Plan Your Vist

A "museum without walls" means an institution that, while it may not yet have a building, still pursues and fulfills its mission through programming, events, and pop up exhibitions. It is a conceptual or digital approach that removes physical, geographical, and institutional barriers to art and history. The Huntington African American Museum brings enlightening and inspiring educational programming and pop-up exhibitions directly into communities (schools, streets, virtual spaces) to make culture more accessible, democratic, and immersive. 

Founded in 1653, Huntington, New York emerged as both an agricultural community and a small port on Long Island  just before the English seized control of New Netherland from the Dutch in 1664. Its fertile land supported farming, while its coastal location connected it to regional trade networks.

Enslaved Africans lived and labored in Huntington and across Long Island, working on farms and in households, and contributing to the local maritime economy. Their presence reflects how early Black life in Huntington was shaped by both agriculture and trade.

By the 19th century, local lore has linked Huntington to the Underground Railroad, highlighting its place in the broader story of resistance and change. As nuanced as the African American experience, Huntington is a perfect location to tell the full story of the region’s, New York State’s and this country’s history through the lens of the African Americans whose grit, courage and achievement contributed to this country’s greatness.

The Museum is open as a Museum without Walls. Our goal is to engage and inspire the community through our programming and events. You can see any upcoming exhibitions or events here! 

We hope that you are as inspired by our Museum design as we are! We cannot wait to break ground to make this design a reality! As we continue to work with our design team, the timing of the groundbreaking rests with our community of supporters. We are actively engaging individuals, government, corporations, and foundations to raise funds to build the museum. 

We need our community to rally around us in this effort! You can help us reach breaking ground by sharing our mission with those whom you believe will support us,  donating or becoming a member! 

First, thank you for wanting to help! We are grateful that there are people like you who have a passion for showcasing African American history as an important component of this nation’s great story! Projects as ambitious as ours do not succeed without people like you! There are multiple ways to be involved in a meaningful way: 

You can Donate 

You can Become a member

You can Volunteer

You can be a part of our Oral History Program

You can Follow & Engage with us on our socials