Greenwood Rising, a museum located in the heart of the historic Greenwood district in Tulsa, opened to the public on Wednesday.
The 11,000 square-foot museum features three multimedia exhibits that tell the story of Black Wall Street. The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission started planning and fundraising for it in 2018.
Greenwood Rising Museum isn't just about telling the story of the 1921 Race Massacre, though. It's about celebrating the history of Oklahoma's Black citizens, successes and struggles from 1865 to today.
Phil Armstrong, the interim director of the museum, said at one point, Oklahoma was a paradise for Black citizens who could own land and buy businesses.
"The real magic of Greenwood Rising is a discussion space called 'the journey to reconciliation' where people will be able to sit, have discussions — let's talk about where we are, what have we learned from the past," Armstrong said.
For the first year, there will be no admission charge to Greenwood Rising. Visitors are advised to book ahead for tours on the website at greenwoodrising.org/visit.
