In the shadow of global terrorist attacks, new museum celebratess the lives of Arab Americans

DEARBORN, Mich. -- In the shadow of global terrorist attacks, a new museum serves to celebrate the lives of Arab Americans -- a group as varied as any other.

"We think there is a story here. It's the American story," said Ismael Ahmed, who helped get the museum off the ground after more than a decade of planning and fund raising.

Among the brightly colored mosaics and interactive exhibits are the likenesses of entertainer Danny Thomas, race car driver Bobby Rahal and longtime White House correspondent Helen Thomas. But the Arab American National Museum is more than a few famous faces.

"We think that everyone will look at it and see their story, whether they be Italian or Irish. It's the immigrant's story, not that of the rich and famous," Ahmed said.

The 38,500-square-foot museum opened in May and is believed to be the first Arab American museum in the United States. Although plans were in the works well before Sept. 11, 2001, Ahmed said that fear and misconceptions caused by the attacks gave new meaning to the project and pushed it forward.

Located across from Dearborn City Hall downtown, the museum's welcoming area features arches, columns and mosaics reminiscent of the architecture found in Arab countries.

"We hope that as guests walk in, they will feel the hospitality of the Arab world," said Anan Ameri, the museum's director.

From the welcoming area, visitors are able to look up through the open second and third stories -- decorated with Moroccan-style tile -- to the highlight of the building's design: a large Islamic-style dome that forms part of the museum's roof.

The inside of the dome is decorated with calligraphy that repeats the museum's name in Arabic.

The museum's first floor focuses on the contributions of Arabs through time in religion, medicine, science and art, among other areas. A large interactive map hanging over the main stairway allows visitors to light up the different countries of the Arab world by pressing different pads. And by touching the screen of a computer, visitors can bring up pictures and information about the different countries.

On the second floor, the focus changes to the waves of immigration of Arabs, starting with the first known Arab immigrant, an escaped slave who was brought to North America from what is now Morocco in 1528 and ending with those who emigrate after the first Gulf War.

It also touches on a variety of common themes, including daily life in America, military service and political activism, while highlighting individuals and organizations that have made an impact in America.

The area features donations from many high-profile Arab Americans, including a signed copy of the song "My Way," by Paul Anka, one of Helen Thomas' old typewriters, and items from actor Jamie Farr, radio announcer Casey Kasem and Rahal.

The museum has drawn interest from overseas as well. Qatar has donated $1 million to the museum, while Saudi Arabia and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates each have given $500,000, said Ahmed, executive director of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services.

The museum has drawn interest from other national cultural groups, especially the Japanese American Museum in Los Angeles, which has consulted on the project since shortly after plans for it were announced.

Irene Y. Hirano, the Japanese American museum's president and CEO, said there has been a national push in the last 20 years to open culturally specific museums, partially because the groups in question felt like they weren't adequately represented in mainstream museums and schools.

"I think that unfortunately that history and information in schools and other institutions isn't always inclusive of the diversity of experiences," she said. "We know very little of the Arab American experience in the United States, and I think this provides important resources as to what that experience has been and allows that to be shared with teachers."

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On the Net:

Arab American National Museum: http://www.theaanm.org

Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services: http://www.accesscommunity.org

Japanese American National Museum: http://www.janm.org