Located in Richmond’s historic Jackson Ward, the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia is a repository of visual, oral, and written artifacts celebrating the rich culture, moving histories, and substantial contributions of African American people in Virginia. Its mission endeavors to tell a more complete and inclusive story about America. The Museum building itself is an adaptive reuse of the Leigh Street Armory, originally constructed in 1895 and once home to Virginia’s African American militia. Baskervill, along with Madge Bemiss Architects, led the design efforts to move the museum to its new home, renovating the 6,500-SF existing building, and adding an additional 5,500-SF for main entry and support space. The result is a modern design that incorporates the buildings historic attributes, including exhibition galleries, interactive galleries and community gathering spaces as well as support spaces for administration and collections storage. Following years of uncertainty, the building has transformed from an overlooked artifact to a focal point in the community.
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