With a continued focus on recognizing the City's history, heritage, and story, The City of Frederick and the African American Resources-Cultural Heritage Society (AARCH) signed a lease agreement for use of a City-owned property located at 125 East All Saints Street (the East All Saints Parking Garage) beginning on December 1, 2020.
AARCH will lease approximately 3,200 square feet on the ground floor of the Parking Deck's southwest corner for $10/year. AARCH plans to create a heritage center dedicated to sharing the history and influence of African Americans in our area. The center will include permanent exhibit space, a multi-purpose area suitable for theater/meeting space, and research and archival facilities. It will showcase local artifacts and feature first-hand accounts of Frederick’s living treasures, local African American residents 90 years old or older.
"The African American Resources-Cultural Heritage Society greatly appreciates the continued partnership with The City of Frederick. This is another important milestone in making Mr. William O. Lee Jr’s dream a reality. We look forward to the Heritage Center playing a major role in building lasting relationships and sharing the rich history of African Americans in our community and beyond, shared AARCH President, David Key. "Equally important is our responsibility to pass this wealth of information to future generations as our ancestors did with us."
The agreement's initial term is for ten years. Planning for the Heritage Center is underway targeting a grand opening in 2022.
