The mission of the African American Historical and Cultural Museum is to engage and inspire our community by preserving and celebrating African American history, culture, and contributions—while fostering education, dialogue, and pride for all. The African American Historical and Cultural Museum in Waterloo, Iowa, is housed in a historic boxcar and was created to preserve and celebrate the stories, contributions, and resilience of Black residents in the Cedar Valley. The organization was founded by Ms. Ruth Anderson and Ida Tredwell. In 2024, a new board was installed, and the museum opened to the public for the first time in twenty eight years. The goal is to grow the museum into a hub that facilitates educational programming and community focused initiatives.
The African American Historical and Cultural Museum in Waterloo preserves, interprets, and shares the history of Black residents in the Cedar Valley through research, storytelling, and community engagement. The museum connects local history to broader national movements, highlighting themes of migration, labor, military service, and resilience. Through exhibits, educational programs, and partnerships, the museum creates space for learning, reflection, and dialogue while honoring the individuals and families whose contributions have shaped the region. Here is a list and description of our 2026 planned programs: Flower Me to The Moon: Flower Me to the Moon is designed to beautify the museum grounds while creating a hands-on learning opportunity for students. Through partnerships with local organizations, this event engages youth in planning and planting a community flower garden, fostering collaboration, environmental education, and pride in the museum’s growing campus. Black Iowan Author Forum: The Black Iowan Author Forum aims to introduce the community to the works of Black authors from Iowa, highlighting their voices, stories, and contributions to literature. This event provides a platform for cultural expression, encourages reading and storytelling, and strengthens connections between local authors and the community they serve. Juneteenth Car Show (2ND Annual) : he Juneteenth 2nd Annual Car Show aims to bring the community together in celebration of Black culture, history, and creativity by showcasing classic and custom vehicles. This event strengthens community pride, supports local engagement, and enhances the visibility of Juneteenth as a day of unity, education, and cultural expression. Black Artist Expo: The Black Artist Expo celebrates and elevates the work of Black artists by providing a public platform to showcase their creativity, talent, and cultural expression. This event fosters community engagement, supports emerging and established artists, and strengthens the museum’s mission to highlight and preserve the artistic contributions of Black Iowans. The Great Pumpkin Contest: The Black Artist Expo celebrates and elevates the work of Black artists by providing a public platform to showcase their creativity, talent, and cultural expression. This event fosters community engagement, supports emerging and established artists, and strengthens the museum’s mission to highlight and preserve the artistic contributions of Black Iowans. UNI Basketball Youth Talk: The UNI Basketball Youth Talk aims to inspire and empower local youth by connecting them with student-athletes who can speak about leadership, discipline, education, and overcoming challenges. This event promotes positive role models, encourages academic and personal growth, and strengthens the museum’s partnership with UNI as part of its commitment to uplifting and supporting young people in our community.
