It is the first and only African American children's museum in the United States.

Founded in 1998, the museum moved to its current location at 9301 South Stony Island Avenue in the Pill Hill neighborhood in 2008.

In 1998, Peggy Montes founded the museum in Evergreen Park, Illinois at 97th and Western Avenue.

[7] The museum is located away from the Bronzeville, Chicago neighborhood bounded by 26th Street and 51st Street on the north and south, respectively, and Wentworth Avenue and Cottage Grove Avenue.

[7] Although over 100 children's museums serve the youth of America, this is the only one that focuses on African American culture and history.