The African American Museum of Bucks County is embarking on a tour to local schools and will be exhibiting at the Bucks County Administration Offices and Justice Center in Doylestown in commemoration of Black History Month. These visits are occurring simultaneously with the renovation of the museum’s new permanent home at Boone Farm in Middletown Township.
“While the renovation of the museum’s new permanent home in Middletown Township is moving along, AAMBC, as a mobile and virtual museum, remains an important educational resource throughout Bucks County,” said Linda Salley, AAMBC president and executive director.
School Programs: “Who Am I” Pop-up Exhibit
The Pennsbury School District elementary school program asked the museum to develop a program for fifth grade students from nine elementary schools across the district. The “Who Am I” pop-up exhibit runs for two full days, Feb. 8-9, and will be hosted by Manor Elementary School in Levittown, reaching over 1,100 students. In addition, on Feb. 15-16, AAMBC is presenting this exhibit to almost 1,500 students at the Bucks County Technical High School in Levittown.
The exhibit features six stations, each representing a different era of American history. Teachers will be given “prework” featuring a short bio of some African Americans included in the exhibit to engage students in the classroom before visiting the stations. Museum representatives at each station will then educate students on the African American experience of that era. Students will be challenged to identify the one historical figure of the era highlighted at each station on their classroom worksheet to reveal a comprehensive write-up of the historical figure’s contributions.
The museum is in need of volunteers to help staff these exhibits and is requesting assistance from community members. If you would like to help the AAMBC through volunteering or donation, contact Salley at 215-752-1909 or email aambcmuseum@gmail.com.
Community Exhibits
The AAMBC is also exhibiting two displays in Doylestown throughout the month of February. These exhibits are free and open to the community. One display will feature the Civil Rights Movement, highlighting important figures and events from the 1950s and 1960s leading up to the present day. The second display, “Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things,” will focus on Hidden Figures of Bucks County.
The exhibits will be held in two locations in Doylestown: in the County Courthouse Administration Building, 55 Court St., and at the Justice Center, accessed through the main entrance at 100 N. Main St. Visitors are encouraged to visit both.
The AAMBC, a 501(c)(3) founded in 2014, honors the legacy of the African American experience, inspiring pride in heritage, educating the public about the diverse and difficult journey of African Americans and sharing stories that depict shared ancestry. For more information, visit infoaambc.org.
