Black history tours are a way to remember our heritage as a nation that has struggled with equal rights for all. They are a way to honor those who saw clearly and fought for that equality. They help us consider the legacy of those who went before and the courage to continue to pursue equality in the future.
Washington DC
An inscription, “I HAVE A DREAM,” faded but still visible at the top of the steps on the Lincoln Memorial, exemplifies the people and events memorialized by a black history tour. Washington DC tours lend themselves easily to the theme thanks to attractions like the Lincoln Memorial. The memorial honors President Abraham Lincoln, the most pivotal leader during and following the Civil War. Under his leadership the Emancipation Proclamation set things in order that eventually led to the end of slavery and the long road to civil equality. Martin Luther King, Jr., stood on the Memorial to deliver his famous speech. The inscription remembers that moment now, though a larger memorial to the beloved civil rights leader will soon follow.
Other DC attractions fit in the black history theme as well. Students will enjoy the African-American Civil War Museum and the Frederick Douglas National Historic Site. They’ll want to remember a beloved President and a terrible national tragedy at Ford’s Theater where President Lincoln was assassinated and Peterson House where he died. Many other sites are included in a black history tour to this destination, including the Smithsonian Museum of African Art.
Boston
Did you know that although its first blacks were slaves, by 1790 the entire black population in Boston was free? This fact alone is a reason to celebrate black history on Boston school travel tours. The Black Heritage Trail features the schools, churches, and libraries built by free black-Americans as they designed communities. Black history tours like these celebrate the contributions of black-Americans to the progress and innovation of an entire nation.
Atlanta
Atlanta is also a wonderful choice for black history tours. The southern city was the birthplace of Martin Luther King, Jr. Students can visit this site, which is part of the national historic site memorializing the civil rights activist. Atlanta has its own African-American Heritage Trail as well many other interesting attractions.
And More
Many cities have preserved historical sites that celebrate the contributions of black Americans or their efforts in the fight for civil rights. These are only a few. In Dearborn, Michigan, students can step on the bus where Rosa Parks took her famous stand. They can also visit the home of George Washington Carver. Hip Hop Tours in Harlem celebrates unique contributions from black history, especially to pop culture and the entertainment industry. Ocean City, Maryland, hosts the Harriet Tubman Museum, and surrounding villages offer charming neighborhoods still projecting an older era.
Fill out our request form with your desire for a black history tour to the destination you’d like to pursue. This is always a unique and thrilling theme for students.
