The National Museum of African-American History, planned to open in two or three years, will tell the story of African Americans from African origins through present times. Also to be included in the museum's collections will be artifacts and material about local African American history. The museum will be located at Sixth and Boas Streets, in the shell of several buildings now on the northwest corner. One of those buildings, the Jackson House, was formerly used as a hotel by Blacks visiting a segregated Harrisburg. Because of the buildings' historic value to local African American history, the exteriors will remain but the interiors will be removed to make way for the 42,000 square foot museum.
Initial plans call for a non-profit group to buy the buildings in the planned location.
One of the needed buildings has already been donated. Two persons have also been named to the museum charter, and others will be named in the near future. After it is opened, Reed expects that the museum will be supported through sponsors, attendance fees and gift shop sales. The mayor has experience in establishing this type of endeavor. He was instrumental in establishing the Fire Museum of Harrisburg, which has now become a successful city museum operated by a non-profit group, and is preparing to open the National Civil War Museum in Reservoir Park on February 12.