Founded in 1976, the Afro-American Historical and Cultural Museum is the first major museum in the country devoted specifically to African-American history and traditions. Focusing primarily on 20th century African-American contributions to Pennsylvania and the Delaware Valley, the Museum's collections include some 450,000 items divided into several major categories. Fine Arts include prints, paintings, sculpture, and works such as Romare Bearden's tapestry Captivity and Renaissance. The Photography Collection includes many photos made by Jack T. Franklin and other masters. The Archives contain an enormous amount of material, but are especially strong in objects representing African Americans and the performing arts, sports, Philadelphia, and the military. The Museum presents a wonderful array of changing exhibits, drawing mostly from its collections and featuring the best in African-American art.
