NATCHEZ — One Natchez writer and a room full of African art made for a packed house at the Natchez Association for the Preservation of African-American Culture Museum Sunday.

Literature fans and history buffs filled the NAPAC Museum for the joint ceremony marking the openings of the Richard N. Wright Exhibit Hall and the Finley Collection.

The Wright exhibit, honoring the Natchez-born author, features collections of the author’s works and other memorabilia.

“It’s great to see this come together like this,” said Charles Wright, Richard Wright’s second cousin and family historian. “For people to have a place to come and see a little bit of who he was and his work is great.”

NAPAC Director Darrell White said both of the museum’s newest features are unique because they’re the first of their kind in the city.

“People think of Natchez and they think of the antebellum homes, but this museum is about the other part of Natchez, for people who were not often celebrated,” White said. “This shows the work of those people, it’s an inspiring addition to this city.”

In the room adjoining the Wright display, floor-to-ceiling African art drew contemplative looks from many of the spectators.

One figure portrayed a man with an enormous protruding stomach, while one piece on the wall featured several animal skulls.

Afua Dave, dressed in a traditional garb from Ghana, said she traveled from Claiborne County to be at the grand opening of the African art section of the museum.

“There aren’t many places around here where you can see this type of a collection,” Dave said. “It’s rare for this area. But people are lucky that it’s here.”

The art collection came to the museum when collectors, John and Pam Finley, approached White about donating art they kept in storage in New Mexico — and the rest is history.

Both exhibits will be on permanent display at the NAPAC Museum.