions of the 209,145 United States Colored Troops (USCT) who fought to end slavery and preserve the Union, a history the museum characterizes as underrepresented in mainstream Civil War narratives. The core product is a physical museum experience paired with a searchable USCT soldier database, a Civil War Primer Educator Portal with curriculum and lesson plans, and the Wall of Freedom memorial. Supporting programs include a Traveling Exhibit, the FREED female re-enactors program, the Civil War Descendants Program for genealogy research, USCT Historic Trails, Juneteenth observances, Emancipation Day and Reading of the Names ceremonies, and legislative advocacy for the USCT Congressional Gold Medal Act.

The institution has no proprietary software or AI capability; its technical footprint consists of a WordPress-based website, the searchable soldier database, the educator portal, Donorbox donation processing, and standard social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram). In February 2024 the museum received Guinness World Records recognition for 'Most Names on a War Memorial,' validating the scale of its USCT registry. The museum is currently undergoing a significant real estate transition: it has signed a 99-year lease for the Grimke School redevelopment as its new facility, with a grand reopening originally planned for July 18, 2025 but subsequently postponed; indoor exhibits remain closed during renovation while the outdoor memorial stays accessible.

The business model is donation- and membership-driven. Admission is free with a suggested donation; revenue streams comprise voluntary contributions processed through Donorbox, an annual museum membership program, and a museum shop selling commemorative merchandise. Group tours (8+ visitors) and field trips (virtual, outdoor, and in-person since May 2024) serve the educational segment, and a museum rental offering is slated to launch after November 2025. The organization operates without disclosed subsidiaries, parent company, or institutional equity backing, and relies on a board of directors and staff under the founder/executive director.

Name

The African American Civil War Memorial Freedom Foundation

Legal name

The African American Civil War Memorial Freedom Foundation

Website

https://afroamcivilwar.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The African American Civil War Memorial Freedom Foundation operates a Washington DC museum documenting the 209,145 United States Colored Troops, offering exhibits, a searchable soldier database, educator resources, and descendant genealogy programs funded by donations and memberships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Heritage Museum

NAICS

Museums (712110), Historical Sites (71212)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI), Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation (BPAGAHAE), Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)

Keywords

• Civil War history museum
• African American heritage
• Historical education programs
• Memorial museum exhibits
• Cultural heritage preservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Museum Admission: Free admission with suggested donations to support mission-driven programs, exhibits, and educational outreach
2. Museum Membership: Annual membership program offering benefits to supporters of the museum
3. Museum Shop/Merchandise: Sale of museum merchandise and commemorative items including limited edition prints
4. Donations: Tax-deductible donations through Donorbox platform supporting museum operations and programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The foundation operates the African American Civil War Memorial Museum, a cultural and educational institution that preserves and shares the largely undocumented stories of the 209,145 United States Colored Troops (USCT) who fought to end slavery during the Civil War. Its core offering combines a physical museum with exhibits, the Wall of Freedom memorial, an online USCT Soldier Database, the Civil War Primer Educator Portal, traveling exhibits, commemorative events (Juneteenth, Emancipation Day), the Civil War Descendants Program, group tours, and field trips for schools.

Product overview

The African American Civil War Memorial Museum operates as a unified cultural institution with its core offering being the physical and educational museum experience documenting the role of 209,145 USCT soldiers. The product portfolio comprises the core museum exhibit (currently under renovation), paired with the Wall of Freedom memorial and outdoor memorial access. Additional offerings include the Traveling Exhibit for community outreach, the FREED female re-enactors program for living history, the Civil War Descendants Program for genealogical research, USCT Historic Trails, Juneteenth Observance, and advocacy for Congressional Gold Medal recognition. Supporting services include field trips (virtual and in-person), group tours, museum membership, and a retail store.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• African American Civil War Memorial Museum (Museum Visit) The museum preserves and shares the stories of the 209,145 USCT who fought for freedom during the Civil War, providing exhibits and educational resources for visitors of all ages. Currently free admission with suggested donation.
• Wall of Freedom Memorial Outdoor memorial wall displaying the names of USCT soldiers who served during the Civil War, allowing visitors to engage with individual soldiers' contributions.
• Traveling Exhibit Program Mobile exhibit program that brings African American Civil War history to communities outside the museum, expanding the institution's reach and educational impact.
• Civil War Descendants Program (CWDP) Genealogy program helping descendants research their ancestors who served in the USCT, including ancestor registration, oral history presentations, and research tips.
• USCT Historic Trails Historic trail program dedicated to the routes and locations significant to the United States Colored Troops during the Civil War.
• Juneteenth Observance Annual commemorative program celebrating Juneteenth, with educational context about the holiday's historical significance.
• Field Trip Program Educational field trip offerings for students, available as virtual tours, outdoor programs at the memorial, and in-person visits. Includes scavenger hunts and educator resources.
• Group Tours Guided group tour services for parties of 8 or more people, including student guide tours and customizable visiting experiences requiring reservation.
• Museum Store Retail shop selling museum merchandise including commemorative prints and other items to support the museum's mission.
• Museum Membership Annual membership program offering benefits to supporters of the museum, providing exclusive access and engagement opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Guinness World Record recognition for Most Names on a War Memorial (February 2024)

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Guinness World RecordsnotableOthers · 1 February 2024Guinness World Records recognized the AACWM on February 1, 2024 (First Day of Black History Month) with a world record for 'Most Names on a War Memorial,' validating the museum's extensive documentation of 209,145 USCT soldiers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DuSable Museum of African American History: Chicago-based African American history museum founded in 1961. Comparable as a mid-sized, donor-supported nonprofit heritage museum with similar programming.
• National Civil War Museum: Harrisburg, PA-based museum covering the American Civil War. Directly comparable in Civil War subject matter and educational programming, though broader in scope than the USCT-narrow AACWM.
• Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History: Baltimore-based state-affiliated African American history museum. Comparable in subject focus, regional scope, and educational programming for school groups.
• Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History: Detroit-based African American history museum founded in 1965, the world's largest institution of its kind. Closely comparable as a heritage-focused, donation-and-membership-funded nonprofit museum with similar programming mix.
• American Civil War Museum: Richmond, VA-based museum operating across multiple Civil War sites. Comparable in dual-format museum/memorial model and Civil War subject focus.
• African American Museum in Philadelphia: The first museum built by a major U.S. city to preserve and celebrate African American history. Comparable in mission, regional scope, and nonprofit operating model.
• Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture: The Smithsonian's flagship African American heritage museum located on the National Mall in Washington DC. Directly comparable in subject matter (African American history), visitor base (national and international), and DC location to AACWM.

Broad incumbents

• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: Federal memorial museum on the National Mall in Washington DC. Comparable in memorial/heritage museum structure, donor-supported model, and DC location, though federally chartered.
• National WWII Museum: New Orleans-based war history museum founded in 2000. Comparable in military history/memorial subject matter and educational programming, but operates at significantly larger scale.
• National WWI Museum and Memorial: Kansas City-based war memorial museum operated as a public-private partnership with the U.S. Congress. Comparable in war memorial mission and structured educational programming, but operates at materially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/afroamcivilwar
• YouTubeyoutube.com/afroamcivilwar1
• Facebookfacebook.com/afroamcivilwar
• Instagraminstagram.com/afroamcivilwar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/african-american-civil-war-museum

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about The African American Civil War Memorial Freedom Foundation