Ferris State University in Michigan has opened a new facility for its Jim Crow Museum of Racist Imagery.
When it was first established 30 years ago, the Jim Crow Museum was housed in a 500-square-foot room in Ferris State’s Starr Building. In 2012, it moved to a larger 3,500-square-foot space in the lower level of the FLITE building. Now, the Jim Crow Museum has its own $22 million, 26,000-square-foot building, featuring architectural elements inspired by the history of the Jim Crow era and its lasting impact.
“Our new museum will teach difficult truths, but also lifts up the stories of those who challenged hate through courage, advocacy and lives marked by resilience and dignity,” said David Pilgrim, the museum’s founder and Ferris State’s vice president for diversity, inclusion, and strategic initiatives. “Our mission is to educate and inspire. The very building itself is a powerful tool to spark discussion and tell the story.”
The museum’s centerpiece is a 7,500-square-foot exhibit gallery with artifacts and information presented in context. Housing more than 30,000 artifacts, the facility will also include state-of-the-art displays, interactive artifact explorer screens, a dedicated archive and research component, and increased capacity for school groups, faith communities, civic organizations, law enforcement, policymakers, and others.
