WELCOME TO THANKFUL HERITAGE MUSEUM

For more than 30 years, Thankful Heritage Museum, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, has shared African American history with communities across North Carolina and beyond. Founded by historian and educator Effley Howell, the traveling museum offers over 400 years of artifacts and stories brought directly to schools, churches, libraries, and special events.

Join us October 28th at Guilford College for this special upcoming event celebrating American abolitionist Levi Coffin!

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SUPPORT THE MUSEUM

Thankful Heritage Museum has thousands of important artifacts spanning over 400 years of African American History, and is available to present exhibits and talks at your center or event. The museum offers various themes such as early African American History, Civil Rights History, Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr holiday celebrations, and Black media and pop culture like African American Sports history, dolls, brands, a special Ebony and Jet Magazine Showcase, and much more. Contact us to learn more about our mobile exhibit services. Donations and Sponsorships to our nonprofit is also encouraged to keep history and culture alive and shared with future generations!

IN SUPPORT OF AUGUST BEING THE SECOND BLACK HISTORY MONTH

At Thankful Heritage Museum, we believe African American history is American history, and it deserves to be celebrated year-round. While February has long been recognized as Black History Month, it is also the shortest month of the year. For this reason, we support August being honored as a second Black History Month, creating more space and time to highlight the achievements, stories, and contributions of Black communities.

By embracing both February and August as moments of reflection, celebration, and education, we can continue the work of ensuring these stories are uplifted and preserved for generations to come.

Help us find a permanent home.

Thankful Heritage Museum has proudly served as a mobile, travelling museum in North Carolina for over 30 years. As the only Black History museum in the Winston-Salem area, we are looking for a permanent home for our vast collection. We continue to outreach to both urban and rural communities and generations young and old, so that everyone has a chance to interact with the museum. However, we are also looking to permanently display our artifacts in the Winston-Salem region and serve as a cultural preservation hub for the area. If you or someone you know can support our capital plan, please reach out!

Upcoming Events

Levi Coffin- 227th Birthday Celebration at Guilford College

Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Catawba College’s Day of Culture 2025

CATAWBA COLLEGE STUDENTS ONLY November 12, 2025