Mission

To (i)repurpose the former William R McKenney Memorial Library to create the first city-wide African American history Museum-Center (the "Museum-Center") to reflect the significant istory of the Petersburg area where there was one of the largest concentrations of freed African Americans;(ii) educate the public regarding the history of the property located at 137 S. Sycamore Street in Petersburg, Virginia (the "McKenney Building") that houses the Museum Center, including General William Mahone, who resided in the building in 1867, and his Readjuster Party; (iii) restore the McKenney Building with the assistance of historic preservation tax credits, grants, donations, and services donated by the City of Petersburg; and (iv) create an archival space/research facility with a searchable catalog system for paper archives and ephemera owned by the City or gifted by the public (the "Research Facility").