Black history is American history, and many of the most famous landmarks in the country were built by people brought to this country by force, who still carved out some kind of life and legacy, against all odds. Driving from coast to coast, there are a number of places to stop and learn more about the people and places that have shaped this country. And when you’re looking for a place to stay between stops, consider checking into Black-owned hotels as you go.
This list is certainly not exhaustive – there are so many historical sites that have simply been left out of history books or remain under-discovered. However, it’s a start on an exploration that moves through the country’s states and highlights the contributions of a people who faced tremendous obstacles and still created a culture that impacts every corner of the globe.
The West
California
Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park
Earlimart, CA
“The town that refused to die.” That’s how Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park, the only town in California founded, financed and governed by African Americans, is described in various accounts. In 1908, Colonel Allen Allensworth and four others established this small town in central California. Here, residents were determined to provide financial and educational opportunities for their families that were stolen from them due to slavery. In 1974, California State Parks purchased land and it became Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park. Today, visitors can view the restored 20th-century buildings, including Allensworth’s house, a library and other buildings that are a testimony to the perseverance of these pioneering people.
Rosie the Riveter National Historical Park
Richmond, CA
This national historic park pays tribute to the millions of women who joined defense and support industries during World War II. One of the park’s most integral members is Betty Reid Soskin. At 99, she is the oldest National Park Ranger in the US, but that’s just one of many incredible facts about her life. At the park, Soskin ensures that Black women’s history is included in the narrative about World War II. She is also a songwriter, activist and author. Her memoir is titled “Sign My Name to Freedom: A Memoir of a Pioneering Life.”
The Midwest
Kansas
Buffalo Soldiers Memorial Park
Fort Leavenworth, KS
This park, on the grounds of historic Fort Leavenworth, is dedicated to the 9th and 10th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers who served on the Western frontier following the American Civil War. These soldiers played an integral role in many military actions, despite receiving little acknowledgment. At this Memorial Park, busts of several renowned African American soldiers were dedicated in 1992 by an initiative from Colin Powell. One of the newest additions to the Park is a monument to the Women of the 6888th Central Postal Battalion – the only all Black female battalion overseas during WWII.
Quindaro Ruins
Kansas City, KS
Located on the Missouri River, this town became an important station on the Underground Railroad, where enslaved people escaped and hid with local farmers before traveling to Nebraska for freedom. Today, there is a stone platform overlooking the remaining ruins of the town and two cemeteries open to visitors.
Missouri
George Washington Carver Garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden
St. Louis, MO
Take a stroll through the George Washington Carver Garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden, which honors the Missouri native scientist who greatly influenced American agriculture and education. Named “the plant doctor” by the age of 12, Washington revolutionized farming in the South by introducing plant diversity, crop rotation, natural fertilizers and conservation methods. At the garden, visitors can walk down a path lined with inspirational inscriptions from Carver’s writings and speeches, with a number of quiet places to relax outdoors.
The South
Tennessee
Beale Street Historic District
Memphis, TN
In the 1860s, Beale Street was a haven for Black musicians. By the early 1900s, the area flourished with a number of Black-owned businesses, as well as the famous “Memphis Free Speech” newspaper, which was co-owned by civil rights advocate and journalist Ida B. Wells. Inside the street’s juke joints and honky-tonks, everyone from Louis Armstrong to Memphis Minne made an appearance, giving birth to “Memphis Blues.” Today, that legacy continues with a vibrant music scene fueled by the legacy of incredible Black musicians.
Florida
Historical Society of Palm Beach County
West Palm Beach, FL
Now through February, this outdoor exhibit honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by examining the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign – the grassroots movement that drew thousands of people around the country to Washington, D.C. for 43 days. Visitors can view protest signs and political buttons, as well as newly discovered photographs.
South Carolina
Philip Simmons Gardens
Charleston, SC
These gardens contain the ironwork gate of renowned blacksmith and artisan Phillip Simmons. In 1982, the National Endowment for the Arts awarded him its National Heritage Fellowship, the highest honor that the United States can bestow on a traditional artist. His works are celebrated throughout Charleston, and can also be found in the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution and the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, NM.
Georgia
The Wanderer Memory Trail
Jekyll Island, GA
Jekyll Island tells the story of America’s last known slave ship brought to shore, the Wanderer. The trail is located along the banks of the Jekyll River and is made up of individual exhibits that introduce walkers to the story of Umwalla, a young African boy brought to America on the ship. The Gullah Geechee people of the Lowcountry regions of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina are the descendants of a once enslaved people brought to these shores. Today, they continue the legacy and pride of their culture through culinary and oral traditions, art and community.
Louisiana
NOPSI Hotel
New Orleans, LA
Located just steps away from the French Quarter, the NOPSI hotel heralds the heyday of 1920’s vintage glam with modern decor. Enjoy a drink on the rooftop and take in the city skyline. The hotel features 217 guest rooms, including 76 different suites. Book your stay.
New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
New Orleans, LA
Tremé is New Orleans’ oldest Black neighborhood and also the birthplace of jazz, a musical expression created by enslaved West Africans that fuses sounds like blues and ragtime. That’s why a stop in the area should include the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, which celebrates the evolution of jazz. Check out the park’s website to get a free downloadable map for a self-led jazz history walking tour of notable sites in the area. You’ll even stroll past locations where Louis Armstrong once played his trumpet.
The Northeast
Massachusetts
Boston’s Black Heritage Trail
Boston, MA
This 1.6-mile walking route explores Boston’s Beacon Hill neighborhood, where a community of free African Americans resided after Massachusetts became the first state to declare slavery illegal in 1783. The route links more than a dozen sites, including the country’s oldest surviving African American church, founded in 1806, where abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass often spoke. Free guided tours of the trail are offered at the Boston African American National Historic Site visitor center.
New York
Weeksville Heritage Center
Brooklyn, NY
In the middle of Brooklyn’s buzzing Crown Heights sits one of America’s most important historical landmarks: Weeksville Heritage Center. In the 19th century, one of the largest free Black communities in pre-Civil War America lived here. Today, Weeksville is a multidisciplinary museum dedicated to preserving the history of that community.
Maryland
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument
Church Creek, MD
This park pays tribute to Harriet Tubman’s legacy as a freedom fighter. The park includes areas where Tubman spent much of her early life, as well as Jacobs Jackson Home Site, one of the first safe houses along the Underground Railroad. President Obama proclaimed this site a national monument in 2013.
The Ivy Hotel
Baltimore, MD
This luxury boutique hotel exudes beauty in every detail, from the airy conservatory dotted with plants to the zebra printed rugs and in-room book collections. The Ivy features eight suites and 10 rooms, each with their own design, as well as an afternoon tea room, a game room parlor and outdoor seating to enjoy dishes like their addictive crab cakes. Book your stay.
Kristin Braswell is a travel journalist and founder of CrushGlobal Travel, a travel company that currently creates road trip guides around the US. She has penned pieces for Vogue, CNN, USA Today, Essence, NPR, Architectural Digest, Ebony and The Los Angeles Times. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
This post was originally published February 16, 2021, updated February 4, 2022. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of KAYAK Software Corporation, its subsidiaries, and their respective parent companies or affiliate companies.
