The museum was first established in Alton, Illinois in 1967 by Miss Dunham and her late husband, John Pratt.  In 1977, Miss Dunham moved her collection of African, West African, and South American art to East St. Louis, to the two-story English Regency Townhouse formerly owned by Judge Maurice Joyce.  This landmark building appears on the Illinois Historic Register, and is located within the Pennsylvania Avenue Historic District registered with the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The museum houses Miss Dunham’s outstanding collection of symbolic and functional art, including more than 250 African and Caribbean art objects from more than 50 countries.  Tapestries, paintings, sculpture, musical instruments and ceremonial costumes from these and other areas of the world celebrate the human spirit.  The museum also displays costumes, photographs, programs, letters, awards and mementos from Miss Dunham’s career as a dancer, choreographer, teacher, writer and dance company owner.

The Haitian Room

A collection of paintings, furniture pieces, carvings, macramé, thunderstones, and art relics from the Caribbean and African cultures.  Several of the furniture pieces that are displayed were designed by Miss Dunham and crafted by  Haitian artisans.

This room celebrates West African culture through the display of sculpture, masks, statuettes and tapestry. The collection

The rear room on the first floor contains African, Caribbean, and Latin American percussion instruments collected by Miss Dunham during her travels all over the world.  Some of these instruments were used by the original Dunham Dance Company during performances.

 
 

 
                            Drums                                                                                    Drums

The Second Floor
 

This floor provides a history of Miss Dunham’s long and illustrious career as an anthropologist, dancer, choregrapher, educator and humanitarian. Mannequins display some of the original costumes and head dresses worn by Miss Dunham, and photographs capture many of her famed dance performances.  Also on display are some of the paintings Miss Dunham created to “come down” after her exhilarating shows.  The conference room is a legacy to her humanitarian efforts.  Scrapbooks, photographs, letters and awards document her important contributions to the struggle for human rights.  Finally, Miss Dunham’s office provides a look at a working sanctuary of one of the most important American cultural and historical figures of the 20th century.