A museum commemorating Wilmington’s 1898 massacre and coup is in the works in the Brooklyn Arts District.

The creation of the Wilmington 1898 Museum for Healing, Education and Democracy was announced in a news release on Monday. The institution is in the planning and development stage with an opening expected in the spring of 2028.

The museum will explore the impacts of Wilmington’s 1898 massacre and coup, focusing on its ramifications on civil rights and democracy. On Nov. 10, 1898, a group of white supremacists overthrew Wilmington’s multiracial elected government, attacking Black residents, burning down the building of a Black-owned newspaper and killing an unknown number of Black residents.

The museum aims to preserve the event’s history, educate the public about its significance and serve as a vehicle for community healing, according to its website. Leigh Carter founded the museum effort and chairs the advisory board. 

A Wilmington native, Carter had a career in youth and family services and community mental health before launching her private practice in 2021 as a trauma specialist. This year, she founded the Elizabeth L. Carter Foundation, an organization that initiates and supports projects that create pathways for healing and respond to community needs.

“This museum stands as a beacon of learning and reflection, aiming to foster a comprehensive understanding of the events of 1898 and their ongoing impact,” Carter stated in the news release. “We are committed to crafting an educational experience that both inspires and provokes thought.”

The museum is planned near the intersection of Third and Davis streets, near 1898 Memorial Park. Property records show that LC Property Holdings, an entity managed by Elizabeth Leigh Carter, purchased nine tracts in the area in 2022. The Elizabeth L. Carter Foundation is donating the museum site, according to its website.

The institution expects to receive additional funding through a combination of private donations, grants and community support. The museum is also fundraising to ensure the project’s sustainability, according to its website.

The museum will feature interactive exhibits, including motion-sensitive installations, virtual reality experiences and other hands-on activities.

“These features will be designed to make the learning experience dynamic and physically engaging, ensuring that visitors are not just passive observers but active participants,” the museum’s website states. “Our programs will be designed for visitors of all ages.”

The museum will also operate as a community space, hosting exhibits, forums and education workshops aimed at understanding democratic values and practices.

William Buster, former president and CEO of the New Hanover Community Endowment, will serve as the project’s lead consultant.

“When I came to this community, I learned very quickly the legacy and impact of the 1898 coup d’état and massacre,” Buster stated in the release. “It still weighs on the New Hanover and Wilmington communities. The time for healing is now.”