City of Austin VR
Carver Museum,Cultural & Genealogy Center
Austin Parks and Recreation - Museum and Cultural Programs
The roots of the George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center were established in Austin, Texas during the early 20th Century. Austin’s first public library was moved in 1933 to an area of Austin east of IH-35, populated by economically disadvantaged and minority citizens. This building would become the City’s first "colored" library serving as a central gathering place for the African American community. A larger library was constructed to better serve the densely populated area in 1980. The public advocated and supported the measure to reopen the historic library building as the George Washington Carver Museum in 1980.
The Carver Museum began receiving family collections in 1979. The year 1998, brought huge change with the passing of a bond to build a "state of the art" complex that includes galleries for exhibitions, a collections facility, classroom space and a theater adjacent to the historic Carver library. This new complex opened its doors in 2005 and has since seen the successful completion of several core exhibits, as well as hosted many performances, workshops, and family programs. Today, the Museum’s Collection has over 8,000 items of artistic and historical significance.
Through the preservation and exhibition of African American material culture, history, and aesthetic expression, the Carver Museum works to create a space where the global contributions of all Black people are celebrated.
We accomplish this by telling stories about our local community and connecting those histories to larger narratives about Blackness.
Our museum is housed in a 36,000 square-foot facility that includes four galleries, a conference room, classroom, darkroom, dance studio, 134-seat theatre, and archival space. The galleries feature a core exhibit, The African American Presence in 19th Century Texas, a permanent exhibit on Austin African-American families, an Artists’ Gallery, and a children’s exhibit on African-American scientists and inventors. Admission to the Carver Museum is free of charge.
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This project was created in collaboration with the City of Austin Parks and Recreation - Museum and Cultural Programs and Communications and Technology Management (CTM) Departments.
VR CMCGC Team:
Arrietta Allen (PARD)
Trent Atkins (WPD)
Marbenn Cayetano (CTM)