Each year the AAMI serves over 30,000 people, offering tours, educational programming for all ages, special events, and much more across the state of Iowa.

The Grand Opening of the AAMI was on September 19, 2003, and highlighted the Exhibition|permanent exhibit Doorways: A History of African Americans in Iowa.

The first floor of the museum, home to the education and collection staff as well as the gift shop, rental hall, and both exhibits, was filled with 5.5 feet of standing water.

This catastrophic natural disaster caused significant damage to the building and at least half of the museum's artifacts, necessitating $1.3 million in repairs.

[5] On January 17, 2009, the AAMI was reopened to the public, featuring building renovations and repairs as well as a new temporary exhibit: No Roads Lead to Buxton.

[6] A new permanent exhibit, Endless Possibilities, was opened on December 15, 2009, and uses photos, objects, stories, and multimedia to trace the journeys of Iowa's African Americans.

Given the AAMI's close proximity to the Cedar River, the new flood wall and gate directly impacted the building's entrance.

The exhibit, Suspended: Systemic Oppression in Our Schools available to view at the Cedar Rapids Public Library (downtown, 3rd floor gallery).