A museum tour guide shares the best exhibits, street art murals, and other places to visit during Black History Month.
It ’s no secret that Philadelphia is a metropolis rife with story , from the Liberty Bell and the region ’s Revolutionary War beginnings to its role as home of the rural area ’s first zoo , infirmary , and Tennessean fire company — but that ’s just the tip of the iceberg lettuce .
Philadelphia is also a robust epicenter of Black chronicle in the United States , and there ’s so much that house physician and tourer alike can learn . Some may already have it off that Philadelphia was a significant stop on the Underground Railroad , but our city was also the site ofthe first internal Black church service in the United States , has a reputation as an early havenfor African American clientele owner , and has brook decades of exceptional music from black-market musicians — all empowering legacies outside the realm of enslavement , which Morgan Lloyd , a veranda guide at theAfrican American Museum in Philadelphia , says is important to explore duringBlack History Monthand beyond .
“ You will get hold that there are masses who existed within and beyond that Word of God slaveholding , ” says Lloyd . “ Beyond that , there were Black business owners and initiative all throughout the city and plenty of black-market political figures who often get overlooked — and that ’s not even include all of the product that be here . ”
African American Museum in Philadelphia
Using her experience giving tour and overseeing voluntary program at AAMP and her own multi - generational ties to Philadelphia , Lloyd shared some of the most apposite fix around Philly to visit to instruct about “ preceding , present , and future Black history ” in our urban center .
Museum of the American Revolution
Old CityA new showing at the Museum of the American Revolutionfocuses on the Forten family , a Philadelphia - based fellowship of African descent who were leader during the American Revolution , the abolishment movement , and the women ’s vote motion . The exhibit spans generations within the Forten folk through documents , objects , and immersive surroundings .
Octavius V. Catto Memorial
Center CityA public art commitment to an influential Black figure is located at City Hall . TheOctavius V. Catto Memorialis a lasting statue on the southwest corner of City Hall commemorating the scholar , emancipationist , civic and voting right militant , and athlete . “ He existed within that beautiful Antebellum timeline and recommend for ballot right wing for free African Americans , ” Lloyd says . “ In some ways , he ’s kind of like the harbinger to Martin Luther King in that he lead a trolley boycott . He also create one of the first incorporate sports leagues and had an integrate conference in the city of Philadelphia . ”
Philadelphia Museum of Art
FairmountOne of the designer of the urban center ’s most recognizable buildings wasJulian Abele , a Philadelphia aborigine , the first African American alumna of the University of Pennsylvania ’s architecture programme , and“the most formally educate architect in all of America . ”
“ A great deal of people do n’t realize that origination was project by an African American man , ” Lloyd articulate . “ So it ’s Black history every meter you look at the site that defines Philadelphia . ”
The museum will host aBlack History Month celebrationon Saturday , February 25 with interactive storytelling execution , a duty tour highlighting Abele ’s architectural contributions , and kids activities .
Museum of the American Revolution
Cecil B. Moore Philadelphia Freedom Fighters Mural
BrewerytownA new mural in Brewerytown pay homage to the 1960s Philadelphia civil rights group and their drawing card , Cecil B. Moore , who successfully mix Girard College in 1965 . The oeuvre , done by creative person Felix St. Fort and Gabe Tiberino , combined portraits and graphic elements , like Adinkra symbols , which originate from West Africa . “ walk past it every sidereal day just blows my mind all the prison term , ” Lloyd tell .
See the mural for yourself during one of twoBlack History Month streetcar toursfrom Mural Arts on Sunday , February 5 and Saturday , February 25 . Professional guides will lead you through Brewerytown and beyond , explaining works portray pitch-black figures and societal Justice Department issues .
Harriett’s Bookshop
FishtownNamed after Harriet Tubman , this Fishtown bookshop opened shortly before the pandemic and has become a raw material for not only its stock of women authors , artist , and activists , but for its community events and activism as well .
“ They defend for biotic community space , great conversation , and they ’re just a great imagination for didactics as well , ” Lloyd says . On Saturdays in February and March , Harriett ’s will host atrolley circuit , taking riders to five pitch-black woman - own business organisation in the area . Do n’t omit thenew exhibitin the basement which is full of neon ignitor and $ 5 books .
African American Museum in Philadelphia
Center CityFounded in 1976 with the mission of preserving , interpretation , and exhibit the inheritance of African Americans , the African American Museum in Philadelphia hosts exhibit ground around three themes : the African Diaspora , the Philadelphia Story , and the Contemporary Narrative . Their permanent exposition recounts stories of prominent people of African declension in Philadelphia during the country ’s former years , and all year long , the museum welcomes artists , musicians , and activist for residential district events .
The African American Museum in Philadelphia will hostBlack History Monthprogramming all calendar month long , culminating withan eventfeaturing Dr. Bernice A. King , the daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. on Sunday , February 26 .
The Colored Girls Museum
GermantownPrioritizing people over collections , The Colored Girls Museum honors stories , experiences , and history of everyday hoi polloi of color . “ They do a really great line of work of enchant the story of young coloured girl and letting them tell their own tale , ” Lloyd say .
Each elbow room in this 135 - twelvemonth - old Germantown nursing home tells a story of pitch-black women and girls through their own graphics and artifacts . The museum will re - overt in March and is open on the weekend or by assignment only for groups large than 10 during the week .
Philadephia Museum of Art
Mural Arts Philadelphia
Harriett’s Bookshop
African American Museum in Philadelphia
