{"id":828524,"date":"2026-05-28T20:44:19","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T20:44:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/828524\/"},"modified":"2026-05-28T20:44:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T20:44:19","slug":"african-american-museum-at-fair-park-celebrates-millions-for-fixes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/828524\/","title":{"rendered":"African American Museum at Fair Park celebrates millions for fixes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Dallas<\/p>\n

Dallas City Manager Kimberly\u00a0Bizor Tolbert (from left in yellow), former House Rep. Helen Giddings, Harry Robinson\u00a0Jr., founding president and CEO of the African American Museum of Dallas, and Lisa Brown Ross, president and CEO of the African American Museum, pose for a photo during an event celebrating facility improvements, new partnerships and investments at the African American Museum in Dallas\u2019 Fair Park, Thursday, May 28, 2026.<\/p>\n

Juan Figueroa\/The Dallas Morning News\"Dr.<\/p>\n

Dr. Harry Robinson Jr., founding president and CEO of the African American Museum of Dallas, looks at archival material in the Dr. Harry Robinson, Jr. Research and Archives Conservation Laboratory during an event celebrating facility improvements, new partnerships and investments at the African American Museum in Dallas\u2019 Fair Park, Thursday, May 28, 2026.<\/p>\n

Juan Figueroa\/The Dallas Morning News\"Restored<\/p>\n

Restored flooring seen as audience members sit during an event celebrating facility improvements, new partnerships and investments at the African American Museum in Dallas\u2019 Fair Park, Thursday, May 28, 2026.<\/p>\n

Juan Figueroa\/The Dallas Morning News\"President<\/p>\n

President and CEO Lisa Brown Ross speaks during an event celebrating facility improvements, new partnerships and investments at the African American Museum in Dallas\u2019 Fair Park, Thursday, May 28, 2026.<\/p>\n

Juan Figueroa\/The Dallas Morning News\"The<\/p>\n

The Animal Kingdom exhibit with works by folk artist Isaac Smith on display during an event celebrating facility improvements, new partnerships and investments at the African American Museum in Dallas\u2019 Fair Park, Thursday, May 28, 2026<\/p>\n

Juan Figueroa\/The Dallas Morning News\"Restored<\/p>\n

Restored tile and wood flooring seen during an event celebrating facility improvements, new partnerships and investments at the African American Museum in Dallas\u2019 Fair Park, Thursday, May 28, 2026.<\/p>\n

Juan Figueroa\/The Dallas Morning News\"The<\/p>\n

The renovated auditorium during an event celebrating facility improvements, new partnerships and investments at the African American Museum in Dallas\u2019 Fair Park, Thursday, May 28, 2026<\/p>\n

Juan Figueroa\/The Dallas Morning News\"Harry<\/p>\n

Harry Robinson\u00a0Jr., founding president and CEO of the African American Museum of Dallas, walks into the Dr. Harry Robinson, Jr. Research and Archives Conservation Laboratory during an event celebrating facility improvements, new partnerships and investments at the African American Museum in Dallas\u2019 Fair Park, Thursday, May 28, 2026.<\/p>\n

Juan Figueroa\/The Dallas Morning News\"The<\/p>\n

The Dr. Harry Robinson, Jr. Research and Archives Conservation Laboratory during an event celebrating facility improvements, new partnerships and investments at the African American Museum in Dallas\u2019 Fair Park, Thursday, May 28, 2026.<\/p>\n

Juan Figueroa\/The Dallas Morning News\"(From<\/p>\n

(From left) Dr. Harry Robinson Jr., founding president and CEO of the African American Museum of Dallas, and Chief Programs Officer Margie J. Reese look towards the Dr. Harry Robinson, Jr. Research and Archives Conservation Laboratory during an event celebrating facility improvements, new partnerships and investments at the African American Museum in Dallas\u2019 Fair Park, Thursday, May 28, 2026.<\/p>\n

Juan Figueroa\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n

At Fair Park, neatly stacked boxes bearing Harry Robinson\u00a0Jr.\u2019s name<\/a> lined shelves as archivists displayed pieces of the African American Museum\u2019s collections held at the site.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

An emotional Robinson, who founded the museum over 50 years ago, made his way around, taking in millions of dollars worth of renovations that come over a year after his retirement.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had hope that when I left here, that someone would come in and take it to a whole new level,\u201d Robinson said. \u201cIt\u2019s a whole new museum.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Dallas city leaders gathered at the building\u2019s rotunda to celebrate improvements made possible by a $4 million grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, along with philanthropic investments. The improvements, which follow a recent three-month closure, include enhancements to the HVAC and boiler systems, along with upgrades to infrastructure, security and technology. New protections will safeguard archives from damage.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are major milestones that will help preserve this institution’s legacy while preparing for its future generations,\u201d said council member Adam Bazaldua, who represents the South Dallas area.<\/p>\n

\"Lisa<\/p>\n

Lisa Brown Ross (left), president and CEO of the African American Museum, and City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert share a laugh during an event celebrating facility improvements, new partnerships and investments at the African American Museum in Dallas\u2019 Fair Park, Thursday, May 28, 2026.<\/p>\n

Juan Figueroa\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n

Dallas prepares Fair Park<\/p>\n

The city\u2019s park department began managing Fair Park in September,<\/a> scrambling to transition and set up contracts for services like security and events after a tense split from its previous operator. Officials have pushed to activate the space, offering more entertainment for visitors.<\/p>\n

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Leaders were not only celebrating renovations, which were done at \u201cwarp speed,\u201d but a renewed commitment to culture, community and opportunity, said John Jenkins, the city\u2019s park department director.<\/p>\n

Related:<\/strong> Could Dallas’ Fair Park get a hotel, other amenities in plan to generate revenue?<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is about momentum. It is about reinvestment, and it’s about bringing Fair Park back,\u201d Jenkins said, adding, \u201cBringing Fair Park back is not about one project. It is about making sure every institution here succeeds together.\u201d<\/p>\n

With FIFA Fan Fest approaching, the museum will help tell the full story of the city\u2019s history and communities that shaped it, Bazaldua said.<\/p>\n

Visitors tour improvements<\/p>\n

Jazz records sat stacked, along with shelves full of boxes and magazine collections, inside the cool, dry research lab named after Robinson. A glass window allows visitors to peek in.<\/p>\n

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Margie Reese, the chief programs officer at the museum, guided visitors through a tour.<\/p>\n

Related:<\/strong> ‘The house that Dr. Robinson built’: How one man’s vision changed Dallas<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a space that will make history come alive,\u201d Reese said. \u201cWe say this museum is a place where history comes to live, so that now you’ll be able to access information.\u201d<\/p>\n

There is still programming, along with exhibits, that are being planned. Reese said people should have a space to learn about freedmen\u2019s towns across Dallas.\u00a0
On the museum\u2019s basement level, workers were painting the walls as visitors walked around them. The museum is working to add a conservation lab, which will help to better document and preserve art pieces.<\/p>\n

\"Renovations<\/p>\n

Renovations continue in a future conservation area during an event celebrating facility improvements, new partnerships and investments at the African American Museum in Dallas\u2019 Fair Park, Thursday, May 28, 2026<\/p>\n

Juan Figueroa\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n

The auditorium was upgraded for better accessibility, and the stage was rebuilt with new audio and lighting systems. Robinson looked at the newly replaced curtains, remembering when they were \u201cterrible.\u201d At the end of his tour, he felt speechless.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI can\u2019t express it,\u201d Robinson said. \u201cBefore, when you came down to this auditorium, it was almost like an embarrassment \u2026 Now, you can proudly bring anybody down here.\u201d<\/p>\n

The improvements, he hopes, will help inspire young people to work in museums and preserve African American history. \u00a0Lisa Brown Ross, the museum\u2019s new director, thanked Robinson for ensuring the museum\u2019s existence during his tenure.<\/p>\n

Related:<\/strong> Dallas civil rights leader Juanita Craft’s birthday celebrated at African American Museum<\/a><\/p>\n

Ross similarly said a focus is on educating young people, whether it\u2019s little kids learning about life\u2019s possibilities or older students looking for a career path.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThis museum is the cultural epicenter of Dallas, and the work we do here speaks to the sacred responsibility and task of protecting cultural memories and ensuring that our stories are positioned to educate, inspire, and shape generations to come,\u201d Ross said. \u201cWe are carrying the memories and stories through the distance of time.\u201d<\/p>\n

This reporting is part of the Future of North Texas, a community-funded journalism initiative supported by the Commit Partnership, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, the Dallas Mavericks, the Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Lisa and Charles Siegel, the McCune-Losinger Family Fund, The Meadows Foundation, the Perot Foundation, the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and the University of Texas at Dallas. The News retains full editorial control of this coverage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Dallas City Manager Kimberly\u00a0Bizor Tolbert (from left in yellow), former House Rep. Helen Giddings, Harry Robinson\u00a0Jr., founding president…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":828525,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5135],"tags":[5229,1596,358,329978,329976,329977,327154,3187,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":["post-828524","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-dallas","tag-america","tag-dallas","tag-texas","tag-tp-fair-park","tag-tp-future-of-north-texas","tag-tp-south-dallas","tag-tp-southern-dallas","tag-tx","tag-united-states","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-unitedstates","tag-unitedstatesofamerica","tag-us","tag-usa"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116654156680595916","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/828524","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=828524"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/828524\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/828525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=828524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=828524"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=828524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}