Celebrating African American Rehoboth exhibit to open June 27
The Rehoboth Beach Historical Society announced a new exhibit, Celebrating African American Rehoboth, 1690-1960, will open Friday, June 27, at at 511 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach.
The pioneering exhibition showcases the vital role African Americans have played in shaping Rehoboth Beach's cultural, economic and social landscape over more than three centuries.
The comprehensive exhibit spans from the 1690s with the burials of enslaved Africans at Avery's Rest through the desegregation era of the 1960s, extending to present-day preservation efforts, including the West Rehoboth Legacy Mural completed in 2022.
"The board of directors and I are absolutely thrilled to present this important exhibition to our community," said Heidi Nasstrom Evans, RBHS executive director. "This groundbreaking exhibit fills a crucial gap in our understanding of Rehoboth's complete history. For too long, the significant contributions of African Americans to our town's development have been underrepresented. We're honored to help bring these stories to light and ensure they become part of our shared historical narrative."
The development of this exhibition has been deeply enriched by the generous participation of the local African American community, whose members have shared invaluable knowledge, personal artifacts, oral histories and ongoing guidance throughout the research and curation process. Their contributions have been essential in ensuring the authenticity and depth of the stories being told.
The exhibit builds upon extensive original research conducted by Brayden Moore, who began working at the museum as an intern while pursuing his graduate studies at the University of Delaware. Moore's scholarly work for this project will contribute to his master's thesis, representing a significant academic contribution to Delaware's historical record.
The museum extends special gratitude to volunteer Mal Meehan, whose thoughtful design work brings the exhibit to life within the second-floor gallery space. Meehan designed the exhibition's visual elements to complement the museum's historic sign collection, incorporating a striking red, black and white color scheme inspired by the vintage signage.
Adding to the exhibit's immersive experience, local historian Paul Lovett, creator of the museum's diorama model of Rehoboth Avenue (1910-1925), has constructed a new table model depicting the land west of the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal where members of the African American community have historically lived and worked.
The exhibition has been made possible through a Delaware 250 grant, recognizing America’s 250th anniversary.
To learn more, call 302-227-7310, or go to rbmuseum.org.
