February is Black Historical past Month within the U.S.—and there’s no higher approach to have fun than with a go to to the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., with its wealth of awesome things to do. This world-famous capital metropolis is residence to plenty of points of interest, heritage websites, and cultural cornerstones honoring and celebrating African American historical past.
Right here, it’s attainable to have the most effective of each worlds by constructing a journey itinerary together with a few of the capital’s most well-known landmarks just like the Lincoln Memorial, and by exploring the D.C. streets and iconic neighborhoods devoted to Black heritage, each previous and current—locations just like the Black Lives Matter Plaza, the town’s colourful murals honoring Black historical figures, and the famed U Avenue Hall. After all, any full travel guide to D.C. recommends visiting these well-known websites, however the next record expands on the extremely vital topic of African American heritage by together with many extra. Under are a few of the finest methods to have fun Black historical past in Washington D.C.—not solely in February however all 12 months spherical.
10 Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
Washington’s National Mall with its free museums is residence to monuments devoted to a few of America’s most outstanding historic figures—a really perfect setting for the impactful Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. Considered one of the many must-visit attractions for any D.C. visitor, the memorial is fittingly impactful and features a statue of Dr. King as a part of a tableau representing his well-known “I Have a Dream” speech.
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The place It’s At:
1850 West Basin Drive SW -
Hours:
Open every day year-round -
Admission:
Free -
Don’t Miss:
The Inscription Wall surrounding the stature options a number of of Dr. King’s most well-known quotes
9 Frederick Douglass Nationwide Historic Website
Positioned atop a tall hill east of the Anacostia River, Cedar Hill is the previous property of Frederick Douglass, one in all African American historical past’s most enigmatic and outstanding figures. Now serving because the Frederick Douglass Nationwide Historic Website, guests can take guided excursions of the sprawling Victorian manor to study concerning the life and affect of the famed orator, writer, and abolitionist.
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The place It’s At:
1411 W Avenue SE -
Hours:
Opening days and hours range seasonally; Customer Heart and Historic House are presently closed and are set to reopen in Spring 2023. Grounds are presently open every day 9AM-4:30PM -
Admission:
Guided excursions solely; reservations strongly inspired
8 U Avenue Neighborhood
As soon as generally known as the guts and soul of Black tradition in America, the U Avenue Hall, aka “Black Broadway,” is named the birthplace of Duke Ellington—and all through the years, remained a bustling hub of music, leisure, and nightlife, counting itself amongst the numerous fun activities in D.C.
At this time, the well-known streets are as vibrant as ever, a spot the place historic websites stand aspect by aspect with modern cultural cornerstones and Black-owned companies making their mark on D.C. tradition.
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The place It’s At:
U Avenue (14th Avenue Hall to Shaw Neighborhood) -
Hours:
N/A -
Admission:
N/A -
Don’t Miss:
Dine on the world-famous
Ben’s Chili Bowl
7 African American Civil Struggle Museum And Memorial
Devoted to honoring over 200,000 African Americans who served in the U.S. Colored Troops (USCT) through the Civil Struggle, the African American Civil Struggle Museum & Memorial is a vital historic web site and a testomony to the troopers, their service, and their sacrifice.
House to a set of vital artifacts, paperwork, and historic sources, the museum is the one nationwide memorial to honor the USCT and their contributions to the Civil Struggle.
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The place It’s At:
1925 Vermont Ave NW -
Hours:
Monday by way of Saturday 11AM-4PM (by appointment solely); Memorial is open year-round -
Admission:
Free -
Don’t Miss:
The
Spirit of Freedom
statue and Wall of Honor etched with the troopers’ names situated open air on Vermont Avenue
6 Howard College
A Traditionally Black School and College (HBCU) famously situated in Washington D.C., Howard College is an iconic studying establishment and an intrinsic a part of Black historical past. At this time, guests can tour the historic campus and stroll within the footsteps of a few of its most well-known graduates—Black cultural, political, and mental icons who as soon as known as the campus residence.
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The place It’s At:
2400 sixth Avenue NW -
Hours:
Open to self-guided excursions; Guided campus excursions accessible Monday by way of Friday at choose instances -
Admission:
N/A -
Don’t Miss:
The campus’s notable historic landmarks, together with the Founders Library and Frederick Douglass Memorial Corridor
5 Mary McLeod Bethune Council Home Nationwide Historic Website
The Mary McLeod Bethune Council Home Nationwide Historic Website was as soon as residence to the famed Civil Rights chief and notably served because the first headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW). At present, the D.C. townhouse serves as a museum devoted to Bethune and the NCNW and homes plenty of reveals.
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The place It’s At:
1318 Vermont Ave NW -
Hours:
Guided excursions accessible at choose instances between 9:30AM-4:30PM Thursday by way of Saturday; Open by appointment solely Sunday by way of Wednesday -
Admission:
Free -
Don’t Miss:
Mary McLeod Bethune Statue in Lincoln Park
4 Lincoln Memorial/I Have A Dream Steps
Whereas many D.C. vacationers visit the Lincoln Memorial solely as a tribute to the well-known president and his accomplishments (together with the Emancipation Proclamation), the favored attraction has an vital place in Black historical past, too. A storied spot and symbolic gathering place all through the years, the numerous memorial is probably most well-known as the location the place Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his well-known “I Have a Dream” speech through the March on Washington.
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The place It’s At:
2 Lincoln Memorial Circle NW -
Hours:
N/A -
Admission:
N/A -
Don’t Miss:
Stroll 18 steps down from the highest to search out an inscription marking the place Dr. King gave his well-known speech — added by the Nationwide Park Service in 2003
3 Smithsonian Nationwide Museum Of African American Historical past And Tradition
Anybody searching for a (literal) stroll by way of time spotlighting Black historical past in Washington D.C. ought to go to the Smithsonian Nationwide Museum Of African American Historical past And Tradition. Opened in 2016, this institution is likely one of the best museums in Washington, D.C. for studying about Black historical past. It comprises over 30,000 artifacts that assist information guests on an in-depth journey exploring notable eras, instances, and occasions that doc the African American expertise.
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The place It’s At:
1400 Structure Ave NW -
Hours:
Monday 12PM-5:30PM; Tuesday by way of Saturday 10AM-5:30PM -
Admission:
Free Timed-Entry Passes are required for entry and can be found to order on-line -
Don’t Miss:
The Nationwide Museum of African Artwork (15-minute stroll)
2 Benjamin Banneker Park
A farmer, astronomer, and visionary, Benjamin Banneker performed an instrumental position in shaping the nation’s capital by way of his surveying work within the 18th century. Now, the long-lasting determine and his legacy might be celebrated with a go to to Benjamin Banneker Park, the place guests can take pleasure in beautiful panorama structure, waterfront views, and a water function devoted to the famed city planner.
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The place It’s At:
South finish of L’Enfant Plaza SW -
Hours:
N/A -
Admission:
N/A
1 The Howard Theatre
Opened in 1910, The Howard Theatre was greater than only a performing house highlighting the expertise of Black artists—it was a cultural cornerstone that aimed to encourage social change. A historic web site the place famed Black artists—Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong, to call a couple of—made their mark, the long-lasting theater, after a decades-long closure, reopened in 2012 and stands to at the present time as a testomony to a few of the twentieth century’s most influential African American entertainers.
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The place It’s At:
620 T Avenue NW -
Hours:
N/A -
Admission:
N/A -
Don’t Miss:
The Howard Theatre Stroll of Fame
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