Wells’ Built Museum of African American History and Culture Renovations and Expansion
The Wells’ Built Museum will be refurbished and its exhibit capabilities expanded after receiving more than $ 2 million in grants allocated by Orange County in fall 2025, with additional funds coming from state grants, said Elizabeth Grace, president and CEO of the Central Florida Urban League and an administrator of the museum.
Also, the former home of Dr. William Monroe Wells, which was moved from land currently occupied by the Kia Center to property once occupied by the South Street Casino adjacent to the museum, will undergo a“ complete renovation in accordance with historical preservation guidelines” and eventually be opened to the public, Grace said.
Grant funds also will bolster the Wells’ Built Museum’ s collaboration with the Orange County Regional History Museum, which“ will allow us to do a lot more with exhibitions and also with making some of our holdings available to the public via the Internet,” which will be a boon for researchers, Grace said.
The museum’ s original grant request to Orange County“ was in excess of $ 5 million,” and included plans to construct a new, adjacent building with a theater and conference rooms, Grace said. That project was put on hold when the grant was approved for $ 2 million.
The Wells’ Built Museum’ s upgrades will occur at least through 2027, given that grant funds will be intermittently disbursed through 2027, Grace said.
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