Rochelle was a VIP guest at the grand opening of the International African American Museum (IAAM), on the site where Gadsden’s Wharf, the disembarkation point of up to 40% of all American enslaved persons, once stood. Construction of the IAAM began in January 2020 after 20 years of planning. It is home to 12 permanent exhibitions that include nine galleries, one Special Exhibitions Gallery and an ongoing series of digital exhibitions. It also explores the transformative impact of enslaved people who labored on plantations in South Carolina and helped build the lucrative rice industry.