Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Sonder Quest on Unsplash)
Traveling can be an inspiring experience, and as we move through the month of February—Black History Month—it’s important to take the time to recognize the significant contributions of African Americans to our nation’s history.
There are many places in the U.S. that offer an opportunity to learn more about the history of African Americans. Sites like the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C., the African American Civil War Memorial in D.C., or the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail in Alabama all give visitors a greater understanding of the African American experience. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Black social commentators at have compiled a list of U.S where people can learn about both Black culture and history.
Visitors to New York City, for example, can learn about this crucial stop on the Underground Railroad—a route for slaves to escape to free states—with the NYC Slavery and Underground Railway Walking Tour, available year-round.
For those interested in Black culture, there are areas such as Archie Spigner Park and the Sandy Ground Community and Historical Society. While those wishing to learn more about the experiences of Black Americans can visit places like the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, located in Harlem, and Louis Armstrong’s house, in Queens.
While in D.C., a must is the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, but for those visitors who want to learn about the history of the abolition of slavery, there’s the Anacostia Community Museum and the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site. For a more cultural , the African American Heritage Trail includes more than 200 significant local sites relating to Black history.
New Orleans, of course, can’t be ignored. Not only is it the birthplace of jazz, it’s also home to museums like the African American Museum, Le Musee de f.p.c. and the Backstreet Cultural Museum. There is also the Whitney Plantation, a historic house museum dedicated to the experiences of enslaved Africans.
While Exploring Black History, Boston is a Must-Visit
In the northeast U.S., Boston is another stop along the Underground Railroad. The city had a thriving community of abolitionists in the Beacon Hill neighborhood. Visitors can learn about the significance of this neighborhood while on the 1.6–mile Black Heritage Trail that passes by the Robert Gould Shaw and Massachusetts 54th Regiment Memorial and ends at the Museum of African American History. There are more than 15 pre-Civil War structures and historical sites along the trail, including schools and churches from Boston’s Black history.
Head west and you’ll find the California African American Museum in LA—the first of its type to be supported by a state instead of private ownership. Visitors can also explore the Museum of African American Art, The Underground Museum and the African American Firefighter Museum. For those wanting to learn about famous Black Americans, visitors can walk through Biddy Mason Park, Leimert Park or down Obama Boulevard before visiting the residence of Hattie McDaniel.
