DISCOVER OUR EXHIBITIONS

Where Our Stories Come Alive

Step into galleries that illuminate the depth, brilliance, and resilience of the African and African American experience. From ancient African civilizations to the triumphs and trials of Sweet Auburn, each exhibit invites you to explore history through artifacts, images, and voices that shaped our world. Whether you’re discovering untold stories or reconnecting with familiar ones, our exhibits offer a powerful journey through time — one that honors our past and inspires our future.

Stories that Ground Us

Explore the foundational exhibits that define the APEX Museum. These galleries offer a lasting look at the histories, cultures, and legacies that shape the African and African American experience — preserved with care, depth, and intention.

Africa:

The Untold Stories

Dedicated to the memory of Dr. Asa G. Hilliard, III—Educator, Scholar, and Historian—our Timeline explores Ancient African History, beginning around 6,500 BC.

At the APEX Museum, we start our history long before slavery, countering the typical narrative found in American textbooks. African history is rich, spanning millennia before the transatlantic slave trade. Initially, people were taken for their skills in agriculture, mining, science, and engineering, not solely because of their skin color. Racism became more prominent around the 11th century, with European explorers influenced by the Catholic Church's doctrine that non-Europeans were less than human, justifying colonization and slavery.

As you explore this timeline, we invite you to take this journey with pride!

The MAAFA-

The African Holocaust

The historical event is commonly known as the trans-Atlantic slave trade or the Middle Passage. However, many scholars find these terms inadequate and insensitive when it comes to capturing the true magnitude of the atrocities that occured. The term "Maafa" has been adopted to provide a more encompassing systematic mass extermination of Jews by the Nazis. Additionally, "African Holocaust" is sometimes used as a synonymous term for Maafa.

Sweet Auburn

Street of Pride

The first Black Registered pharmacist in Georgia was Moses Amos. He established the Gate City drug store, which later became the Yates & Milton Drug store in 1922. Peer into the window of the Yates & Milton Drug Store once a staple on the Avenue. It is a showcase and meeting place where residents shared their thoughts, ideas and experiences. Located in the center of Atlanta, Sweet Auburn Street pulsates, with the beats of culture, business and community. According to John Wesley Dobbs description this renowned street is known as the " African American thoroughfare globally " serving as a symbol of Black achievement, strength and entrepreneurial spirit.

Honoring What Came Before

Browse our archive of past exhibitions that have informed, inspired, and challenged visitors over the years. These retired installations continue to shape our understanding of history and reflect the museum’s evolving storytelling.

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Pillars of Empowerment

March 2026

Pillars of Empowerment, an exhibit honoring the voices and visions of women who lead, create, and inspire. As part of this experience, we’re featuring a special display dedicated to S. Epatha Merkerson, celebrating her artistry.

SOS: Signs of Struggle

January 2026

Powerful images from Jim Alexander’s on-going photo documentary project, SPIRITS/MARTYRS/HEROES, which he started in 1968 following the assasination of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Fresh Perspectives. New Discoveries.

Our special exhibits bring timely themes, new voices, and curated collections to the forefront. Each installation offers a unique lens on history, culture, and community — inviting you to see our story in a new light.

Serving in the Shadows:

Black Soldiers in Segregated America

The APEX Museum’s Serving in the Shadows: Black Soldiers in Segregated America exhibition explores more than two centuries of African American military service, sacrifice, and resilience. From colonial militias to the integration of the U.S. Armed Forces, the exhibit highlights the courage and contributions of Black service members whose fight for freedom abroad often mirrored the struggle for equality at home. Through historic narratives and spotlighted military units, visitors experience a powerful journey through patriotism, perseverance, and progress.

Shared Space. Shared Stories.

Hosted exhibits highlight creative projects developed outside the museum and presented here in partnership. While these works may differ from APEX’s curatorial standards or historical approach, we remain committed to supporting community expression and honoring our agreement to share this content with visitors.

Our Freedom Stories: The Khululeka Experience

A community curated experience presented by The Justice Project. An exhibit meant to honor the past, understand the present, and shape the future and bridge the gap between South Africa's Fight for Equality and America's Civil Rights Movement

Learn more about the curator.