The African American Museum of Southern Illinois has gone from a box underneath Corene McDaniel's bed to having a permanent home on the northeast side of the city.

The Carbondale City Council approved the purchase of the former Attucks school building, which will become the permanent home of the Museum, for $151,000. The city will lease the building to the museum for $1 per year.

The museum, which has been located in the University Mall, started out by traveling to different venues.

"We would go where we were asked to come to," Milton McDaniel, co-founder and museum volunteer, said.

The resolution was passed 6-1 with Councilman Joel Fritzler voting against the measure. He said he was not against finding a permanent home for the museum but was worried whether the museum could afford to fix the building.

"I've heard a lot of talk but I don't see any numbers," Fritzler said.

Volunteers and museum directors are confidant that the community will be able to pull together to get the building renovated.

"I can tell you that when this was brought to us we were elated," Donna Haynes, president of the Southern Illinois Achievers, which operates the museum, said.

"Perhaps we're dreaming too high. There is money out there, we just have to tap into it."

Michael Brazley, assistant professor of architecture, has seen the inside of the building and agreed it would need a lot of work but said he would donate his services to the museum.

"The building is in bad shape," Brazley said. "I've seen it. It will take a lot of effort to get the building up and running."

However, he said the structure of the building seems sound enough for renovations.

"You have to be given an opportunity to show what you can do," Councilwoman Corene McDaniel, who co-founded and volunteers at the museum, said.

The transition into the building will take a few years because it needs to be renovated, Milton McDaniel said.

"All we have is two fundraisers a year, otherwise we look to the community," he said.

The building, located at 410 E. Main St., has been empty since the 1980s. Milton McDaniel said the location will be a great spot for the museum because it is located in town on Main Street.

Reporter Destiny Remezas can be reached at destiny_remezas@dailyegyptian.com