THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MUSEUM
AAHM's mission statement is "To tell authentic stories about African American life in Springfield and Central Illinois through exhibitions, education, collections and programs to preserve, interpret and celebrate African American history and culture."
The Springfield & Central Illinois African American History Museum will be closed for construction beginning May 13, 2024. We are excited about the expansion project which will add more exhibit space onto the back of the museum. Construction is scheduled to be completed sometime late Summer or early Fall. Please see our website for updates. www.spiaahm.org
While the building at 1440 Monument will be closed for construction, AAHM plans to maintain offering relevant programming to the Springfield & Central Illinois community. Sign up for our email list to receive the most current announcements. All events will be announced on our website. www.spiaahm.org
For urgent inquiries, please contact us at our temporary number (217) 361-9942.

On This Day In History
Black History Month
Did you know Springfield has a rich history of building up NBA superstars? Ed Horton and Kevin Gamble were teammates at Lanphier High School before their incredible rise to the NBA. Their story is one of talent, hard work, and perseverance that continues to inspire athletes today.
Ed Horton was named Mr. Basketball of Illinois in 1985 after an outstanding senior season with Lanphier, where he averaged 25.8 points and 13.9 rebounds per game. Horton’s basketball journey began at Springfield's Central Boys' Club, and his skills caught the eye of Iowa coach George Raveling, who called Horton one of the most outstanding players he’d ever recruited. Horton went on to play at Iowa, joining his former teammate Kevin Gamble. He was drafted in the second round of the 1989 NBA Draft by the Washington Bullets, playing in 45 NBA games.
Kevin Gamble was an integral force for Lanphier, earning all-state and all-tourney honors in 1983 after helping lead his team to a 57-53 victory in the IHSA Class AA State Championship. Gamble played for Lincoln College and University of Iowa, before joining the Continental Basketball Association and later being drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1988. After stints with the Miami Heat and Sacramento Kings, Gamble retired and returned to Springfield to start the University of Illinois-Springfield basketball program. He coached the team to a 130-79 record over 8 years, including two conference tournament titles and a regular-season conference title. Now, he’s a scout for the Toronto Raptors.
These two men have shown the world the strength of Springfield’s basketball roots and remain proud representatives of our city's legacy.
2024 Events
July 2024
- July 13, 2024: The 1619 Book Club at the DeFrates Room, Lincoln Library 12 pm - 1:30 pm
- July 24, 2024: Adult Game Night (Rescheduled TBA)
- July 26, 2024: Living Black History: A Talk with Kathryn Harris (Online) at 12:30 - 1 PM Registration Link https://events.aarp.org/event/48530acd-cf3f-4bb0-99a0-b49d93e8ff4f/summary
- July 27, 2024: Kids Game Day! at the Multipurpose Room, Lincoln Library 12-1 PM
August 2024
- August 3, 2024: Back to School Bash at ALPLM's Union Square Park 9 AM - 1 PM.
- August 8-18, 2024: History Exhibit at the Illinois State Fair
September 2024
October 2024
November 2024
- November 8, 2024: 13th Annual Fundraising Gala - "Honoring Our Heritage - From Chains to Change" at 6 PM at Northfield Inn (3280 Northfield Dr., Springfield, IL 62702)
December 2024
- December 25-26, 2024: Closed in Observance of Christmas
Our Exhibits
We invite you to visit our exhibits when our Museum reopens in late summer or early fall. Stay tuned!
Join our email list!
Don't miss out! Join our email list to receive the latest news and updates about our Museum.
Hours
We are currently closed due to construction. Stay tuned for the grand reopening!
Special events and private guided tours can be made outside of general admission times. Please call the office to schedule your event.
Location
1440 Monument Avenue
Springfield, Illinois 62702
Email: contact@spiaahm.org
Temporary Phone: (217 ) 361-9942
Map
Admission
Donations are strongly encouraged.
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