About BCEC

A major tourist attraction in the greater Knoxville area. A place that researches, collects, preserves. and exhibits African American achievements and culture. The largest African American membership organization in East Tennessee. A must see educational experience. A place where history comes to life and links with the future. A 501 (c ) (3) tax exempt organization. The Beck Cultural Exchange Center. Inc. was founded in 1975. Since its inception, the Center has reached more than a half million people. from local residents to individuals from all over the world. This has been achieved through cultural exhibits and resource materials including: books, journals. newspapers, scrapbooks, audio recording and other memorabilia. The Center is located within walking distance of the famed Alex Haley statue. Visitors are greeted by the Beck Center staff, who invites them to complete a Treasure Hunt. They are then treated to an oral account of the middle passage and personal accounts of the modern day civil rights heroes and events. The final phase is a vision of fifteen years into the future and the potential contributions of those touring which may be commemorated in the Center’s future collections. The staff invites them to visit themselves in the future and assist them in preparing a mental map of their journey to the future. The Center is also used as a meeting place for several high school classes and organizations and is available for rental after hours at very affordable rates.

Beck Purpose: To promote, preserve, exhibit, and acquisition artifacts and other evidence of contributions relating to the history and culture of Americans of African descent in Eastern Tennessee and throughout the United States.