Armenian American Museum

The Armenian American Museum and Cultural Center of California is an upcoming museum in Glendale, California, United States, and dedicated to preserving the history and culture of Armenian Americans. The museum, which is expected to open in the summer of 2024, intends to explore Armenian history along with Armenian American contemporary culture.

Early years
In 2014, during planning of commemorations for the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee – Western USA (AGCC – WUSA) met with officials from the city of Glendale, California to discuss the establishment of a museum.

In 2015, the museum's board of trustees was established, entrusting the governance of the project to ten Armenian American cultural, philanthropic, and religious non-profit organizations. The Board of Trustees includes the Armenian Catholic Eparchy, Armenian Cultural Foundation, Armenian Evangelical Union of North America, Armenian General Benevolent Union Western District, Armenian Missionary Association of America, Armenian Relief Society Western USA, Nor Or Charitable Foundation, Nor Serount Cultural Association, Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America and Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Site selection and museum design
In 2015, four museum designs, by Yazdani Studio of Cannon Design, Belzberg Architects, Frederick Fisher and Partners, and Alajajian-Marcoosi Architects, were shortlisted.

California Assemblymember Laura Friedman secured $3 million in the 2017-2018 State Budget signed by Governor Jerry Brown.

In 2018, the Glendale City Council approved the design of the museum and directed City Staff to negotiate the final Ground Lease Agreement for museum's site at Central Park.

In 2019, the Glendale City Council approved schematic designs for an $18.5-million makeover of the city's Central Park. The park is being reconfigured by the city to accommodate the museum.

California Senator Anthony Portantino, who has been collaborating with the Governor Gavin Newsom’s office to educate state officials and colleagues on the historic significance of the project, thanked the Governor for signing California's 2022-2023 State Budget, which allocates $10 million in new funding for the museum.

Construction
A ceremonial groundbreaking was held in July 2021. In November 2022, the museum celebrated the completion of the first phase of construction, featuring the parking garage and building foundation. Structural steel fabrication commenced in December 2023, and the first structural steel beams were erected in January 2024.

Architecture
The nearly 60,000-square-foot museum was designed by Glendale’s Alajajian-Marcoosi Architects. The heavily engraved facade simultaneously references both Mount Ararat, as well as the Verdugo Mountains surrounding the city of Glendale. The two-story museum will include an indoor auditorium and a demonstration kitchen.

Plaza
The backside of the museum is designed to open onto a new central plaza designed by SWA Group. The plaza will connect the museum with the Downtown Central Library, the City's adult recreation center, and a series of parks, play areas, and pedestrianized streets.

Exhibits
During the museum's acquisition of exhibits, Executive Chairman Berdj Karapetian stated that “The Armenian culture and history will be the main focus, but we are also planning to present other nations living in California. The Armenian American Museum is going to be a center presenting the Armenian identity and an important circle of cultural cooperation.”

The museum's Permanent Exhibition Committee includes scholars from UCLA Armenian Studies, the USC Institute of Armenian Studies, CSUN Armenian Studies, and the USC Shoah Foundation. The Schematic Design phase of the Permanent Exhibition is led by exhibition design firm Gallagher & Associates.

Armenian Genocide
Oral histories, including those of genocide survivors, will be critical to telling the story of Armenians, per Shushan Karapetian, deputy director of the USC Institute of Armenian Studies, and a member of the museum's permanent exhibition committee. These accounts will likely include survivor interviews preserved by the USC Shoah Foundation. Sedda Antekelian, an education and outreach specialist with the Shoah Foundation, and another member of the museum's permanent exhibition committee, has stated that oral histories that may be included can give voice to more contemporary issues, like the dual identity of Armenian Americans.

Temporary exhibitions
The temporary exhibition galleries will host exhibitions on diverse cultures, subject matters, and experiences to serve as a multicultural bridge.

Auditorium
The Auditorium will present public programming including performances, lectures, film screenings, and special events.

Learning center
The Learning Center will feature state-of-the-art classrooms and offer educational programs for visitors.

Demonstration kitchen
The Demonstration Kitchen will provide interactive cooking experiences.

Executive Team
The Executive Team provides leadership, strategic planning, and operational support to advance the mission and vision of the Armenian American Museum.
 * Berdj Karapetian (executive chairman)
 * Zaven Kazazian (executive vice chairman)
 * Shant Sahakian (executive director)

Board of trustees
The Armenian American Museum's board of trustees is composed of ten Armenian American cultural, philanthropic, and religious non-profit organizations who have united in common cause for a landmark center that will serve the entire community.
 * Armenian Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Nareg
 * Armenian Cultural Foundation
 * Armenian Evangelical Union of North America
 * Armenian General Benevolent Union, Western District
 * Armenian Missionary Association of America
 * Armenian Relief Society Western USA
 * Nor Or Charitable Foundation
 * Nor Serount Cultural Association
 * Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America
 * Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church

Young Leaders Council
In 2022, the museum launched its Young Professionals Committee to promote the mission of the museum and to connect young professionals. The committee was later renamed the Young Leaders Council. In 2024, the group started a speaker series which features prominent members of the Armenian American community.