The International African American Museum
At the historic site of Gadsden’s Wharf in Charleston, South Carolina — where nearly half of all enslaved Africans first arrived in North America — the International African American Museum (IAAM) stands as a monumental cultural and educational institution. Spanning more than 40,000 square feet and developed with an investment of nearly $100 million, the museum is both a memorial and a resource: honoring the enslaved and their descendants, while advancing research, storytelling, and cultural understanding through nine thematic galleries and a pioneering genealogy center.
A Strategic Role in a Monumental Project
Solomon Group was engaged as project consultants, AV integrators, and exhibit fabricators, but our role extended far beyond execution. Brought into the process during a pivotal moment of leadership transition, our team worked closely with the museum’s newly appointed curator to help refine the project vision, align stakeholders, and ensure that the design could be translated into impactful, buildable experiences.
Our uniquely producer-led approach allowed us to act as strategic partners: balancing design ambition with technical feasibility, offering value engineering solutions, and providing iterative review processes that brought clarity to both the creative and financial dimensions of the project.
Delivering with Integrity and Collaboration
With a carefully assembled team of consultants, technologists, artisans, and project managers, we guided the museum from late-stage design development into fabrication and AV integration. By fostering trust and collaboration among the project’s diverse partners, we ensured the IAAM’s stories were told with both cultural sensitivity and technical excellence.
Why It Matters
The International African American Museum is more than a museum — it is a landmark in how history is remembered, preserved, and shared. For Solomon Group, the project represents the essence of our role as a strategic partner for mission-driven institutions: navigating complexity, integrating technology, and ensuring that the visitor experience reflects the weight and significance of the story being told.
The museum has already been recognized as a landmark achievement in the cultural sector. In 2025, the International African American Museum received a prestigious Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement — one of the highest honors in the themed entertainment and experience design industry — further underscoring the global significance of the project and the strength of the partnerships that brought it to life.
