In 1981, Father Richard Keil made a down payment on a dilapidated former warehouse in downtown Macon, Georgia. While the building itself was not impressive, the purchase was significant ; for it signaled the birth of one of the South's most important cultural institutions ' the Tubman African American Museum. Named for Harriet Tubman, the Black Moses who led hundreds of slaves to freedom, the Tubman Museum has grown over the years to become the largest institution of its type in the state and a key educational and cultural resource for the entire southeast region. The Tubman's original 8, 500 square-foot building can no longer house the Museum's growing collections, audience, and programs, however, and a campaign is underway to complete the construction of a beautiful new 49, 000 square-foot museum. ( See Capital Campaign Information for details on the new building and the campaign ) The critical focus and mission of the Tubman, however, remains the same, as the Museum continues to explore, present, and interpret African American art, history, and culture through a widening array of exhibitions, programs, special events, publications, and community and school outreach initiatives. We invite you to explore this website to learn more about the Tubman African American Museum, what it has to offer, and how you can become involved.