Children’s Gallery of Black History

“You’ve re-created the pure, self-exploratory nature of how children truly learn.”
Maryland Public School Kindergarten Teacher

"The hands-on aspect of the gallery helped the students to internalize the information they learned."
DCPS 5th Grade Teacher

“Next time, I’m bringing my family!”
Student from E.W. Stokes Public Charter School


What is the Children's Gallery of Black History?

M.O.M.I.E’s programs attempt to build confidence, strengthen core academic skills, and develop leadership.  One such program is the Children’s Gallery of Black History (CGBH). The CGBH is an interactive museum dedicated to “bringing history to life” for young children.  As an ongoing program of M.O.M.I.E’s TLC, the Children’s Gallery of Black History offers child-friendly, hands-on exhibits that focus on great leaders of color from the past and present.  These exhibits are designed to inspire children to pursue their dreams and talents despite obstacles they face.  Unlike traditional museums, the Children’s Gallery of Black History encourages visitors to actively participate in the learning experience.  Visitors have the opportunity to “walk a mile in the shoes of” the great person by doing the things that the great person may have done.   

The goal behind the use of interactive productions is to positively change or “re-image” how at-risk children are perceived and demonstrate effective ways motivate them to learn. The CGBH engages children and families in active learning about history, culture and activism through self-guided explorations.  The gallery includes interactive exhibits which have been designed around public school standards of learning and created to be fun.  Each exhibit focuses on the life of one great person and allows visitors to “walk a mile in the shoes of” the featured great person.  Life sized displays, child-friendly historical pavilions, arts, crafts and other interactive learning activates, are used to spark an awareness and appreciation for the contributions of outstanding African Americans. For example, children can construct model space ships and space stations, as they learn about the life of Mae Jemison, the first African American female Astronaut; they can develop cartoon characters such as “Fat Albert” or “Little Bill” and short stories, to learn about the work of Bill Cosby; and they can construct their own schools using real bricks to learn about Mary McLeod Bethune. The CGBH differs from the typical museum paradigm as it encourages play, avoids the use of too many words and other static items and invites community partners to participate in the effort. 

For more information about the Children's Gallery of Black History, contact Chitra Subramanian at chitra@momiestlc.com or call 202-285-7937.

Listen to radio interview about Children's Gallery

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