The African-American Historical & Cultural Museum (AAHCM) is a San Joaquin Valley based nonprofit organization that was established by Jack Kelley in downtown Fresno. Since it opened in 1985, it has become an anchor for the African-American community and acts as the hub for black heritage in Fresno’s Cultural Arts District.

As a dynamic institution, AAHCM brings people of all ages, ethnicity and backgrounds together so they can study and appreciate the culture, history and art of Valley people of African descent. AAHCM is uniquely positioned as one of the only African-American Museums that in the Central Valley that focuses on community. Our most popular tours are during January, February and March. MORE ON EVENTS, EXHIBITS, AND MUSEUM HAPPENINGS CAN BE FOUND HERE.

There are four pillars upon which the NMAAHC stands: It provides an opportunity for those who are interested in African American culture to explore and revel in this history through interactive exhibitions It helps all Americans see how their stories, their histories, and their cultures are shaped and informed by global influences It explores what it means to be an American and share how American values like resiliency, optimism, and spirituality are reflected in African American history and culture It serves as a place of collaboration that reaches beyond Washington, D.C. to engage new audiences and to work with the myriad of museums and educational institutions that have explored and preserved this important history well before this museum was created. The NMAAHC is a public institution open to all, where anyone is welcome to participate, collaborate, and learn more about African American history and culture. In the words of Lonnie G. Bunch III, founding director of the Museum, “there are few things as powerful and as important as a people, as a nation that is steeped in its history.”