Oakland home converted to mini museum about Black Panthers
OAKLAND, CA - FEBRUARY 17: Former Black Panther Party member Ericka Huggins, left, and sculptor Dana King view a memorial during the dedication of a section of 9th Street as "u201cDr. Huey P. Newton Way"u201d in West Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Fe
OAKLAND, Calif. - A first-floor Bay Area apartment will soon be home to an exhibit of photos, banners and posters that explore the history of the Black Panther Party.
The 1,000-square-foot "mini-museum" will open in West Oakland on June 19.
The exterior of the home at the corner where party co-founder Huey P. Newton was fatally shot was decorated this year with a large mural dedicated to the women of the Black Panther Party. Inside, visitors can walk through a temporary exhibit curated by archivist Lisbet Tellefsen.
Homeowner Jilchristina Vest said she decided to convert the space after tenants moved out. She hopes to have the home designated as a landmark and transform the space into a community center.
"It felt like it needed to be something more than somebody’s apartment," she said.
Visitors will each have 30 minutes to walk through the exhibit. Tickets are available online.