LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Roots 101 African-American Museum located on Museum Row in downtown Louisville is planned to open before Kentucky Derby. With four floors, each level represents a different era of the African-American journey, from slavery to the modern-era, with collections that explore art, music, sports, and racism, to name a few.

“It’s an emotional experience; it’s an educational experience; and it’s a healing experience,” said the museum's Founder and Executive Director, Lamont Collins.

Collins said there are currently 2,500 artifacts on display right now, but there will be 7,500 on display when the museum officially opens. Architectural Digest listed it as a leading design-forward museum opening in 2020. 

One of the most harrowing artifacts is slave chains that Collins said are from Ghana and more than 400 years old.

“You can feel just the sheer weight of them alone. Shows you the burden and pain that came with being a slave,” Collins said.

The name Roots 101 is a play on intro college courses, this space being an introduction to African-American history. Collins wants visitors to learn about the African-American journey and leave understanding that we are better together.

“And if we learn each other and understand each other, we’re just a better country and a better place,” Collins told Spectrum News 1.

Currently, two out of four floors are completed. Collins said the museum still needs to raise $125,000 to complete the basement and the second floor. To help raise funds, an online raffle for nine bourbons valued at over $2,500 goes until Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Raffle tickets are $50 for one or $125 for three. Anyone can also donate via the Roots 101 GoFundMe page.  

Even though the museum isn’t officially open, Collins does give private tours.

The cost is $7 for adults and $5 for kids. To book a visit, call Collins at 502-210-1279 or email him at lcollins@roots-101.org.