African American Museum Expansion Nears Completion in Wilson

New $800,000 addition to Oliver Nestus Freeman Round House and African American Museum will add exhibit space, parking, and performance shelter.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The $800,000 expansion of the Oliver Nestus Freeman Round House and African American Museum in Wilson, North Carolina is nearing completion. The 2,200-square-foot addition will provide more exhibit space to showcase the history and contributions of Black Americans in the region. The project, funded through a federal earmark secured by former U.S. Representative G.K. Butterfield, also includes new parking spaces and a performance shelter for the museum's concert series.

Why it matters

The museum expansion represents an important investment in preserving and celebrating African American history and culture in Wilson. As a community-focused institution, the museum plays a key role in recognizing individuals and stories that have often gone unrecognized, helping to foster greater understanding and appreciation of the Black experience.

The details

The new addition has been closed in and is nearing completion, with workers currently hanging the last pieces of wallboard. The expansion will provide 13 additional parking spaces along Nash Street and replace a gazebo with a larger performance shelter that will serve as the stage for the museum's concert series. Museum founder and executive director Bill Myers, 93, is excited to see the project near completion, noting it will allow the museum to better showcase its collection of artifacts and historic materials.

  • Ground was broken on October 20 for the 2,200-square-foot expansion.
  • The new parking spaces were completed last month.

The players

Oliver Nestus Freeman Round House and African American Museum

A museum in Wilson, North Carolina that preserves and celebrates the history and contributions of African Americans in the region.

Bill Myers

The 93-year-old founder, chairman, and executive director of the Oliver Nestus Freeman Round House and African American Museum.

G.K. Butterfield

The former U.S. Representative who worked to secure a $4 million federal earmark to fund municipal park improvements in Wilson, including the museum expansion project.

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What they’re saying

“I am just happy to see it getting done and that we continue our tribute to Black America, basically, and trying to recognize people who have gone unrecognized for years, and that is our purpose, to make sure we remember them and do things for this community.”

— Bill Myers, Founder, Chairman, and Executive Director of the Oliver Nestus Freeman Round House and African American Museum (wilsontimes.com)

“I am so proud of our city that we were able to do this and do it together. I am tickled to death when I see things like the city of Wilson and this working together. That is big time with me, that we do things together, because I am completely satisfied that we can do better when we do it together.”

— Bill Myers, Founder, Chairman, and Executive Director of the Oliver Nestus Freeman Round House and African American Museum (wilsontimes.com)

What’s next

Myers hopes that most of the work on the grounds will be completed when the museum's concert series begins in May, though he acknowledges the landscaping may not be finished in time.

The takeaway

The expansion of the Oliver Nestus Freeman Round House and African American Museum represents a significant investment in preserving and celebrating the history and contributions of African Americans in Wilson and the surrounding region. As a community-focused institution, the museum plays a vital role in recognizing underrepresented stories and fostering greater understanding.