Founded in 1868 on the campus of

Hampton University Hampton University is a private, historically black, research university in Hampton, Virginia. Founded in 1868 as Hampton Agricultural and Industrial School, it was established by Black and White leaders of the American Missionary Association af ...

, the Hampton University Museum is the oldest African-American museum in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

and the oldest museum in Virginia. It is the first institutional collection of work by African-American artists, and also has the South's largest collection of ethnic art, including African and American Indian art and artifacts. With galleries dedicated to African American, African, American Indian, Asian and Pacific art and artifacts, the museum contains more than 9,000 objects representing cultures and people from around the world.

History

founder Gen.

Samuel C. Armstrong Samuel Chapman Armstrong (January 30, 1839 – May 11, 1893) was an American soldier and general during the American Civil War who later became an educator, particularly of non-whites. The son of missionaries in Hawaii, he rose through the Union A ...

founded the university’s museum as the "Curiosity Room" the same year he founded the university.

References

{{Hampton University Hampton University African-American museums in Virginia 1868 establishments in Virginia