natchez museum of african american history and culture

Although we had visited Natchez a number of times, this was our first visit to the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture, and this was indeed the highlight of our trip. We were fortunate to have more than 2 hours of the museum director's time. Darrell is a wonderful presenter who is very well informed, reasonable, and articulate. His information about African American history, both locally, throughout the south, and the United States was very impressive. This museum and it's staff is doing an important job in educating the public and raising issues about the reality of life for African Americans both in the past and the present.

The young man that took my two granddaughters and me on the tour was very good. The girls were in awe. It showed how many lived not only blacks. I can remember visiting my grandparents and they lived a lot like was presented. Thanks Darrell

It's hard to believe that a trip to this tiny museum could have upped New Orleans ghosts for the highlight of our trip south, but it's true. We (mom and teenagers) stopped in here on a whim and stayed for almost 2 hours. When we walked in a tall well spoken man asked if we would rather look on our own or have him explain a few things. Enthusiastic and knowledgeable with a James Earl Jones voice -who could say no? Both my teenagers sat in rapt attention as he spun the previously overlooked history into the most interesting tales. Even I never really understood the Jim Crow laws until he personalized them with local and national heroes. It was a great experience and an honor spend time with someone so knowledgeable and passionate.

An enriching experience. The collection is great. The staff is very informed not only about the history, but the local culture and various sites in and around Natchez.

We really enjoyed our visit to the museum, the guide was very knowledgeable and engaging. It's a must see even if you lived in the area.

We visited here to learn more about African/American history and the area. Our guide was a very interesting man who spent a lot of time telling us about lots of history and the area. He mentioned 2 books which I later purchased and found them very interesting.This museum is a must visit for the area

We stopped at the museum during our recent visit. Being Canadian our knowledge of the Civil war is a bit thin but we remembered most of the Civil rights era. Our guide was knowledgable and provided alot of background to the key moments of both era's.

While visiting Natchez, my mom and I visited several houses supported by the local garden club -- and we continued to be surprised and disappointed by the lack of mention or attention paid by the tour guides to the rich African American history that supported the development of the area, and whose labor built the magnificent (and rather ostentatious) homes in the area. We were therefore happy to find at least a nod to black history at this museum in downtown Natchez, which is small -- but mighty! The museum guide was incredibly knowledgeable about the black history of the region and took more than an hour to walk us through each exhibit. While the displays are fairly simple, the museum is laid out nicely to clearly explain each section of history, from slavery to civil rights to African American local writers and artists. I hope every visitor to Natchez takes the time to visit this worthwhile museum, which is a tribute to the terrible suffering that many African Americans suffered during slavery and the Jim Crow years and also to their bravery to right those wrongs. It's absolutely worth a visit... highly recommended!

we found this museum very informative about the history of African American history. well worth a visit.

David from the museum gave us a personal tour of the museum. It was informative, relaxing and fun. We appreciated his time and attention to making sure our visit was memorable.

This is an important antidote to the visits to the Mansions which emphasize how the rich lived, how they had "servants", how gracious their life was. Luckily we - my husband and a friend from London - found this museum. And the curator was fabulous. We learned so much from his erudite description of the times and the beginning of the civil rights movement in Natchez, worthy of a book. It is an absolute must see and if you are lucky enough to catch Darryl at a time when he can spend hours with you, you are in for an incredible lesson in American history that we had not found elsewhere. But even if not, there is so much to look at and read about, that you will come away enriched. The only issue is that it is sorely underfunded. So instead of writing it off as some of the reviewers have, it is worth thinking about why such a valuable museum has difficulty in getting the kind of funding it deserves.

Was here for 3 days at the end of October. Never found it open. But then, found half the town either closed or out of business. Looks like this city is on it's way down fast.

Not sure what the deal is with this museum. Although hours were posted, it was not open the first time we passed by it. The second time it was and we were disappointed on what we saw. We'd hoped to see something about the slave market and the growth of cotton in the area. We had toured the homes but wished to see the other side of the story. We'd also been told that there was an excellent African art collection but we learned that it had been removed. What remains looks like granny cleaned out her attic. There was no professional presentation as you would expect to see. A very big disappointment in such a prominent location on Main Street.

Fantastic museum, a must see in Natchez! Some really interesting exhibits, and Darrell White (the director of the museum) very kindly spent nearly two hours with me. Brilliant!

This museum is one of the most complete collections of southern African American History that I have visited. Lots of detailed information on the history of African Americans in the area from the time they first arrived until present times. Locals who have contributed to the local culture as well as american history as a whole are showcased in the museum. The curator is a fabulous guide with a wealth of very very interesting details to share. This is a must see if you are a history buff.