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5 Black History Museums to Visit

With the end of Black History Month swiftly approaching, you might find yourself trying to squeeze in a few more bits of culture. Visiting museums are one on way to soak up some black history year round. Even if you don’t make it this month, here are are a few museums that highlight and tell the true stories of African American history you should visit.

 

African American Civil War Memorial

African American Civil War Memorial and Museum

Located in Washington, D.C., the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum has a mission of correcting the wrongs told by history. Often in the history books, we hear of the North fighting the South, but seldom do we hear about the African American troops who fought alongside them. This museum has a few exhibits, one being “A Glorious March to Liberty” where they share the story of soldiers “who fought during the Civil War to preserve the Union and end the tyranny of slavery.” The museum also includes the exhibit “From Slavery to the White House” which explores the stories of First Lady, Michelle Obama’s ancestors, who were slaves.

 Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute has a very clear vision in mind with a few different missions. They have a vision for the future while they plan “to enlighten each generation about civil and human rights by exploring our common past and working together in the present to build a better future.” The BCRI and its special exhibits give a look into the history and culture in Birmingham. If you are unable to visit the museum in person, the website does provide a quick 30 minute tour of the institute.

Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site

Brown v Board of Education National Historic Site

If you’ve never heard of Brown v Board of Education, you either weren’t paying attention in class or you need to question your school’s curriculum. This particular case is what ended legal segregation in public schools. The entire Brown v Board of Education case that was brought to the Supreme Court absorbed four other cases in Delaware, Washington, D.C., South Carolina, and Virginia. The National Historic Site features includes a display on “Demanding Equality Under the Law” as well as the words “White” and “Colored” hanging above a pair of inside doors.

National Great Blacks in Wax Museum

National Great Blacks in Wax Museum

If you’re a fan of Madame Tussauds, I’m sure you’ll love the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum. A part of their many exhibits, they feature the innovators and powerful leaders who helped pave the way. Some of their exhibitions include The Underground Railroad, Entrepreneurship, Harlem Renaissance, and the Modern Civil Rights Era. Some of the figures you’ll see in this museum are Carter G. Woodson, the father of Negro History Week, and Harriet Tubman, Langston Hughes, Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King, Thurgood Marshall, Sojourner Truth, Jackie Robinson, and Ida B. Wells.

Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History & Culture

Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture

Relatively new at the Smithsonian, the National Museum of African American History and Culture explores the story of some well-known African Americans who helped change and map the course of generations. Some of their stories include Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, a donor who attended the funeral of three of the four girls killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. They also have exhibitions on athletics, musicians, and the Civil Rights’ activists.

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