The African American Museum, Dallas is preparing for a new era of growth and preservation with multi-million-dollar facility improvements, new partnerships, and major cultural investments designed to strengthen the institution’s impact for future generations.

City leaders, museum officials, and community stakeholders gathered Thursday morning at Fair Park to announce the extensive upgrades, which include renovations spanning from the museum’s iconic rotunda to a fully modernized auditorium, upgraded infrastructure, and the addition of two new conservation labs.

The improvements come as Dallas prepares to welcome millions of visitors for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Fair Park set to host FIFA Fan Fest activities during the international event.

“It was an honor to celebrate the exciting improvements coming soon to the African American Museum at Fair Park — a treasured institution that has long served as a center of culture, history, and community in Dallas,” said Dallas City Councilman Adam Bazaldua.

“Over the next year, the museum will undergo major upgrades focused on preservation, modernization, accessibility, and security to help ensure it continues serving future generations for years to come.”

Bazaldua also thanked Communities Foundation of Texas, the Texas Historical Commission, H-E-B, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, administered through the City of Dallas Parks and Recreation Department, for investing in the preservation of the museum and its legacy.

“For many of us, this museum also holds personal memories,” Bazaldua said. “Just two years ago, we celebrated our senior brunch there. The African American Museum is so much more than a museum; it is a gathering space, a cultural touchstone, and a place where generations of Dallas residents have created lasting memories.”

The museum, located at 3536 Grand Ave. in historic Fair Park, has served the community for more than 50 years and remains the only museum in the Southwest devoted to the collection, preservation, and display of African American artistic, cultural, and historical materials connected to the African American experience.

The event featured remarks from African American Museum President and CEO Lisa Brown Ross, Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, Dallas Park and Recreation Director John Jenkins, Dallas Park and Recreation Board President Arun Agarwal, former State Representative Helen Giddings, and Dallas Office of Arts and Culture Director Martine Elyse Phillippe.

Guests also toured the museum’s renovated auditorium, upgraded gallery spaces, conservation labs, and newly improved facilities following the formal program.

The morning celebration included performances by the Heritage String Quartet and Dallas Poet Laureate Black Caesar.

Museum officials said the renovations focus heavily on preservation, modernization, accessibility, and security to ensure the institution remains a cornerstone of Dallas culture for decades to come.

Building on the vision established by museum founder Dr. Harry Robinson Jr., leaders said the enhancements will position the museum as a key cultural destination during the FIFA World Cup festivities.

As part of the 2026 programming, the museum will host Mandela: The Official Exhibition from June 13 through Nov. 1, 2026. The exhibition will explore the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela, including his passion for fútbol and his role in helping bring the FIFA World Cup to South Africa.

Visitors can also currently experience People Who Make the World Go ‘Round: The Legacy of Sepia Magazine, an exhibition on display in the museum’s Folk Art Gallery through Aug. 11, 2026.

Founded in 1974 as part of Bishop College before becoming an independent institution in 1979, the African American Museum, Dallas houses one of the nation’s largest collections of African American folk art and decorative art, alongside African art, fine art, and historical archives documenting Black life in Dallas, the Southwest, and the United States.

As Dallas continues evolving on the global stage, city leaders emphasized that preserving institutions like the African American Museum remains essential to protecting the stories, contributions, and cultural legacy of African Americans in North Texas and beyond.