Black History Museum
Ashland, Kentucky
The C.B. Nuckolls Community Center & Black History Museum is a nonprofit museum in Ashland, Kentucky, dedicated to the collection, documentation, preservation and study of Black history in Ashland and across America. The museum will continuously cultivate a Black history experience and honor accomplishments of the past while providing an education for generations to come.
Photo by Shane W. Day Photography.
Grand Opening!
Saturday afternoon (April 22, 2023) marked the official opening of the Black History Museum. More than 100 people gathered for the ceremonial event, which was led by an address from Darrell Smith, co-founder of the museum along with Bernice Henry, and other community members who have worked hard to make the museum a reality.
“This has been a lot of work and this has been a dream of mine,” Smith said. “I’m speechless over this. Thank you for all your help.”
Photo by Shane W. Ray Photography.
Grand Opening!
Saturday afternoon (April 22) marked the official opening of the Black History Museum. More than 100 people gathered for the ceremonial event, which was led by an address from Darrell Smith, co-founder of the museum along with Bernice Henry, and other community members who have worked hard to make the museum a reality.
“This has been a lot of work and this has been a dream of mine,” Smith said. “I’m speechless over this. Thank you for all your help.”
A message from Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.
Behind the Bricks (Volume 1)
Make a Small Donation and Receive a Free T-Shirt
- $20 donations for sizes Medium-2X
- $23 donation for size 3X
- $25 donation for sizes 4-5X
- Out of town shipping is available for an additional donation of $9 per shirt up to a 3X (Priority First Class tracking will be provided).
IMPORTANT NOTE: You must write in your total (and whether you want a local pickup or shipping ~ and include shipping details) in the optional note area during your checkout; follow the link below to proceed.
Museum Operations
Hours
Tuesday-Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
(please call to schedule large tours)
Closed Sunday and Monday
Admission is a suggested donation of:
Adults ~ $6.00; Children ~ $3.00
Address
901 Kilgore Drive, Ashland, Ky 41101
Phone
Museum Operations
Hours
Tuesday-Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
(please call to schedule large tours)
Closed Sunday and Monday
Admission is a suggested donation of:
Adults ~ $6.00
Children ~ $3.00
Address
901 Kilgore Drive,
Ashland, Ky 41101
Phone
Sal’s fundraiser ~ thank you!
The Nov. 5 event benefiting the museum was a huge success!
We look forward to continuing our momentum together as we head toward 2023 and our museum grand opening!
A special thanks goes out to Sal’s Italian Eatery and Speakeasy and everyone who contributed and came out to support this important fundraiser!
Ashland Chili Fest ~ 2022
We thank everyone who stopped by our informational booth at Chili Fest!
The C.B. Nuckolls Community Center & Black History Museum is being created as an interactive institution for the education of Black history in and around Ashland, Kentucky. It is our goal to welcome the general public as well as be a popular attraction for school groups and personal tours. The Museum will be home to exhibits, educational programs, special activities, art, genealogical research and more. Our mission is to make the museum a cherished archive for all to enjoy!
Photos by Bruce Royal Photography
The C.B. Nuckolls Community Center & Black History Museum was founded in 2022 by Darrell Smith and Bernice Henry:
Darrell Smith
Smith was born and raised in Ashland, Ky. He moved to Delaware to work for MBNA American Bank where he managed CDs, Money Markets, IRAs and the Credit Card Division. He then worked for Humana Insurance, processing claims and working in customer advocacy for several years. Smith is also a Trustee and Financial Secretary with New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. He is a volunteer at the Highlands Museum & Discovery Center and is the first African American to serve on the board in more than 10 years.
Smith has always loved Black history and created the “Ashland, Ky Black History” page on Facebook a couple years ago. He created the page because much of Ashland’s Black history has been slowly disappearing.
Bernice Henry
Henry has volunteered and chaired on numerous committees for over 50 years. Her activism includes serving as NAACP vice president, chairperson of the Ashland Human Rights Commission and commissioner of the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights (7th District). Her advocacy has helped improve community relations, education and housing opportunities for all residents of Ashland and the Boyd county area. She has also served on the board for Scope Towers for several years and worked for the Ashland Independent School District for over 30 years. Henry was the first African American woman to serve on the Ashland Board of City Commissioners.
Henry has been an active member of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church since childhood. She is currently the church clerk.
The Community Center is named after C.B. Nuckolls. Affectionately called “Professor Nuckolls,” he was principal of Booker T. Washington School in Ashland from 1922-1962. The school closed in 1962 due to desegregation. Nuckolls fought hard to provide black students equal opportunities and everything they needed in education.
The Booker T. Washington school was set on fire by vandals in 1975. All the pictures, books and trophies inside the school were destroyed.
04/25/23 — In Our View: New museum great addition, Daily Independent
04/23/23 — Grand opening for Black History Museum, Daily Independent
04/23/23 — Photo gallery from Grand Opening, Shane W. Day Photography
02/07/23 — Tri-State’s first Black history museum to open in Ashland, WSAZ
01/31/23 — Beshear visits Ashland to announce $4.1 million for Boyd County
11/18/22 — Tree honors African American contributions, Daily Independent
FRONT PAGE DESIGN | FULL ARTICLE (dailyindependent.com)
