Museum of the African Diaspora

The Museum of the African Diaspora or MoAD is a nonprofit organization in San Francisco, California offering a cultural center for residents and visitors. It was opened in 2005, and has since seen more than a million visitors. Its location near the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Zeum, and Contemporary Jewish Museum make it possible to visit all these cultural places in one day with ease.

People of all ethnicities, ages, and backgrounds tend to visit in order to study, appreciate, and learn about cultures, history, and art of the African people. There are exhibitions, public and educational programs offered each year. The museum is open Sunday, Wednesday through Saturday. Hours are 11pm to 6pm, except Sunday which is 12pm to 5pm. The heritage center is a part of the museum, but it is only open 12 to 4pm Wednesday through Sunday.

Permanent exhibits include the Origins of the African Diaspora. This exhibit shows, visually, how human origins have evolved in Africa and to the rest of the world by chronological and geographical depictions. There are also four monitors with maps and information on when certain tools were invented and first used, like bead ornamentation.