News
PAAM Hires Executive Director
Museum (PAAM) is proud to announce that it has hired Robert L. Haynes to serve as its Executive Director
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The Museum
The Plano African American Museum (PAAM) is located in the historic Frederick Douglass Community. The PAAM campus expands from 13th street and Ave H to 13th Street and H Place. The Plano African American Museum’s purpose is to educate the citizens of Collin County and surrounding areas on the art, history, and cultural contributions of African Americans and others in the early development of Plano, Collin County and North Texas (particularly around the late 1800s and the early 1900s); to help preserve the heritage and history of the Plano and surrounding community; and, to showcase the early black experience in Collin County. It will guide and facilitate the exploration of the human story of the area’s history, particularly from the African American perspective, through exhibits, educational programs, historic collections, a research library and through collaborations with other community Partners.
Thorton House
Around the early 1900s, John and Charity Thornton purchased the white house on the corner from Ms. Emily Ashton. Mr. Thornton was one of the first African American families to own property in the old Plano community. The Old Thornton House, in which the museum is located, is believed to be one of the longest standing structures in the community. The Thornton house is a prime example of the vernacular farm dwelling construction commonly used in North Texas in the 19th century.
The Old Community Church
On the east end of the PAAM campus stands the Old Community Church. The church is thought to be 130+ years. At one point, it was the church in the community used by most denominations. Historically, Baptist, Methodist, Holiness Church and others all share some history in the Old Community Church in the Douglass community.