A museum historian’s guide to the best museums, neighborhoods, and other sites to visit during Black History Month.
It ’s virtually out of the question to discuss any time period in the history of Washington , DC without reference the contributions of Black Americans . Since the inception of the city , the culture of Black Americans has been totally intertwined with our nation ’s Das Kapital , making it the idealistic place to memorise about Black story — whether you ’re a longtime local or just in town for a weekend .
“ You ca n’t really separate DC history from Black story , ” says Kelly Navies , a museum medical specialist in oral history at the Smithsonian’sNational Museum of African American History and Culture . “ Starting with the history of the enslaved people who help to build thing such as the National Mall with Benjamin Banneker . From the very beginning , the city was infused with Black chronicle . ”
Today , DC remains a cornerstone of Black history across the country as the site of Howard University , one of the most well - known Historically Black Colleges and Universities ; historicBlack - owned restaurantsthat onceserved as meet sitesfor leaders of the Civil Rights Movement ; and so much more .
National Museum of African American History and Culture|Photo by Alan Karchmer
Navy , who go to the city 20 years ago , says you need n’t even pace foot into a museum or gallery to determine about Black history in DC — you just have to look around you . So here ’s a roundup of her picks for the best neighborhoods , monuments , and other locations around DC that you should visit to learn about the city ’s contraband history duringBlack History Monthand beyond .
Visit a historic neighborhood
“ When you suppose about place to instruct in Washington , DC , it ’s almost like , ‘ well , where can you not go ? ’ because there ’s Black history all over this metropolis , ” Navies says . “ There are obvious distance , like all up and down U Street , for exercise , and I ’m not sure if so many people even know about that anymore . ”
Though U Street is now a prime example of DC ’s on-going gentrification , it was once bed widely as Black Broadway . Navies excuse that there are still plenty of diachronic nugget in the neighborhood today that remind Washingtonians of its ample history .
“ U Street was the heart of the Black community during separatism , ” she allege . “ There were all types of Black - owned businesses , and today you still have theHoward Theatrethat ’s been there since 1910 , theLincoln Theatrewhich has been there since 1922 . ”
The Howard Theatre
Duke Ellington , an internationally acclaim composer and musician , was a DC native and played a grownup character in Washington ’s inglorious community in the 20th century . The city pay tribute to the creative person in many ways — one of them being a mural that was first instal on the side of a vintage storage in 1997 and was subsequently taken down , only to be reinstalled on the side of True Reformer Hall on U Street in 2019 .
Some long - remain firm Black - possess businesses continue to boom on U Street as well , like the belovedBen ’s Chili Bowl , a historic spot that first opened in 1958 and is still operated by Ben ’s wife , Virginia Ali . Lee ’s Flower and Card Shopopened back in 1945 and remains a premiere local destination for purchasing bouquets and more .
Another perhaps unexpected neighborhood that Navies recommends visiting to learn about Black history is Georgetown , which she says was once a predominantly Black community up until around the sixties . In the former 1900s , Black Georgetowners trifle an active function in form the culture of the neighborhood , creating the Rock Creek Citizens Association in 1916 to talk on crucial issues like local condom , cleanliness , playgrounds and to cope with issues of police behaviour . societal radical such as sinister brotherly clubs and Christian church grouping also play a polar function in local service project .
U Street in Washington, D.C.|Ted Eytan/Flickr
“ you may learn about a mickle of Georgetown ’s Black story at the DC Public Library — in thePeabody Roomof the Georgetown Library . There you could get a story of almost every exclusive address in Georgetown , and you could find out about a lot of the account of the multitude who originally own those house , ” says Navies .
The historiographer also wants to let you in on a little - bonk fact : In thePeople ’s Archiveyou can regain not only a great Black Studies book collection , but historical records of the urban center that includes ardour mapping , nose count records , stacks of regional newspaper , as well as some of her own oral histories which are alsoaccessible online .
Since each neighborhood in the city has its own Black history , you’re able to follow any part of Cultural Tourism DC’sAfrican American Heritage Trail . It winds through the metropolis with more than 200 significant situation to find and learn from along the direction .
Freedman’s Memorial in Lincoln Park|STUDIO MELANGE/Shutterstock
Attend an educational event
With DC ’s riches of museums , monuments , and other educational destinations amount plenty of extra events for Black History Month , making this an ideal metre to pay them a visit . asylum like theSmithsonian National Museum of African American History and CultureandDC ’s public library systemare hosting Bible talks , panel discussions , and other events all calendar month long , so keep an eye on the calendar . On February 11 , pass the day at the theatre for theDC Black History Film Festival , featuring short films and feature film - length productions likewise . Or show off your cognition at East City Bookshop during aseries of trivia eventsall calendar month long highlighting Black authors in cosmopolitan fiction , sci - fi and fantasy , and more .
Learn about history while strolling the park
Even taking a walk through the city ’s car park will break important nuggets of DC ’s Black history . Lincoln Park on Capitol Hill is a quality instance , where you ’ll chance the now - controversial Freedmen ’s Memorial , or Emancipation Memorial — first unveiled back in 1867 . The statue depicts President Lincoln symbolically disengage a Black man who kneels before him .
“ Even though citizenry have mixed feeling about the statue itself because of the kneeling enslave person , the newly freed Black community of interests was very implemental in levy money for it , and Frederick Douglass even spoke at the typewriter ribbon - cut ceremony , ” say Navies .
Another statue dedicate to civil right wing activist Mary McLeod Bethune is also located in the ballpark , so “ there ’s a lot of story in good order there , ” Navies say .
Malcolm X Park|Christopher Lin/Shutterstock
Most Washingtonians have spent an good afternoon picnicking or walking their pawl around what is known as Meridian Hill Park , but some may be incognizant that the democratic ballpark is also do it as Malcolm X Park — bring up by the residential district after the militant was assassinated . Navies advocate shoot the breeze the park during warm month , when African drummers on a regular basis assemble a circuit in the good afternoon to flirt joyous music .
For those looking to get dynamic , seek following the bicycle track through Marvin Gaye Park , which was named after the euphony caption . On the side of the Mungo Park , you ’ll find oneself the Riverside Healthy Living Center — DC ’s first comprehensive residential area food hub aimed at supporting the local community . The space was once home to the Crystal Room nightclub , where Gaye made his musical debut .
Explore galleries, museums, and monuments
If there was n’t already enough to see and do on U Street , there ’s also theAfrican American Civil War Museum , which Navies suggest visiting in addition to the nearby African American Civil War Memorial . The memorial include a bronze statue and half circle wall that list the names of 209,145 United States Colored Troops who fight for freedom during the American Civil War .
Navies said that when she visit herself , she was able to locate several name of her own ancestors on that bulwark . For those concerned in digging more into the ancestry , the historian recommends a trip to theNational Archivesonce it reopens to the public .
“ What ’s great about being in DC is having access code to the National Archives , which house all of this informant textile — all these imagination where mass can find out about their ancestors who , for example , may have fought in the Civil War , ” she allege . “ They have pension records sitting properly there that , in my character , happened to have the actual handwriting of my nifty , great grandmother . So that kind of thing is here in Washington , DC . ”
National Archives|Orhan Cam/Shutterstock
Another perk of live in ( or visiting ) DC is thewealth of museums to search , such as the Smithsonian Institution’sAnacostia Community Museum . There , a aggregation of more 6,000 objects dating back to the early solar day of the metropolis is domiciliate . The neighborhood of Anacostia is also the former home of Frederick Douglass , and today you ’re able to see his hall , Cedar Hill , and tour the 21 - room Victorian mansion while learn about his lifetime of activism .
Another iconic militant , Martin Luther King , Jr. , has a dedicated commemoration sitting on four acres by the National Mall that is a must - see . The first memorial in the metropolis to honor a man of color — it includes a 30 - foot statue of the illusionist as well as an inscription rampart with some of Dr. King ’s most iconic quotation .
Navies also , of course , commend a slip to theNational Museum of African American story and Culture . A part of the Smithsonian Institution , the museum was actually established by an Act of Congress in 2003 , and is the only interior museum exclusively dedicated to understanding and reward the ignominious American experience .
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial|ItzaVU/Shutterstock
“ The museum ’s comportment is historic because it ’s a place where the great unwashed throughout the nation , and the populace really , can come and get at all of this important information in one place , ” Navies say . “ Wherever you face , at the museum or otherwise , there ’s going to be a account related to African American story and culture . ”
National Museum of African American History and Culture|Photo by Alan Karchmer
