As it continues working toward expansion, The Woodson African American Museum of Florida has begun a new capital campaign: “Invest in Black History.” The campaign has a fundraising goal of $27 million that will help it build a new 30,000-square-foot facility. Upon opening, the new museum will be the first newly constructed landmark museum in the State of Florida dedicated to celebrating African American history, art and culture.

To date, The Woodson has already raised around $3 million in the early days of the campaign, thanks in large part to a trio of significant donations. Duke Energy recently announced a $325,000 gift. The largest private donation came in a $1 million gift from the Milkey Family Foundation. The biggest boost to The Woodson’s goals came from the City of St. Petersburg, which not only donated the 5.5-acre plot of land in The Deuces District, but gave an additional $1.2 million to kickstart the new museum.

In a press conference announcing the new campaign, The Woodson’s Executive Director Teri Lipsey Scott implored the community to invest in Black history and help give the state of Florida a proper home to the stories of Black men and women throughout time.

“The need to establish broadly accessible and vibrant places where everyone can reflect upon and value Black experiences and culture remains a critical necessity,” she said. “We are here pleading with you to invest in Black history. There are too many untold stories, and too many missed opportunities to celebrate.”

The Woodson has quickly outgrown its current facility

Plans call for the new museum to open in 2023, when it will become a cultural hub on the 22nd Street corridor. The Woodson envisions its new campus as an anchor for The Deuces, helping to further spark and inspire the revitalization of one of St. Pete’s most historic neighborhoods, a place that was once “the heart of a vibrant and prosperous African American community during the time of segregation, where Black businesses, homes, and entertainment thrived.”

Currently operating out of a 4,000 square foot single-story building, the new facility will allow The Woodson to host more and bigger and events and welcome world-class exhibitions to St. Pete. The planned amphitheater will provide even more opportunity for community engagement.

World-class exhibits to come to The Woodson

In addition to allowing for the expansion of current exhibits, the new building will be able to host national and international touring exhibits thanks to its plans to meet the art world’s rigorous standards for climate control and security.

In this massive expansion and upgrade, The Woodson plans to join other first-class museums in the area, such as The Dali, as a destination for visitors from across the globe.

“The African American experience in St. Petersburg and our country has too often been ignored, an after-thought, relegated to a space that limits or narrowly defines its impact rather than boldly celebrating its importance,” said Pinellas Community Foundation CEO, Duggan Cooley. “A purpose-built museum for African American history and culture raises the prominence of The Woodson and all that means to our community.”

Read more about The Woodson’s expansion plans here, including renderings of what the new facility will look like. Learn more about the museum and donate to the Invest in Black History campaign at woodsonmuseum.org.

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