Located in Atlanta, the Madame CJ Walker Boutique Museum preserves and presents the history of Madam C.J. Walker, whom the museum identifies as America’s first female self-made millionaire and a prominent African-American philanthropist. The institution houses a curated collection of memorabilia and biographical materials tracing Walker’s life and business accomplishments, and honors Black business leaders more broadly.
The museum contains two primary exhibition areas. The main Madame C.J. Walker exhibit presents historical artifacts and a narrative account of Walker’s rise from humble origins to national prominence in the beauty industry. The second space, WERDStudio, honors WERD-AM, described by the museum as the first Black-owned radio station in America. The WERDStudio features stories about the station’s history, a Great Wall of Vinyl display, and content celebrating classic R&B radio. The studio spotlights figures including James “Alley Pat” Patrick, identified as the last surviving DJ from WERD-AM.
Among the museum’s recognized media connections is the Netflix series “Self Made,” starring Octavia Spencer, which was inspired by Walker’s life. The institution also highlights a documentary, “Alley Pat: The Music is Recorded,” which won First Place at the Atlanta Film Fest 2010 and was described as “Hysterical and Priceless” by Peter Miller, co-producer of Ken Burns’ Jazz.
The museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 12pm to 4pm and Saturday from 12pm to 3pm. The facility accommodates tours and can be reserved for special events. Donations are accepted through PayPal to support the museum’s mission.
To book a tour or event, visitors can call 404-518-2887.