A major new museum honoring the history, resilience, and legacy of Columbus’ Near East Side is officially moving forward.
On Tuesday, the Ohio History Connection broke ground on the future Poindexter Village African American Museum at 290 N. Champion Ave., marking a major milestone for the long-awaited project.
The $25.9 million museum is expected to open in early 2028 and will explore the history of public housing, urban renewal, and African American life in Columbus through immersive exhibits, oral histories, photography, and interactive displays.
And based on the newly released renderings, the space itself is going to be stunning.
Poindexter Village holds a deeply important place in both Columbus and national history. Dedicated in 1940 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, it was one of the first federally funded public housing projects in the United States.
Named after Rev. James Preston Poindexter, a prominent Black minister, activist, and community leader in Columbus, the neighborhood became home to generations of residents and produced artists, doctors, lawyers, educators, and civic leaders, including celebrated Columbus artist Aminah Robinson.
“This museum will be a place where all Ohioans can learn from the stories of resilience, creativity and community that have defined the Near East Side and the greater African American community for generations,” said Ohio History Connection Executive Director and CEO Megan Wood in a statement.
Although most of the original Poindexter Village buildings were demolished during redevelopment efforts in the early 2000s, two of the original structures were ultimately saved through years of advocacy and preservation efforts. Those remaining buildings will now anchor the future museum campus.
The museum will also connect directly with the surrounding neighborhood and nearby Union Grove Baptist Church, helping tie the project to the community that shaped its history.
Alongside the groundbreaking, the Ohio History Connection also officially launched the Lift Every Legacy Campaign, a fundraising effort supporting the museum project. Organizers say $14.5 million has already been raised toward the overall $25.9 million goal.
The museum was designed by Columbus-based architecture firm Moody Nolan, with Smoot Construction serving as construction manager.
When completed, the Poindexter Village African American Museum won’t just preserve the story of one historic neighborhood. It will tell a larger story about housing, race, community, displacement, and the people who helped shape Columbus itself.
