Credit: Malcolm X Memorial Foundation Facebook page.*
By Hola Nebraska
The Malcolm X Memorial Foundation is working on a new phase of its historic campus in North Omaha. The project includes a cultural center, museum, public spaces and infrastructure tied to Malcolm X’s legacy and the community work begun by Rowena Moore.
North Omaha is moving into a new stage of the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation campus, a cultural and educational project centered on Malcolm X’s legacy. The current phase would advance the design of the Malcolm X Cultural Center and Museum, a facility planned as a central piece of the future campus.
The project is being developed in the historic area connected to Malcolm X’s birth in Omaha. The foundation maintains the campus as a space for memory, education, community programming and historic preservation.
The cultural center and museum enter the design phase
The Malcolm X Memorial Foundation has opened a request for proposals for architectural and engineering services for Phase II of the Malcolm X Cultural Center and Museum.
The process is intended to select qualified firms to move the project through schematic design, design development and construction documents. The foundation envisions the building as a structure prepared to incorporate future museum and exhibition components.
MX Development Group remains the project’s designated builder. The current phase includes public investment and a fundraising strategy supported by multiple sources.
The cultural center and museum will be one of the campus’s main components. The space is designed to welcome visitors, researchers, artists, activists and families interested in Malcolm X’s life, his connection to Omaha and his influence on the history of human rights.
The campus will add public spaces and infrastructure
The full campus development includes a mixed-use cultural center, improved public spaces and infrastructure to support the site’s long-term growth.
Early preparation work has already started with land studies and tree clearing. That stage prepares the site before new facilities are built.
The broader vision for the project connects historic preservation, education, culture and community development in North Omaha. The campus has also been presented as a future cultural destination with local, statewide and international reach.
Local reports have described the full plan as a mixed-use development that could include affordable housing, a financial incubator, public green spaces and a hotel. The cultural center and museum phase has been estimated at $40 million, with $20 million in state investment tied to the project.
Gensler leads the site master plan
The Malcolm X Memorial Foundation selected Gensler, a global architecture, design and planning firm, to lead the master plan for the future campus.
The planning work integrates new facilities, public spaces and a site strategy focused on preserving stories that have been underrepresented. The foundation has presented that stage as part of a broader transformation of the historic campus in North Omaha.
The master plan helps organize the site’s growth before moving into specific construction phases. It also defines how buildings, green spaces, gathering areas and educational components could be integrated throughout the campus.
Nebraska Public Media reported that the community center and museum would have about 30,000 square feet and that construction could begin in mid-2027.
Rowena Moore’s vision remains at the center of the project
The history of the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation is tied to the work of Rowena Moore, who pushed for the preservation of the site associated with Malcolm X’s birth and the creation of a space dedicated to his legacy.
Moore founded the organization in 1971, six years after Malcolm X was assassinated. Her work helped establish a community foundation to protect the site and keep alive the memory of the Omaha-born leader.
The current project continues that work from North Omaha. The foundation maintains educational programs, community activities and spaces for participation centered on the history of Malcolm X, human rights and cultural preservation.
The organization also keeps open the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation Community Ambassador Program 2026, aimed at people interested in leadership, community service and the preservation of Malcolm X’s legacy.
Key project details
- Project: Malcolm X Memorial Foundation campus project
- Location: North Omaha
- Foundation headquarters: 3448 Evans St., Omaha, Nebraska 68111
- Current phase: Phase II of the Malcolm X Cultural Center and Museum
- Estimated cost of the museum and cultural center: $40 million
- Reported state investment: $20 million from the Nebraska State Department of Economic Development
- Projected full campus: between $100 million and $120 million
- Planned components: museum, cultural center, affordable housing, financial incubator, public spaces and hotel
- Expected start of construction: 2027
- Reported projected opening: 2030
- Contact: 800-645-9287, [email protected]
Photo gallery:
Credit: Malcolm X Memorial Foundation Facebook page.
Credit: Malcolm X Memorial Foundation Facebook page.
Credit: Malcolm X Memorial Foundation Facebook page.
The Malcolm X Memorial Foundation maintains information about the site development, the request for proposals and participation opportunities on its official website.
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