George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center

Through the preservation and exhibition of African American material culture, history, and aesthetic expression, the Carver Museum works to create a space where the global contributions of all Black people are celebrated. We accomplish this by telling stories about our local community and connecting those histories to larger narratives about Blackness.

For interest in the artifact(s) donation procedure please visit our Donations & Collection Information Page.

Take a Virtual Reality Tour of the Carver!

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Boyd Vance Theatre renovation closure dates: June 2023 - March 2024

The Carver Museum is open to the public. Entrance is free and walk-ins are available. Masks are strongly encouraged inside the Museum.

Up Next at the Carver

4th Annual Stay Black & Live Juneteenth Festival

yellow banner with Juneteenth programming text

The George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center, will host the fourth annual Stay Black and Live (SB&L) Juneteenth Festival from June 12-19, 2023. This year’s theme is Austin Family Reunion and will center local collaborations and partnerships with organizations and individuals making an impact.

“We are incredibly proud to continue Austin’s Juneteenth celebration and tradition at our historic museum,” said Carre Adams, Museum Director at the Carver Museum, “With a robust week of programming, we aim to honor the significance of Juneteenth as we foster a deeper understanding of our shared history. We invite the Austin community to join us as we commemorate this momentous occasion and bring Black history past, present and future to the forefront.”

From community kickbacks, dance parties, cookouts and live music to dynamic conversations with thought leaders, educators and public scholars, this year’s festival will be truly memorable.

See the full listing of Juneteenth events held at the George Washington Carver Museum, or visit the Programs page for more details.

Featured Exhibitions

Small Black Museum Residency Project Vol.II

painting of woman in hammock by Elizabeth Hudson

Small Black Museum Residency Project is a three-month residency for three local Black artists to develop new artwork and engage in professional development opportunities. The mission of this residency program is to support and promote both established and emerging artists of African descent who are largely underrepresented in institutions. SBMRP gives artists access to financial and institutional resources that lead to the development and advancement of their professional careers. This program is ideal for artists who have a progressive approach to both content and form and whose work reflects shifting paradigms around race, identity, nation, and place.

This exhibit features multimedia work and installations from our residency artists of Alexis Hunter, Elisha Luckett, and Elizabeth Hudson. On view March 16-July 29, 2023.

Black Girls Don't Wear Red Lipstick: A photography exhibit by Leta Harrison

Save the date! Join us at Carver Museum ATX on Wednesday, April 26, from 6-8PM for the opening reception of a powerful photography exhibit by Leta Harrison: Black Girls Don't Wear Red Lipstick. Inspired by Kam Franklin’s Black History Month symposium on resistance-fashion and self-expression at the Carver, this photo exhibition serves as a love letter to strong Black women who have shown courage and defiance when asked to dim their light. When a Black woman opts to wear red lipstick, she empowers herself. In all of its boldness, red lipstick and other vibrant hues of lip color, Black women need not ask permission.

Black Girls Don't Wear Red Lipstick aims to encourage women of color to stand out, embrace their differences, and rise against antiquated beauty standards based on a narrative set out to diminish Black personalities, presence, and contributions to the world.

Leta Harrison is an Austin-based photographer hailing from Washington DC. Harrison's early career began in 2017 with Creative Hands Studio, where she quickly realized her ability to story tell through photography. After some time in the nonprofit sector and freelance world, her work began to take flight with RAW Natural Born Artists and local newspapers. Soon after moving to Austin in 2020, her work was being featured in publications like Voyage Austin and Essence Magazine, and she has photographed events like Fusebash, Afrotech, and SXSW. Leta Harrison's work truly embodies the emotion behind the subject. Her photos posses a magic that provokes deep reaction, ignites important conversation, and captures authenticity of the moment. Save the date for Harrion's new exhibit, Black Girls Don't Wear Red Lipstick, at Carver Museum ATX!