Charleston Hosts Groundbreaking for International African American Museum; Womble Bond Dickinson, Henry Smythe Supporting Museum Project

CHARLESTON, SC—The International African American Museum is one of Charleston’s most important projects in many years. When completed, the museum—which will be built on the point of entry to the US for thousands of slaves—will tell the story of African Americans in the New World. 

Womble Bond Dickinson is proud to support the museum and its mission. The firm donated $25,000 toward the museum’s construction and development, joining more than 2,000 donors who raised $100 million to make the International African American Museum a reality.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Oct. 25. Henry Smythe, a long-time partner in Womble Bond Dickinson’s Charleston office and a former member of the Charleston City Council, represented the firm at the groundbreaking. Smythe serves of the Board of Directors of the International African American Museum. Coverage of the event in the Charleston Post & Courier features a photo of Smythe with US Rep. Jim Clyburn, who was a keynote speaker at the groundbreaking.

Other dignitaries at the groundbreaking included South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, US. Rep. Joe Cunningham, Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg, and Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone, where many slaves departed Africa for the US. 

The International African American Museum is scheduled to open in late 2021.