Seattle's New African-American Museum Now Open

Saturday, March 8, 2008 marked the long-awaited grand opening of the Northwest African American Museum (NAAM) in Seattle, Washington. The museum is housed in the 18,000 square-foot first floor of the historic Colman School at 2300 S. Massachusetts Street. The top two floors of the old school will become 36 rental units.

The history of the museum is already colorful. Although the concept of a museum at the historic Colman School was first considered in 1981, lack of funds slowed down the process. When the school became vacant in 1985, a group of activists occupied the building for eight years, demanding that the building become an African American museum. When the Urban League bought the property in 2003 from the school district, controversy continued between the activists and the Urban League up until, and including, opening day.