The African American Museum was established in 1974 as part of the private collections at Bishop College, a historically African college that closed in 1988. Operating independently since 1979, the museum is the only African American museum of its kind in the southwest region dedicated to preserving and displaying African American art, cultural and historical materials, and they have one of the largest collections of African American folk art in the United States. Exhibits include paintings, sculptures, statues, classic furnishings, and various paraphernalia that reflect the spirit and culture of the African American community.