Flood wall prompts changes to African American Museum of Iowa

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) -Flood safety is prompting modifications on the African American Museum of Iowa. A marketing campaign is working to lift $5 Million for some main renovations. The renovations will shut the museum down for a number of months beginning September twenty fourth.

“The flood wall goes to be going by the car parking zone of the museum and so due to that now we have to reorient our entrance and our foyer,” mentioned LaNisha Cassell, Govt Director of the African American Museum of Iowa.

Whereas building is underway the museum could have an exhibit arrange on the downtown Cedar Rapids library, in addition to libraries in Des Moines, and different places throughout the state like school campuses.

The flood of 2008 put 5.5 ft of water contained in the African American Museum of Iowa. Whereas it reopened the next yr, the practically 20-year-old constructing is in want of some updates.

”It made sense for us to deal with a few of the lengthy standing considerations we’ve already had over time like a brand new roof, HVAC, sprinkler, updating our workplace areas,” Cassell defined.

A brand new entrance could have the constructing face 2nd avenue as an alternative of the twelfth Avenue bridge.

The Metropolis of Cedar Rapids is giving greater than $1.3 Million to the mission, which has had the help of a number of main donors.

”We’re at about, we’re over $2.5 million and we anticipate being nearer to $4 million by the top of the yr,” Cassell mentioned.

The objective is to succeed in $5 million for the renovations, plus one other $1 million for endowment.

”It’s essential for us to have the ability to be right here for generations to come back and so we included that in our objective,” added Cassell.”

The hope is to proceed the mission of preserving and educating about African American heritage within the state for years to come back.

Building on the constructing is anticipated to begin early subsequent yr. They anticipate being finished with building by the top of 2023.

For now the museum is making preparations to maneuver their assortment and their places of work off website

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