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African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO)

Local HistoryHistoryClosed · Opens 12pmFree12th St Oakland City Center (BART)

Across the Bay in downtown Oakland, AAMLO grew from a private collection begun in 1946 and became part of the Oakland Public Library in 1994. It occupies the Charles S. Greene building, a Beaux-Arts landmark that served as Oakland's main library from 1902 to 1951. The upstairs museum holds the permanent exhibition "Visions Toward Tomorrow" alongside rotating shows, while the ground-floor reference library and archive keeps more than 160 collections on African Americans in California and the West. Admission is free.

What's On

Permanent Collections

Plan Your Visit

Getting there

659 14th Street, Oakland, CA 94612

Nearest station: 12th St Oakland City Center (BART), 19th St Oakland (BART), AC Transit buses on 14th Street

Show on map

Hours

Mon10:00–17:30
Tue10:00–17:30
Wed10:00–17:30
Thu10:00–17:30
FriToday12:00–17:30
Sat10:00–17:30
SunClosed

Admission

Free

Free admission. Self-guided visits need no reservation; group tours by request at aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org.

Nearby

Oakland Museum of California (OMCA)

Art17 min walk

Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA)

Art87 min walk
Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology

Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology

History88 min walk

Exploratorium

Children128 min walk

Visitor Information

Is African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO) free to visit?
Yes, general admission to African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO) is free. Free admission. Self-guided visits need no reservation; group tours by request at aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org.. Some special exhibitions may charge a separate ticket, so check the museum's website before visiting.
What are the opening hours of African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO)?
African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO) is open Mon-Thu and Sat 10:00-17:30, Fri 12:00-17:30, closed Sun. Closed on Oakland Public Library holidays: 11 Nov, 26-27 Nov, 24-25 Dec 2026.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO)?
African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO) is located at 659 14th Street, Oakland, CA 94612, in the Downtown Oakland area of San Francisco. The nearest stations are 12th St Oakland City Center (BART), 19th St Oakland (BART), AC Transit buses on 14th Street.
What can I see at African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO)?
Free museum and archive of Black history in California and the West, in a Beaux-Arts former library in downtown Oakland. Current highlights include Visions Toward Tomorrow: The African American Community in Oakland, 1890-1990.
Do I need to book African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO) in advance?
African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO) is free to enter and most days you can walk in. Free admission. Self-guided visits need no reservation; group tours by request at aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org.. For special exhibitions, weekends, and school holidays, booking a timed slot can help you skip queues. Check the museum's website for current requirements.
When is the best time to visit African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO)?
Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.

Oakland Public Library / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

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