TAMPA, Fla. — In an announcement Monday, we learned the deal between the Tampa Bay History Center and the Tampa Housing Authority is now official, with a new museum being the result.

Fred Hearns is the Curator of Black History at the Tampa Bay History Center and is working on creating this new museum.

“This facility very soon is gonna be a Black History Museum. Right now, its an area where we have been doing programming in preparation for the Black history museum that’s coming. This space is very historic because it’s in the center of what used to be called the scrub, where the formerly enslaved people in Tampa settled,” Hearns said.

The historic church that's more than a century old will now serve as a place to learn about that history and so much more.

“They’re gonna see some amazing things when this facility is completed with the artifacts that are going to be on display, as well as we’re gonna use technology, virtual reality. You’re gonna be able to see some things that physically you may not be able to reach out and touch,” he said.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said this new Black History Museum is important for Tampa.

“We want not only the city of Tampa but the whole Tampa Bay region to be seen as a very welcoming and inclusive area where you can move a business, raise a family, come visit, and we’re a very diverse community and we celebrate that diversity,” she said.

Diversity, equity and contributions that will all be on display once the museum officially opens its doors.

As of now, there’s no official opening date yet for the new Black history museum. Museum officials say in the meantime they will use the space to host events honoring the Black community and their contributions.