The Rutherford B. H. Yates Museum, Inc. is a non-profit, 501(c) (3) organization, incorporated in the State of Texas on Dec. 26, 1996. It is located in the ‘endangered’ National Register Historic District of Freedmen’s Town-4th Ward- Houston.
The RBHYates Museum's "Educational & Cultural Park Corridor"(c) will provide exhibit space and educational programs related to: African Diaspora history, preservation architecture, literacy, journalism, archaeology, art, music, museum management, and journalism, as well as, providing scholarships and internships to students of all ages. Currently RBHYates Museum owns 6 National Register Listed Historic Houses on 10 historic lots. The historic houses are in various stages of restoration and all of the properties and brick streets are used for University Accredited Archaeology Field Schools and permanent Green Classrooms. You urgently needed and generous donations will enable RBHY to save a few more endangered properties.
Education through the preservation of the Cultural History and Archaeology of the African Diaspora. In addition to this primary mission, RBHY Museum’s Goals are to: 1) recognize and acknowledge the struggles and contributions of the previously enslaved founding families in Texas communities; 2) stimulate historical research of the freedmen and slave experiences in the world; 3) preserve and exhibit artifacts, brick streets, and historic structures on their original sites; 4) provide internships to encourage career development in the disciplines of science, printing, journalism, archaeology, arts, historic preservation, museum management, and history, specifically of peoples of African descent; 5) educate the general populace, and; 5) provide historic designation and marker services.
Some say it is too late, that the National District is gone because so many historic homes & churches have been destroyed and the brick streets damaged so badly. That statement is not true, the Historic District is not gone, since the original footprint under and above ground does exist and the collective memory is preserved
