African American Museum to move

CEDAR RAPIDS - The African American Museum of Iowa, which sits along the Cedar River, likely will need a new home.

Tom Heinold, project manager for the Army Corps of Engineers' Rock Island District Office, said an updated design alignment for the east-side flood-protection system takes a levee through the current museum, at 55 12th Ave. SE.

Heinold said city officials were not surprised. They suggested that museum officials were planning on moving, Heinold said.

Benjamin Hoover, development director at the museum, confirmed that museum officials and the city were already talking about the need to move.

“We've had some talks with the city,” he said. “We've asked questions. We've looked into potential (new) sites. As far as finalizing actual details, no.”

Hoover said museum leadership would expect funds from the sale of the building and for relocation expenses to pay for much of any new museum. Some fundraising likely would be needed, too, he said.

“We'd love to stay in this area,” he said.

The current museum site is close to some of the city's historically black neighborhoods, is in the now-flourishing New Bohemia arts and entertainment district and sits in a cultural district across the river from the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.

“It makes sense for us to be in a cultural district as far as attracting tourists,” Hoover said. “Right now, we feel like we really are in a prime location as far as attracting tourists and being in a good location to draw audiences.”

Mayor Ron Corbett said property purchases will be part of the expense of any flood-protection system and that African American Museum of Iowa is one of a group of property owners that may be asked to sell.

Heinold said the Corps' design work is firming up the exact alignment of the east-side flood protection system. It currently envisions keeping all riverfront buildings in the downtown in place and building a flood wall between them and the river.

Corbett said city officials talked at length with Corps officials about removable flood walls through the downtown. Heinold said the drawback is they require erection in a short window of time. Corbett said the city plans to create a volunteer corps that can be trained and mobilized to help with installation.

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