About the Museum
From Vision to Reality
The Vibrant Presence & Contributions
of African Americans in Huntington, NY
The Huntington African American Museum (HAfAM) explores, understands, and celebrates African American history, culture, and art. Rooted in Huntington, New York, HAfAM interprets and stewards African American stories and the histories of Huntington and New York State, connecting them to the broader American experience. Through exhibitions, public programs, and community engagement, the Museum seeks to elevate African American history as an integral part of our shared history, fostering dialogue, pride, and new perspectives.
The Town of Huntington, New York was settled in 1653, as English colonists expanded their settlements on the eastern half of Long Island, while the Dutch occupied the western end of the Island as well as Manhattan. Enslaved Africans were brought to the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam as early as 1626 and to Huntington by 1660, predating the formation of this country. Their story, as part of the story of Huntington, of New York and of the United States yearns to be told.
From Reality to Experience
Preserving Truth
& Securing the Future
The museum aggregates African American history with care and breadth to collect stories across time, examine artifacts layer by layer, and build deep knowledge from diverse sources. Curated voices tell these stories with sophistication and nuance, inviting all visitors to learn, understand, and see themselves within these walls. The museum reveals generations of testimony: how buried stories become the basis for contemporary art grounded in layered mediums.
