The African American Civil War Memorial Museum opened in January 1999. The museum shares the stories of the USCT through photographs, documents, artifacts, seminars, and presentations to help visitors understand the largely unknown role of soldiers who fought for freedom during the Civil War.

The DC City Council endorses funding for the Museum's new home at the Grimke Building in the Shaw community.

The African American Civil War Memorial Museum moved to its new permanent location in the U Street District at the historic Grimke Building. The Grimke Building is named after Archibald Grimke (1849-1930). Grimke was born into slavery in Charleston, South Carolina, and became the second African American to graduate from Harvard Law School.

The Grimke family is known as one of the most prominent African American families in Washington, DC, history. They made remarkable contributions to education, civil rights, religion, and the arts.