New museum to open today with Marion Square community event

The International African American Museum (IAAM) is celebrating its highly anticipated June 27 opening on Saturday with a downtown Charleston community gathering at Marion Square.

“We’re thrilled to welcome community members, visitors and dignitaries from far and wide to the grand opening of the International African American Museum,” Dr. Tonya Matthews, president and CEO of IAAM, said in a statement. “We have waited a long time for this moment — we have many to thank and much to celebrate.”

A Community Watch Celebration will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 24 at Marion Square in Charleston. Among the features:

Charlamagne Tha God, a Moncks Corner native and host of the national radio show The Breakfast Club, will emcee the event.

The Boeing-sponsored event is free and will include a live simulcast of the opening ceremony, food trucks and performances by local musicians and artists such as Grammy Award-winning band Ranky Tanky, former Charleston poet laureate Marcus Amaker and Charleston-based DJ SCrib. Other performers will include Bebe Winans, Candice Glover, Jesse Nager and more.
The event will also include activities led by the Boeing South Carolina DreamLearners, an educational program that provides students with opportunities to learn about careers in STEM, advanced manufacturing and aerospace.

“It’s exciting to invite the community to join us for this historic moment. We’re preparing to open our doors with music, food, poetry, incredible visuals and words of wisdom — and to truly celebrate African American culture and its connection to and influence on the world,” Matthews said.

The museum will open June 27 every Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. excluding Christmas and Thanksgiving. As of today, tickets for opening day are sold out.