African American Museum of Iowa reopens this weekend

New features, expanded lobby, updated building will greet visitors

CEDAR RAPIDS — The African American Museum of Iowa will reopen to the public this weekend, ending an 18-month closure and $5 million renovation.

The closure was prompted by construction of Cedar Rapids’ flood control system, which required the museum, 55 12th Ave. SE, to move its entrance to the building’s east side. Work also included an expanded lobby and parking lot, new carpet and lighting throughout, a reinforced roof, and new climate control and sprinkler systems.

Inside, visitors will find a genealogy lab that lets the public research family history, a new reception desk and merchandise counter, and improved space for permanent and temporary exhibits.

The museum will open Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., with $1 admission all day. Attractions include food trucks and outdoor activities, an indoor scavenger hunt and Iowa Children’s Museum activities in the museum’s Celebration Hall.

The museum is open Tuesdays through Fridays, 12-4 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Cedar Rapids artist Marcus Irvin does detail work on a mural at the African American Museum of Iowa in Cedar Rapids on May 3. The museum has been closed for 18 months for renovations during the construction of elements of Cedar Rapids’ permanent flood control system. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette).

From left: Deputy museum director Brianna Kim helps curator and collections manager Felicite Wolfe hang exhibits at the African American Museum of Iowa in Cedar Rapids on May 3. The museum will reopen to the public Saturday, May 11, after 18 months of renovations. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette).

The African American Museum of Iowa in southeast Cedar Rapids on May 7. The museum is reopening after more than 18 months of closure and a $5 million renovation. The renovation was spurred by construction of a floodgate as part of the city’s flood control system. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Outside the African American Museum of Iowa in southeast Cedar Rapids, the sculpture “Trumpet,” was inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The museum is reopening after a more than 18-month, $5 million renovation. The renovation was spurred by construction of a floodgate as part of the city’s flood control system. The floodgate blocked the former entrance to the museum. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Susan Sims (left) communications director for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Iowa works with LaNisha Cassell, executive director of the African American Museum of Iowa, to set up one of two computer workstations for the museum’s FamilySearch genealogy database as preparations for the reopening of the museum continue in southeast Cedar Rapids on Tuesday. The museum is a free affiliate library to FamilySearch, operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Visitors can search for ancestry in digitized records at two computer workstations. The museum is reopening after a more than 18-month, $5 million renovation. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Exhibits are seen at the African American Museum of Iowa in southeast Cedar Rapids on Tuesday. The museum is reopening Saturday after a more than 18-month, $5 million renovation. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

A mock-up of the Katz Drug Store lunch counter is seen in an exhibit about the sit-ins in protest of segregation led by Edna Griffin at the African American Museum of Iowa in southeast Cedar Rapids on Tuesday. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Cedar Rapids artist Marcus Irvin does detail work on a mural at the African American Museum of Iowa in Cedar Rapids on May 3. The museum closed for renovations during the construction of elements of Cedar Rapids’ permanent flood control system. It will reopen to the public Saturday. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette).

A display of a cargo hold of a slave ship is seen at the African American Museum of Iowa in southeast Cedar Rapids on Tuesday. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

LaNisha Cassell, executive director of the African American Museum of Iowa, sets up a sign for the museum’s FamilySearch genealogy database as preparations for the reopening of the museum continue in southeast Cedar Rapids on Tuesday. The museum is a free affiliate library to FamilySearch, operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Visitors can search for ancestry in digitized records at two computer workstations. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

A temporary exhibit detailing exhibits at the African American Museum of Iowa since its founding in 1993 are seen at the museum in southeast Cedar Rapids on Tuesday. The museum is reopening after a more than 18-month, $5 million renovation. The renovation was spurred by construction of a floodgate as part of the city’s flood control system. The floodgate blocked the former entrance to the museum. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

From left: Deputy museum director Brianna Kim helps curator and collections manager Felicite Wolfe hang exhibits at the African American Museum of Iowa in Cedar Rapids on Friday. The museum closed for renovations during the construction of elements of Cedar Rapids’ permanent flood control system. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette).

Exhibits are seen at the African American Museum of Iowa in southeast Cedar Rapids on Tuesday. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)