On Friday, November 3, 2023, a special exhibition opens at the Tubman African American Museum. Titled Service Above and Beyond: A Salute to Local Veterans, this exhibit is a tribute to African-American veterans from Macon and the Middle Georgia region. Taken from the Museum’s permanent collection of local history artifacts, this exhibition consists of portraits of local veterans who served in World War II, the Korean War, and the War in Vietnam. In its core exhibition, Untold Stories: Macon’s African American History, the Museum tells stories about African American participation in World War I and II, the Korean War, and Vietnam, with particular emphasis on local heroes such as Jerry B. Davis, Frank Johnson, Thomas Mosely and the Montford Point Marines, and Sergeant Rodney Davis, Macon’s Medal of Honor Recipient. This special exhibition adds to those stories by featuring veterans of those conflicts who are living and working in our community today. Service Above and Beyond is on view in classrooms 108 and 109 on the first floor of the Museum.
Along with the exhibit, the Museum is screening the film Red Tails: The Real Story of the Tuskegee Airmen. Produced by Public Television station WQED Pittsburgh, this documentary tells the compelling story of the African-American men who changed the way America waged war in World War II. Red Tails is on continuous view in classroom 108 of the exhibition.
On Friday, November 10, 2023, the Tubman Museum will host a special program in observance of Veteran’s Day in the first-floor Atrium of the Museum, beginning at 11:00 AM. Special guests at this event are Marvin James, the Founder of the Veteran Art Society, and SFC Johnny Patterson, who served 21 years in the United States Army with three combat tours, including Desert Sheild/Desert Storm, where he received the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service.
Service Above and Beyond will remain on view at the Museum through November 18, 2023. Contact the Museum (478-754-8544) for more information about this exhibition and special Veteran’s Day programming.
Veterans Day Special: To honor our nation’s Veterans, the Tubman Museum offers free admission for veterans (military ID is required).
Founded by (then) Father Richard Keil, the Tubman African Museum opened to the public in 1985. It is an internationally recognized institution with holdings that include traditional African art, African American Fine and Visionary art, and local history artifacts. The Museum’s exhibition galleries are dedicated to virtually every aspect of African American life and culture, from the highest quality fine and folk art to black inventors to Macon’s local history.