John Wesley Dobbs Building /APEX Museum
141 Auburn Avenue
Built: 1940's(?)
Architectural Style: Renaissance Revival
Original Use: Functioned as a schoolbook depository; first air conditioned building on Auburn Avenue.
Readaptive Use: APEX museum and quarters for the Southern Education Foundation..
Recorded Dates:
1940's - Built. First air-conditioned building on Auburn Avenue to protect the school books. Named after John
Wesley Dobbs because of his strong belief in "bucks, ballots and books" as a means to a way out of the social
conditions of his era.
1970's - Served as a tire warehouse.
1978 - Dan Moore, Sr. was inspired to create an African American museum that would celebrate the achievements
of unsung heroes such as Dr. Benjamin E. Mays and others. The APEX museum was organized, an acronym
for African American Panoramic Experience. This title embodies the mission of the APEX - to interpret and
present history from an African American perspective and to provide its visitors with a complete view in
every direction of African American history
1985 to present- Restoration and re-adaptive use of the building as a neighborhood museum. Serves the APEX and
Southern Education Foundation.