There are families who lived in history… and then there are families who shaped it.
The McKissack family didn’t just build buildings — they built cities, communities, legacies, and opportunities that stretched far beyond blueprints and concrete. Their story is one of generational excellence, survival, brilliance, and skill passed down in a nation that refused to fully acknowledge them.
Their legacy began with one man: Moses McKissack, born in 1790 to a skilled African builder enslaved for his craftsmanship. His father possessed architectural knowledge deeply rooted in West African building traditions. That knowledge became both a burden and a seed — forced labor, but also the foundation of a family legacy.
Moses learned the craft under bondage, but he carried something more powerful than his enslavers ever realized:
a calling to build.
He passed his skill and pride in craftsmanship to his sons and grandsons, who became respected builders throughout the region. By the late 1800s, the McKissack name was whispered with respect — accuracy, durability, and artistry were their signature, even when society refused to give them full honors.
Then came Calvin and Moses McKissack III, the brothers who changed everything.
In 1905, during the height of segregation, they founded:
McKissack & McKissack — the first licensed Black-owned architecture firm in America.
Picture the courage that required.
Picture the genius behind it.
Picture opening a business in an industry where Black architects were not just rare — they were intentionally shut out.
And yet… the McKissack brothers didn’t just enter the field —
they elevated it.
Throughout the 20th century, their firm designed and constructed:
- Schools
- Hospitals
- HBCU buildings
- Churches
- Government structures
- Military facilities
- Iconic Black community landmarks
When Black America needed buildings that reflected dignity, pride, and permanence, the McKissacks answered. Their buildings weren’t just structures — they were declarations of Black excellence in physical form.
The legacy didn’t stop with them.
It continued.
Through generations of discrimination, political shifts, and economic storms, McKissack & McKissack survived, evolved, and rose.
Today, McKissack & McKissack stands as one of the oldest and most respected Black-owned architecture and engineering firms in the United States, trusted with major, high-profile projects across the nation.
They have been involved in:
- The National Museum of African American History and Culture (project management)
- Dulles International Airport
- Schools across the country
- Transit systems
- Government infrastructure
- And countless community-serving buildings
And the best part?
Their business is still family-led.
A proud reminder that generational wealth isn’t just money —
it’s skill, tradition, honor, and vision passed forward with intention.
The McKissack family didn’t just build America’s structures;
they built a blueprint for Black generational success.
They are a living legacy of what happens when Black craftsmanship survives the harshest conditions, adapts, grows, and becomes unstoppable.
Black history is American history — and the McKissacks are one of its strongest architectural pillars.
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Explore the remarkable story of the McKissack family — America’s first licensed Black-owned architecture firm and a generational legacy that helped build the nation.
