Reflections and Updates: The African American Museum of Bucks County
Friends from Bucks Quarter met virtually once again on August 21, 2022. It was meant to be our first venture into hybrid meeting, and our host, Fallsington Meeting, was up to the challenge. The coronavirus, however, had other plans for us. Meeting in person was contingent upon low transmission levels of the virus; unfortunately, the transmission level was stubbornly stuck at moderate, and we made the disappointing decision to meet only on Zoom.
Luckily, it was a smooth transition to pivot to a virtual quarterly meeting; after all, we have been doing it since May 2020. Fallsington Friends had arranged to have Linda Salley, President and Executive Director of The African American Museum of Bucks County speak to us about the history and evolution of the museum.
For the past six years, the museum has operated as a pop up and virtual museum, telling the untold stories and rich history of the African American community in Bucks County. While this has had its advantages, the museum was on the lookout for a permanent home. Thanks to the efforts of the Bucks County Commissioners, the museum will soon have their home.
Boone Farm is located on Route 413 in Langhorne, PA. As part of the Great Migration, many African Americans moved up from the South to find work there, earn a decent wage, and raise their families. The farmhouse has been vacant for years, but the county and the community have always wanted to do something with it. Given the farm’s history and the museum’s needs, it was a perfect match.
To find out more about Boone Farm and The African American Museum of Bucks County, click the YouTube link below and watch Linda’s full presentation.