The Kansas African American Museum ended Black History Month with a downtown Wichita press conference full of surprising announcements, recognitions and milestone reveals.
The press conference was officially called to announce a $250,000 grant to the museum from Bank of America Wichita. The grant is to aid the museum in completing renovations at its future location in downtown Wichita.
However, the presentation made by Shawn Lancelot, president Bank of America Wichita, revealed more about what visitors can expect at the new museum. With the funds, Lancelot announced, BOA will be the presenting sponsor of the Dockum Drug Store Sit-in Immersive Experience at the new museum.
The Dockum Sit-in, which occurred in Wichita in 1958, has been officially recognized as the first successful lunch counter sit-in in the country. This exhibit is the first permanent exhibit announced for the new museum.
Also at the press conference, Amy Williams, TKAAM acting executive director, identified the museum’s “From Africa to Kansas” as an ongoing exhibit that will continue as a permanent exhibit at the new location.
Museum’s Planned Expansion
After a number of stops and starts on potential expansion plans, in 2023 TKAAM’s Board announced they’d secured the former Sunflower Bank Building at 201 N. Main in downtown Wichita as a new home. That announcement also included the kick off of a $6 million capital campaign for funds needed to complete the museum’s move to the new location..
When it’s complete, the building, with 22,000 Sq. Ft. of interior space, will have more than double the space over the museum’s current location at 601 N. Water, in the historic Calvary Baptist Church.
In what was one of the biggest surprises of the morning, Williams announced reaching a “significant milestone” in the museum’s capital campaign and relocation journey.
The milestone, she said, “is one that allowed us to officially break ground and begin remediation and interior work on the new building.”
“We fully realize that this is just the beginning of this work and of course, there is still much to be done…. But we are starting,” said Williams with a smile.
Williams said she describes this initial work as phase zero,
“”Then we’ll head into phase one to get the building ready and phase two is museum ready.
Currently, Williams says the goal is for a late 2026 opening at the new location.
Although the board met its original campaign goal, due to price increases, they still need to raise more funds. Most of those funds will be used to finish out the museum’s exhibits.
Williams says there are funds that still need to be raised for the final phase, which includes finishing out the museum’s exhibits.
Exhibitions Announced
In addition to the Dockum Sit-in Immersive Exhibit sponsored by Bank of America and the
From Africa to Kansas Exhibit, Williams confirmed the museum’s Trailblazer honorees will also be recognized in a permanent exhibit.
Annually, the museum’s Trailblazer program recognizes a very select few African Americans for their significant contributions to Kansas history, culture, and society, often as pioneers in their respective fields. Currently, only a few Trailblazers are featured in the museum. Alll of them will be recognized in a new interactive exhibit planned for the new museum.
“You’ll not only be able to look up who they are, but what they do and why they were recognized,” said Williams.
Recognition of Denise Sherman
During the recent press conference, Ed Watson, TKAAM’s board president, joined by everyone in attendance, thanked Denise Sherman, who after six years, resigned as the museum’s executive director in January.
Watson talked about the critical role Sherman played in getting the museum to where it is today.
“She led the museum and led us in our quest to grow the museum and grow what we were going to be,” said Watson. “She saw us in the future. She saw us much better than what we were at the moment… She was necessary in getting us to this point.
“Thanks to your leadership, we’ve reached this critical milestone in the future of TKAAM, which will continue to be a legacy of your hard work and determination. I say this as we talk to our children, our children’s children, about TKAAM. WE cannot talk about it without mentioning Miss Denise Curry Sherman.”
Watson and Williams joined in presenting Sherman a small token of appreciation and the entire audience stood in applause.
