The Charm City’s cultural institutions put Black culture front and centre. AFRAM, one of the largest African American festivals on the East Coast, takes place at Druid Hill Park Juneteenth weekend each year. This free, family-oriented celebration of Baltimore’s African American heritage features music, entertainers, children’s activities, African drumming, carnival mask-making and more. The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum spans the history of African Americans across the continents and time, including Ancient Africa, the Middle Passage, the slave era, and the Civil Rights movement. The Reginald F. Lewis Museum showcases the history and accomplishments of Maryland African Americans. And the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park Museum celebrates the legacy of Frederick Douglass, a famous writer and abolitionist who escaped slavery in Baltimore.
The opulent Ivy Hotel in Mount Vernon is the only Black-owned luxury hotel in Baltimore. It’s an 1889 historic mansion that’s been transformed into an 18-room hotel with a spa and restaurant, Magdalena. The owners, Eddie and Sylvia Brown, are also the founders of the Brown Family Foundation to support the arts, education and health, making philanthropic donations to cultural and artistic institutions.
Travel back in time to the golden era of jazz at Keystone Korner Jazz Club in Harbor East. Inspired by owner Todd Barkan’s former West Coast club from the 70s and 80s, Keystone Korner has live music seven days a week and a retro Americana menu created by restaurateur Robert Wiedmaier.
While Garifuna Settlement Day, observed on November 19th, is the most prominent celebration of Garifuna culture in Belize, the community’s rich heritage is celebrated year-round, offering visitors opportunities to connect with this vibrant culture during Black History Month. During this time, communities such as Dangriga, Hopkins, and Punta Gorda come alive with special events and activities that highlight Garifuna heritage. Visitors can experience captivating cultural performances featuring traditional drumming, singing, and dances such as the lively punta and the sacred dügü ceremonies. Workshops often invite participants to try their hand at drumming or to learn traditional dances, providing a hands-on connection to Garifuna traditions.
Culinary experiences are another highlight, offering a taste of the Garifuna’s rich food culture. Travellers can savour dishes like hudut (a savory fish stew with mashed plantains), cassava bread, and tapou (a coconut milk soup). Combined, these immersive experiences make Belize an ideal destination for those seeking to honor and explore Black heritage during Black History Month.
Celebrate Black History Month in Bourbon City by immersing in Louisville’s vibrant culture, which blends rich bourbon history with the powerful legacy of African American heritage. Blak Koffee, a local favorite, serves up its signature “Blak Boy Joy” iced espresso and a hearty breakfast. At the end of Tenth and Main Streets, the “On the Banks of Freedom” art installation honours the enslaved individuals of Kentucky, symbolizing the journey to freedom with broken chains, acknowledging the river’s historical significance as the dividing line between Kentucky, a slave state, and Indiana, a free state.
The Frazier Kentucky History Museum offers a tour focusing on Black Americans’ contributions to the bourbon industry. The Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company invites visitors for a tour and tasting, as does Brough Brothers, the first African American-owned distillery in the city. At Museum Row the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory features stories from the Black players who made their names as some of America’s baseball players. Travellers can experience the Muhammad Ali Center, now part of the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. The trail honours over 100 historic sites, including the newly added SEEK Museum in Russellville and Louisville’s Downtown Civil Rights Trail. And of course, there’s the food, like the soul-satisfying dinner at Dasha Barbours Southern Bistro, renowned for its Southern fried chicken.
Touring Miami’s historic Overtown is a prime way to explore the city’s Black history and culture. Tap Tap Tours’ Overtown: Home Tour runs select Fridays and Saturdays through May 30, 2025. Departing from the Black Police Precinct and Courthouse Museum, each 90-minute guided golf cart tour delves into the historical roots of Overtown, an enduring hub of African American culture since the neighbourhood’s earliest days. The immersive Melanin Miami: Black History Tour, offered every Saturday from July 20 through October 26, travels through vibrant neighbourhoods like Overtown, learning about the significant contributions Black residents have made to the city’s identity. Immerse in the local art, music, activism and entrepreneurial spirit, while savoring soul food.
On Sunday, February 2, An Afternoon with Yael Valencia Aldana and Julie Marie Wae invites the acclaimed poet to present her latest work, Black Mestiza: Poems. In this collection, Aldana delves into her Caribbean Afro-Latinx heritage, reflecting on identity, family and the enduring legacy of her ancestors through a mix of evocative verse. Her poems, such as the Pushcart Prize-winning Black Person Head Bob, explore themes of resilience, recognition and community. Fantasy Theatre Factory welcomes a matinee performance of Heroes in My House on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at the Sandrell Rivers Theater. This inspiring production follows a young student on a magical journey to uncover the countless contributions of Black Americans to our nation’s history.
The Museum of Art and Design (MOAD) will host a panel discussion unveiling the Black experience. On Wednesday, February 19 at Miami Dade College’s Padrón Campus, Time and Place: Multitudes of Black Experience in Miami, will delve into the history and cultural significance of Black Miami, inspired by the work of artist Kabuya Pamela Bowens-Saffo.
Visitors can celebrate gospel and inspirational music at Florida Memorial University’s Albert E & Sadie B. Smith Conference Center. The 8th Annual MDA Black History Brunch & Awards on Saturday, July 12, honours artists and community leaders from Miami-Dade County and beyond. Experience Black excellence in theatre and the arts at the Lou Rawls Center for the Performing Arts. On Friday, February 21, Broadway in the Gardens features performances by the Peter London Global Dance Company and opera soloist Angel Refuse’, offering a cultural experience that highlights the richness of the African diaspora.
The Soul Vegan and Seafood Festival at Lummus Park features a showcase of African American and Caribbean plant-based cuisine crafted by South Florida’s top chefs. Presented by the City of Miami Beach and The Hungry Black Man, the Soul Vegan and Seafood Festival on February 10 celebrates its 9th edition.
Greensboro is home to the International Civil Rights Center & Museum, located at the very spot where the famous 1960 sit-in at the Woolworth’s lunch counter took place. This museum commemorates the pivotal moment that sparked a wave of protests across the nation. Accommodations at Historic Magnolia House, a restored inn, recall its time as a sanctuary for prominent figures during the Green Book era. Guests can still touch the same banister used by guests like Jackie Robinson, James Baldwin, and Tina Turner.
Charlotte’s Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture honours the first Black student admitted to Clemson University, who later became Charlotte’s first Black mayor. The centre houses an impressive collection of Black art and hosts events that celebrate Black culture and history.
In Durham, Black history is woven into the fabric of the city, from the historic Black Wall Street to the Hayti Heritage Center. A vibrant culinary scene features numerous Black-owned restaurants, such as Saltbox Seafood Joint and Mike D’s BBQ.
In Asheville, the Hood Huggers Tour provides a unique look at Black history. The Black History Cultural Trail is a self-guided tour that highlights key sites across the city.
The Levine Museum of the New South and the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum, as well as the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Gardens in Raleigh all tell the stories of Black citizens who changed the state. In Wake Forest, the Black History Month Walking Tours provide free insights into the history. architecture, men, and women who shaped the community. Additionally, the 24th Annual African American Cultural Celebration at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh is a must-see event, featuring performances, panels, and storytelling that celebrate African American culture.
MLK Gospel Concert is an annual event held at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, featuring outstanding musical performances. Wells’Built Museum of African American History and Culture was originally a historic hotel that now houses memorabilia of Orlando’s African American community. In Eatonville, visitors discover one of the oldest African American communities in the U.S. and childhood home of author and filmmaker Zora Neale Hurston. The ZORA! Festival is an annual celebration that features art exhibitions, historical tours, and performances.
Hannibal Square Heritage Center is dedicated to Winter Park’s African American community history, offering exhibits and guided walking tours. And a host of Black-owned businesses provide access to support the local community.
San Francisco offers a vibrant list of experiences during Black History Month, making it a must-visit destination for travellers. The Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD), located in the city’s cultural hub, presents exhibitions that delve deeply into the art, history, and culture of the African diaspora. Highlights include Soleé Darrell’s “Cosmic Ceremony”, exploring spirituality and identity (Dec. 18, 2024 – Feb. 2, 2025), and Helina Metaferia’s “What We Carry to Set Ourselves Free”, examining themes of liberation (Oct. 2, 2024 – Mar. 2, 2025). Additionally, the San Francisco Public Library’s “More Than a Month” series celebrates Black history through diverse programming, from Caribbean music performances to poetry workshops and film screenings. On Feb. 22, 2025, Treasure Island’s Gold Bar Whiskey Distillery will host a Black History Month Vendor Market, spotlighting Black-owned businesses, live music, and local cuisine.
Visitors can also explore the African-American Freedom Trail, celebrating the legacies of pioneers like Mary Ellen Pleasant and Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett through guided or self-guided tours. For music lovers, San Francisco’s iconic venues continue to honor its legacy of legendary Black artists, offering live performances that reflect the city’s boundary-pushing spirit.
The city’s iconic Old Courthouse will open in 2025, with nex exhibits about this structure where landmark Dred Scott cases were first heard. In February, visitors can still see the beautiful facade.
The National Blues Museum honours the contributions of African Americans to the blues genre. Learn more about Dred and Harriet Scott at the Field House Museum, a National Historic Landmark where their fight for freedom began. For a deeper connection to St. Louis’ history, head to Greenwood Cemetery, the burial site of over 50,000 African Americans, including notable figures like Lucy Ann Delaney, or visit Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, where members of the 56th U.S. Colored Infantry are honoured. The Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing provides insight about the Underground Railroad.
Other sites like the Missouri Civil War Museum explore the role Missouri played in the Civil War, and the Griot Museum of Black History offers a broad perspective of Black culture and contributions in St. Louis. The Scott Joplin House State Historic Site is dedicated to the ragtime composer.
St. Louis also celebrates Black history through vibrant cultural experiences, including performances at the St. Louis Black Repertory Theatre and musical events by the St. Louis Symphony that highlight Black composers. For a taste of local flavor, support Black-owned businesses such as restaurants and shops across the city, and explore neighbourhoods like the Ville, an important centre of African American culture. Finally, take a stroll through the Delmar Loop, where you’ll find stars on the St. Louis Walk of Fame honouring icons like Maya Angelou, Josephine Baker, and Chuck Berry.
One of the major events during Black History Month is Agrifest in St. Croix, the largest agricultural fair in the Caribbean, celebrates the agricultural heritage of the island and its connection to both African, Taino and European traditions. Visitors sample local cuisine, enjoy cultural performances, and learn about the region’s history through displays of farming tools and techniques used by enslaved Africans. St Croix’s Jump Up celebrations are like mini carnivals, and this year on February 15 visitors can experience a lively street party featuring the rhythms of Caribbean music, traditional dances, and the joyful energy of local culture. Festival goers will likely see Moko Jumbies, the tall, colourful stilt dancers that are an iconic part of local culture, originating from West African traditions.
The U.S. Virgin Islands also boasts historical landmarks for history buffs. The Estate Whim Sugar Mill on St. Croix reveals the islands’ sugar plantation history. Visitors tour the preserved mill and plantation to learn about enslaved Africans and their economic impact on the islands. On St. John, Annaberg is the US Virgin Islands National Park’s most accessible historic site. Visitors can meet with cultural ambassadors like Olivia Christian, who demonstrates bread making and baking traditions in the old cook house and taste traditional recipes like coconut bread or johnny cakes. Cinnamon Bay Plantation, also on St. John offers a glimpse into the plantation life that shaped the history of the region. The ruins of the plantation, along with the serene surroundings, make it a perfect spot to reflect on the legacies of the past.
When it comes to dining, the Caribbean Fish Market in St. Thomas is a local favorite, where you can savor fresh seafood by the harbor. The restaurant’s history ties back to the island’s seafaring roots, and the flavors reflect the fusion of African, European, and indigenous Caribbean cuisines. A St. Thomas staple for decades, Gladys’ Cafe serves lovingly prepared Caribbean dishes, and in St Croix the local favorite, La Reine Chicken Shack is a must-visit for its legendary chicken and Johnny cakes. Lastly, The Sugar Mill on St. Croix serves as a reminder of the plantation era with its historical setting in a restored sugar mill, offering fine dining with a backdrop of the island’s rich agricultural past.
The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture is like no other experience, featuring extensive exhibits on African American history and culture. Likewise, The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, located on the National Mall, honours the civil rights leader with a 30-foot statue and inscriptions from his speeches. History comes alive at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, located at his former home Cedar Hill, offers tours of the 21-room Victorian mansion and insights into Douglass’ life and work. The African American Civil War Memorial & Museum in the U Street Corridor pays tribute to over 200,000 African American soldiers who fought in the Civil War.
For cultural experiences, The Howard Theatre in the historic Shaw neighbourhood, once home to prominent African Americans like Duke Ellington, offers a glimpse into the area’s rich musical heritage. The U Street Corridor, known as “Black Broadway,” features numerous cultural landmarks and Black-owned businesses.
For events, The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the founders of Black History Month, will be hosting the 99th year of Black History at the annual luncheon on February 22 at The Westin, DC. The Washington Performing Arts and Choral Arts Society of Washington choirs will present its annual tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Kennedy Center on February 2, 2025. The newly opened Go-Go Museum & Cafe pays homage to the genre which has its roots in DC.
And of course for dining, Ben’s Chili Bowl, established in 1958 by Ben and Virginia Ali, stands as a cornerstone of Black history and culture in Washington, DC. This iconic restaurant on U Street has been more than just a place to enjoy delicious chili and half-smokes; it has been a witness to and participant in the city’s rich African American heritage. During the Civil Rights era, Ben’s served as a gathering place for activists and leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who had an office nearby.
