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As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the International African American Museum (IAAM) is continuing a slate of programs, interpretive displays, and community initiatives in partnership with the South Carolina American Revolutionary
Situated on the historic site of Gadsden’s Wharf, the entry point for over 40 percent of captive Africans brought to North America, IAAM is uniquely positioned to ground the nation’s Semiquincentennial
Featured Initiatives and Key Summer/Fall 2026 Dates:
- Scrollathon Program Collaborative Artwork (Ongoing): In Fall 2025, IAAM served as a statewide host site for the National Scrollathon, a participatory civic art initiative by contemporary artists Steven and William Ladd. IAAM staff, students, visitors, and community members contributed textile scrolls and personal reflections on freedom and democracy. In Spring 2026, the vibrant collaborative artwork installation is now
proudly displayed in the IAAM lobby. This project was made possible through the generous support of the Duke Energy Foundation. (Note: The full national installation will be presented at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., from May 29 – June 29, 2026). - IAAM’s Center for Family History’s “Untold African American Stories” Podcast Episodes (Available Now): Complementing the physical installations, IAAM’s Center for Family History (CFH) continues to release critical, scholarly content exploring Revolutionary-era Black history through genealogy and archival research. Recent podcast episodes available to the public include:
- "Siege & Freedom: Black and Native Stories from Revolutionary South Carolina" (Sponsored by Duke Energy Foundation)
- "Revolutionary Genealogy & Black Patriots of South Carolina" (Sponsored by Duke Energy Foundation)
- "Revolutionary Conversations" Flagship Dialogue Series – Session III (Thursday, June 4, 2026 | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM): Sponsored by and in partnership with SC250. Developed alongside the Charleston Gaillard Center and the Gibbes Museum of Art, this signature three-part public dialogue series is facilitated by Tina Singleton of Transformation Table. Marked as one of SC250's signature events for their celebration that explores
public memory and lineage, IAAM will host its final installment, "Humanity in History," inviting participants into facilitated table discussions regarding individuals navigating the complexities of the era. Tickets are $10 for non-members and $5 for members. A public “Revolutionary Conversations Toolkit” is also being developed to allow schools and organizations across the state to host their own dialogues. - SC250 Charleston’s "Revolutionary City" Initiative (June 28 – July 5, 2026): As part of a citywide interpretive trail highlighting historic sites, IAAM will serve as a featured stop on the “Freedom, Resistance & Revolutionary Voices” trail, examining how the era's promises unfolded within a society shaped by enslavement.
- Launch of IAAM’s "Finding Freedom" Audio and Augmented Reality (AR) Tour (June 28, 2026): Launching during SC250 Charleston’s Revolutionary City initiative, this self-guided gallery experience utilizes audio storytelling and AR activations across IAAM's permanent galleries. Developed in partnership with digital experience company Guru, the multi-stop tour uses short, engaging narrations voiced entirely by children, creating an accessible, intergenerational way to explore complex historical ideas. Highlights include immersive audio and AR stops dedicated to Crispus Attucks, Phillis Wheatley, the execution of free Black harbor pilot Thomas Jeremiah, and the British evacuation at Gadsden’s Wharf. By centering on Black experiences, the tour highlights both the possibilities and contradictions of freedom at the nation’s founding. The tour is included with regular museum admission.
- America’s Field Trip Student Experience (Summer 2026): In partnership with America250, Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, and the South Carolina Aquarium, IAAM will host award-winning students in grades 3-12 from across the country for an interdisciplinary introduction to American, African American, and coastal histories.
- Slave Dwelling Project Conference Sponsorship (October 2026): IAAM will serve as a proud sponsoring partner for this annual gathering. As part of the conference, the museum will host a private, reflective edition of the signature program, “Sleeping with the Ancestors.”
- "Revolutionary Soundscapes | Music, Freedom, & the African Diasporic Experience" (Past Program – April 29, 2026): IAAM partnered with the Colour of Music Festival for a curated journey through sound, history, and place. Sponsored by the Duke Energy Foundation, the program unfolded across the museum’s galleries, featuring works by Black composers working within and alongside classical traditions. Blending spoken word, interpretive text, and live orchestration, the soundscapes considered how African-descended people used music as an instrument of resistance, intellectual inquiry, and cultural continuity during periods of intense political transformation.
Members of the public, educators, and visitors to Charleston are invited to participate in our upcoming SC250 programs. For ticket registrations, museum hours, and ongoing updates regarding IAAM’s SC250 initiatives, please visit iaamuseum.org.