Bucks County African American Museum Opens

A yearslong search for a permanent home concluded Friday with claps and cheers as the African American Museum of Bucks County cut the ribbon on its new facility on Juneteenth.

Dozens of supporters, volunteers, business leaders, and government officials gathered at 867 Langhorne-Newtown Road in Middletown Township to celebrate the opening.

The museum opens to the public Saturday at 10 a.m.

The museum is housed in a 4,000-square-foot farmhouse dating back to the early 1700s.

The museum features displays tracing the history of African American people in the county. Exhibits cover slavery, the abolitionist movement, notable Black Bucks Countians, and community contributions.

William Reed, the museum’s vice president, called the opening a “defining moment” for the region and the preservation of its history.

“This institution represents more than the completion of a project,” Reed said. “It’s the fulfillment of a promise to honor African Americans and individual families and friends who contributed to this region.”

Reed said many of the stories featured in the exhibits have “often gone unnoticed,” adding that the museum provides a starting point for sharing the African American experience in Bucks County.

“We realize a dream fulfilled, and this will become a legacy to share with the community,” Reed said.

The museum is packed with artifacts spanning hundreds of years to the present day, representing nearly every part of the county, including Bristol, Buckingham, Langhorne, Levittown, Newtown, and New Hope.

Once visitors enter the museum, they are greeted by “Together,” a 1975 cast bronze statue by New Hope artist Selma Burke.

The museum highlights the county’s “intersection with history” and an “ongoing fight for freedom, justice, and inclusion.”

The project was made possible through years of dedication by volunteers and local officials.

The museum signed an agreement to use the Boone Farm property, which is owned by the Bucks County government and located next to Core Creek Park.

Planning for the museum began in 2020, with a groundbreaking in 2022.

Earlier this year, Bernard Griggs, director of operations for the county’s general services division, said the project involved “unforeseen conditions” stemming from work on an old structure that had fallen into disrepair.

Linda Salley, the retired educator who led the push for the museum, passed away in May, but her impact remained key to the day’s event.

Rev. Lugenure Jones, of the Bensalem Township AME Church, said the museum successfully carries on Salley’s legacy.

Along with its founder, the museum honors other key contributors who passed away before seeing its completion, including her husband, Alonzo Salley, as well as Harvey Spencer and Millard Mitchell.

Officials noted the museum will rely on ongoing public support through financial donations, volunteer work, and word-of-mouth awareness.

“This is top notch here,” said Rev. Dr. Charles Atkins, of Langhorne Presbyterian Church. “Lets bring more people in. Let the snowball effect begin.”

The museum will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and military members, and $7 for students. Entrance is free for museum members and children ages 5 and under.