Part 5: Inspiring Black History Destinations And Landmarks To Tour On Your Next Vacation

Traveling through the United States, there are dozens of historic parks, museums, monuments, and homes that commemorates the lasting cultural legacy and historic achievements of Black men, women, and children. The history and culture of Black Americans is commonly overlooked by many vacationers across the globe. However, there are dozens of ways to infuse bits of cultural, historic African American travel into your upcoming vacation. Many trips are closeby home, allowing them to coincide with your value travel ambitions. Read on to learn about the essential inspiring Black History destinations to visit on your next vacation.

Historic Sites & Museums In Alabama

On the way to Montgomery, stop at the Viola Liuzzo historic mile marker 111, between Lowndesboro and Montgomery. At this marker, four Klansmen killed Mrs. Liuzzo while traveling with black marchers to Selma. This was just after the Selma-to-Montgomery march.

Stop at the Rosa Parks Museum and you can get a real feel for what happened. You’ll get a sense of actually being arrested for not moving to the back of the bus. Plus, you can stand in the same spot where MLK preached. The pulpit is located right on Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church. Don’t miss the Civil Rights Memorial down the street.

While you are in Montgomery find time for the Legacy Museum which opened in 2018. The museum is built on the site of a former warehouse where enslaved black people were imprisoned. By 1860, Montgomery was the capital of the domestic slave trade in Alabama, one of the two largest slave-owning states in America.

The museum teaches about the enslavement of African Americans, the evolution of racial lynchings, legalized segregation and racial hierarchy in America. Relying on first-person accounts of the domestic slave trade, this museum explores the history of racial inequality and its relationship to a range of contemporary issues from mass incarceration to police violence.

On the final day start at the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. Tuskegee Airmen were among the best fighter pilots of World War II. This site includes The Oaks, home of Booker T. Washington; the George Washington Carver Museum; and the historic Tuskegee University campus where you can catch a campus tour. Check the schedule in advance to see if the Golden Voices Concert Choir are performing on campus.

Entertainment History In Detroit, Michigan

There are dozens of iconic attractions in Detroit Michigan. Spend an evening at Bert’s Warehouse Theatre in Detroit and catch some Black entertainment. They even have a lounge area where they had people get up and sing. I would not doubt that some were excellent in their prime.

When we were there we attended a Motown reunion concert with some of the original artists. For many of them it may have been their final performances due to age and poor health. It was spectacular!

The 1964 Hit “Needle In A Haystack” -Velvelettes

-The Elgins

Cultural Stops In Memphis, Tennessee

Head to Beale Street in Memphis where it was once the heart of Blues music in the 1920’s. There are many music clubs to experience and imagine what it was like listening to Louis Armstrong or BB King live on Beale.

African-American History Stops In Kansas City

Kansas and Missouri are often an overlooked destination to visit in the United States. Since these destinations are relatively easy to drive around, navigate, and find parking, they are the perfect stop for your RV travel or road trip adventure. If you are planning this kind of trip, be sure to check out our ultimate RV travel guide as well. However, there are tons of historical and cultural destinations to visit there. Cities like Kansas City, are a hub for dozens of African-American history attractions. Remember that there are two Kansas City’s, one in Kansas, with another in Missouri. Many historic cultural attractions in Kansas City, are located in Missouri, or KCMO. Start your visit at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Additionally, make a stop at the Black Archives of Mid-America. Another major stop is the Kansas City Museum. In Kansas City, Kansas you can still find incredible historic attractions like the Old Quindaro Museum, which holds photos depicting African-American life from 1856 to modern day.

Destinations For Black History Travel In Seattle, Washington

There are dozens of destinations for Black History travel located all throughout Seattle, and much of Washington State. Many sites, memorials, and attractions in Seattle honor the legacy of Jimi Hendrix, who was born in Seattle in 1942. One of the biggest attractions to learn about the world famous musician in his hometown is the Museum of Pop Culture. Home to Hendrix’s passport, journal, and rare interview clips, the museum takes visitors for a walk alongside the famous guitarist’s life. Another major destination is the Northwest African American Museum, which offers incredible exhibits like Algorithm: Archetype and Iconic Black Women. Of course, if you are fan of historical travel, you should additionally take the time to read our perfect Montana history and heritage vacation itinerary.

Houston Texas Black History Destinations

Texas is a major cultural and travel hub for visitors all across the globe. When you plan your visit, there are dozens of destinations for Black History Travel located in the Lone Star State. In Houston, one of the biggest attractions is the Buffalo Soldier National Museum. This historic site honors the service and legacy of African-American soldiers that have fought in every American War. Another major stop is the Houston Museum of African American Culture, which offers dozens of incredible education programs, film screenings, and art exhibits.

Black History Destinations In Wilmington, Delaware

Of course, Delaware’s Capital City of Wilmington is home to several inspiring Black History destinations and landmarks. One of the most important stops on your journey should be at the Howard High School of Technology, located right on East 12th Street. Here, you can learn about the famous Gebhart v. Belton 1953 desegregation case. Being classified as a National Historic Landmark in 2005, the landmark is an incredible destination to learn about African American culture and historical suffering. If you are interested in learning more about history and culture on your next travel journey, be sure to read our ultimate guide to Native American tourism as well.

Historic Stops In Cincinnati, Ohio

There are dozens of historic stops for Black History travel in Cincinnati, Ohio. One of the most prominent destinations in the Buckeye State is the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. This historic center provides interactive exhibits that highlight the slave trade, and the intricate, Underground Railroad network. The museum even includes a Kentucky slave pen that was build in the early 1800s. You can also find the Harriet Beecher Stowe house in Cincinnati. The home commerates the life and legacy of world famous author of the revolutionary novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

When you are traveling around the world you know that some level of racism exists. Even people who think they are not racist may not realize that they are at some level. Speak up if you see something racist happening whether a black individual is specifically impacted or not. It may be a great learning opportunity for that person.

This last one may be the most important. Always try to do the right thing in protecting the BLM movement and Black people in general. Just because you are doing that , don’t look to be thanked for it or whether it is appreciated or not. Black people do not need to thank us for doing that. Without a doubt they will surely appreciate it and show a higher level of respect to you.

I have just scratched the surface on experiencing Black History, Black Culture and the overall Black experience in America. Some of it real ugly, some inspiring, and all of it educational.

Either way, the goal here is to get to you to feel all of it in your core, white, black and everything in between. It will change your life and, more important, may change your way of thinking a little bit.

I covered places to go that are very serious, to very sad, to inspiring, to fun, to entertaining but most of all, very important to the fabric of Black History and everyone needs to know about it and understand the very tough, long road to the present day and George Floyd.

Keep in mind that all points of interest and attractions covered above most likely offer guided tours, audio tours or, at the least, self-guided tours. Please call ahead for tour dates and times or check the websites. Nothing beats a guided tour so you hear the stories behind what you are looking at.

Be sensitive to all those tour guides out there. There is a chance that they are a descendant of a slave family or have some sort of history that can be painful.

Finally, if you cannot get away and travel to any of these great choices you can always look forward to events on MLK Day in your city! I was able to enjoy this in Chicago 2020. Here, you can find dozens of additional options like the free Chicago Greeter Program Tour. Consider the spots mentioned above if you are interested in the essential inspiring Black History destinations to visit on your next vacation.