[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 147 (Tuesday, September 12, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E826]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL AND 
                 HISTORICAL MUSEUM OF WASHTENAW COUNTY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DEBBIE DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 12, 2023

  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the African 
American Cultural and Historical Museum of Washtenaw County (AACHM) on 
the occasion of their 30th anniversary. The job they have done in 
preserving the deep history of Washtenaw County's African American 
population is worthy of commendation.
  Founded in 1993, the AACHM has been crucial in helping local 
residents understand their shared history, from the many Underground 
Railroad stops in the area to the Broadway Historic District in Ann 
Arbor. Originally a ``museum without walls'', the museum currently 
resides in their Historic Albert Polhemus House, built in 1848 to house 
Albert and Leah Polhemus and their 6 children. A later resident by the 
name of Joseph Mills Maltby was the pastor of Ann Arbor's First 
Presbyterian Church from 1888 to 1909, at which the Michigan Anti-
Slavery Society was founded in 1836.
  The exhibits at the AACHM are in constant rotation, and each and 
every 1 is worthy of a visit in person. Whether it was an exhibition of 
the Great Migration of the 20th century or a collection of the origin 
stories of local black families, the AACHM are consistently 
collaborating with our local high schools and universities to make sure 
that residents of all stripes participate in our shared history. The 
AACHM is also well known for their ``Journey to Freedom'' tours that 
showcase the role Washtenaw County played in the Underground Railroad. 
Michigan was often the last stop on the way to freedom in Canada, and 2 
crucial routes went through Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating the 
30th anniversary of the AACHM. They say that ``those who don't learn 
from history are doomed to repeat it'', and for the last 3 decades the 
AACHM has been working tirelessly to ensure that the residents of 
Washtenaw County remember their history, both the highlights and the 
low points. Progress in the present requires an understanding of the 
past, and the AACHM is vital to that cause. We thank you and are 
excited to see what history you uncover over the next 30 years.

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