2021 African-American Heritage Guide

2022

AFRICAN AMERICAN H E R I TA G E G U I D E

MAKE YOUR MEETING AN EXPERIENCE

IN

BATON ROUGE

When the work is done, schedule in some playtime to discover a rich cultural scene, get your fix of southern flavors, travel back to defining historical moments and #ExploreBatonRouge.

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MAKE YOUR MEETING AN EXPERIENCE

IN

BATON ROUGE

When the work is done, schedule in some playtime to discover a rich cultural scene, get your fix of southern flavors, travel back to defining historical moments and #ExploreBatonRouge.

Plan Your Event and Host an Authentic Louisiana Experience VISITBATONROUGE.COM/ TRAVEL-PROS

2022

AFRICAN AMERICAN H E R I TA G E G U I D E

PUBLISHED BY THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER

DISCOVER BOURBON CITY’S BLACK HERITAGE

Kentucky Derby Museum

Groups can take a step back in time and explore Louisville’s Black heritage with the Unfiltered Truth Collection. These eight immersive experiences feature perspectives and histories that you may not have heard before.

Learn more at UnfilteredTruthCollection.com

CONTENTS AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE GUIDE

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HISTORY AND CULTURE MUSEUMS These institutions tell the stories of the Black experience in America.

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MUSIC EXPERIENCES Discover African American culture through the power of sound.

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD SITES

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These historic places were instrumental in the fight for freedom.

CULINARY HERITAGE

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Black-owned restaurants across the country have been feeding travelers for generations.

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Black history is all around in Memphis

BY VICKIE MITCHELL

I

n Memphis, the stories of African Americans are found in museums but also in barbecue joints and picturesque parks, on Beale Street and in neighborhoods like Soulsville.

From slavery and civil rights to entrepreneurial success, Black history is all around.

A trio of museums & tours gives a fine overview To grasp Memphis’s role in civil rights, start at the National Civil Rights Museum. It is housed in the reimagined Lorraine Motel, where the Rev. Martin Luther King died in 1968, and while the room where King stayed has been preserved, the rest of the motel has been turned into a world-class museum. A few years ago, more than 40 new films, oral histories and interactive media were added to its already forceful collection.

King was among the Civil Rights leaders photographed by Ernest Withers Sr., a wellknown photographer who spent more than 60 years documenting Black life. His former studio on Beale Street became The Withers Collection Museum and Gallery in 2011, where a fraction of his 1.8 million images are displayed. He photographed stars like Aretha Franklin and Willie Mays, as well as not-sofamous friends, neighbors and families.

At Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum, visitors experience the depths of slaves’ despair as they step down into the cellar and hidden tunnels that would take them North – concealed by a white clapboard house that served as an Underground Railroad stop. Local tour operators including Heritage Tours and A Tour of Possibilities offer group excursions to landmarks like these, as well as guided van or bus tours to several sites of interest.

A breath of fresh air; whiffs of barbecue The city’s air is scented with wood smoke and simmering sauce, a happy byproduct of its bounty of barbecue restaurants. The Bar-B-Q Shop, in Midtown, was chosen among the country’s top 5 by the Food Network. Off I-55, Interstate Bar-B-Que owner Jim Neely has smoked tons of pork since he retired from a successful career in insurance and challenged himself to make a better barbecue sandwich. He apparently succeeded, as Interstate’s has been repeatedly ranked among the best barbecue in the country. For a break from smoked meat, try the Four Way, a local favorite, where meat and three costs around $10. Since 1946, The Four Way has dished up black-eyed peas, meringue pies and other Southern favorites as it served as a center of community activism. King and other civil rights leaders often met there over meatloaf, cornbread and greens, and the tradition continues.

A day of attractions; an evening of theatre & entertainment By day, the Stax Museum of American Soul Music and The Blues Foundation’s Blues Hall of Fame welcome visitors to learn, listen and even dance to the sounds of Memphis’ enduring, global music legacy.

After a busy day in the city, it’s nice to sink into a seat at the Hattiloo Theatre, the only freestanding Black repertory theater in five surrounding states. Since 2016, this homegrown effort has staged professional shows ranging from classics like Porgy and Bess to original works written by its founder. Or, hit world-famous Beale Street, soaked in history and neon light, for live music seven nights a week.

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CULTURE THESE MUSEUMS EXAMINE AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY

BY LYSA ALLMAN-BALDWIN

The National Museum of African American History and Culture, a Smithsonian museum in Washington, houses the country’s foremost collection of Black history and cultural artifacts.

THE STORIES OF BLACK AMERICA ARE ON DISPLAY LIKE NEVER BEFORE. History and culture museums play a significant role in our lives. As physical representations and repositories of time, they share the stories of specific cities, regions or countries; artistic expressions; political legacies; cultural trends and icons; music history; religious paths; and more.

For African Americans, the documentation of their history in this country in these hallowed edifices is nothing new. The first African American museum was established in 1868 in Virginia, and since that time, Black history museums have continued to grow in number, scope, significance and architectural magnificence.

Step inside the following seven museums that together illuminate and celebrate the challenges and triumphs weaved into the fabric of so many African American communities and their experiences — past, present and future.

BY ALAN KARCHMER, COURTESY NMAAHC

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NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE

Washington, D.C.

Opened in 2016 as the 19th museum of the Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history and culture.

Encompassing approximately five acres, this state-of-the-art museum spans five floors and some 85,000 square feet and is home to an astounding 36,000-plus artifacts, a dozen exhibition spaces and 13 different multidimensional, interactive experiences.

The symbolism of its location on the National Mall in Washington and the architectural design of the building itself speak volumes about its importance in documenting and sharing the history, culture and stories of all Americans that contribute to the blended fabric of this nation.

The outstanding exhibits here encompass a wide variety of themes.

“A Changing America” deals with the continuing definition of African American identity since African slaves were first brought to our shores. “Double Victory” focuses on the roles African Americans have always played in the U.S. armed forces, dating all the way back to the Revolutionary War. “The City of Hope” was named in homage to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Martin Luther King Jr.’s unveiling of the Poor People’s Campaign in 1968. There’s also the Segregated Southern Railway Car, the Oprah Winfrey Theater and the Edisto Island Slave Cabin.

Groups can enjoy a variety of signature activities, such as dance and theater performances, film screenings, fashion shows, concerts and book discussions. nmaahc.si.edu

The National Museum of African American History and Culture, with the Washington Monument in the distance

Exterior architecture at the National Museum of African American History and Culture

GREENWOOD RISING

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A National Museum of African American History and Culture exhibit PHOTOS BY ALAN KARCHMER, COURTESY NMAAHC

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Opened to great fanfare in August, Tulsa’s Greenwood Rising is an institution 100 years in the making. On May 31, 1921, armed white men looted, burned and attacked the residents, homes, businesses and churches of Greenwood, a Black neighborhood north of downtown.

In only three days, an estimated 300 people were killed, some 1,200 homes were destroyed, and almost all of this historic African American community, called Black Wall Street, lay in smoldering ruins. Although called a race riot by some, the prevailing nomenclature is “the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.”

A national model of prosperity, of self-sufficiency and the embodiment of the Black American dream, Black Wall Street, oddly enough, came about as a result of segregation. Because Black people were denied the right to spend their money anywhere outside their 35- to 40-block community, they had no choice but to buy, eat, drive, worship, live and die in the Greenwood district.

“The City of Hope” was named in Tulsa’s Greenwood Rising

homage to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Martin Luther King Jr.’s unveiling of the Poor People’s Campaign in 1968.

PHOTOS COURTESY GREENWOOD RISING

An immersive barbershop exhibit at Greenwood Rising Greenwood Rising is a combination state-of-the-art, multimillion-dollar history center, memorial and testament to the resilience and pioneering spirit of a community that at its core could never be destroyed.

Connecting it and several sites within the Historic Greenwood District is the Pathway to Hope. This beautiful, landscaped walking route peppered with unique artwork and relaxation benches symbolizes the rejoining of the area that was physically, mentally and emotionally cut off in the 1960s and 1970s when Interstate 244, under the guise of needed “urban renewal,” ousted the residents and many of their thriving business enterprises. greenwoodrising.org

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Atlanta

The Apex Museum in Atlanta

Charlotte’s Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts and Culture

HARVEY B. GANTT CENTER FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTS AND CULTURE

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BY LYSA ALLMAN-BALDWIN

Charlotte, North Carolina

Originally founded as the Afro-American Cultural Center in the late 1970s by two University of North Carolina at Charlotte professors who wanted to create a Black studies center on campus, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts and Culture has always been Afro-centered.

In 2009, the center moved to the heart of Uptown Charlotte in the historic Second Ward and former Black community of Brooklyn and was renamed in honor of Harvey B. Gantt. In 1960, Gantt, who is still active within the Charlotte community, became the first African American student admitted to Clemson University. He went on to serve as Charlotte’s first African American mayor.

According to David Taylor, president and CEO of the Gantt center, one of the most striking aspects for visitors is the Grand Lobby staircase.

“Also known as Jacob’s Ladder, it became a highlighted feature thanks to our architect Phil Freelon, who was also the architect of the Smithsonian African American History Museum in Washington, D.C.,” he said.

A Gantt Center gallery

BY LYSA ALLMAN-BALDWIN

Atlanta has always held a special place and played a significant role in the history, achievements and legacy of the Black community.

And it is here that you will find the African American Panoramic Experience Museum — the “Apex Museum” for short.

Located within the city’s Sweet Auburn Historic District, home to numerous other iconic and historical entities including the Martin Luther King Jr. Birth Home, the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change, the Old Ebenezer Baptist Church, the Rucker Building and Prince Hall Masons Grand Lodge, the Apex Museum is the oldest Black history museum in Atlanta.

Founded in 1978, it is in the John Wesley Dobbs Building, a historic structure in its own right, as it was built in 1910 and, several decades later, retitled in honor of its namesake, a powerful political and civic leader that back in the day was often referred to as the unofficial mayor of Auburn Avenue.

Visitors to the museum will find a wide array of permanent and changing exhibits that underscore the numerous contributions African Americans have made to the city, state, country and world.

“Sweet Auburn Street Pride” features artifacts and memorabilia related to the life and work of many of Atlanta’s early Black pioneers.

“Africa: The Untold Story” spans some 6,000 years of the history of the continent, highlighting the culture, music, people and other aspects that have had positive reverberations all over the world. apexmuseum.org

COURTESY APEX MUSEUM

APEX MUSEUM

A M E R I C A’S CULTURAL VIP

ST. AUGUSTINE | P O N T E V E D R A St. Augustine Foot Soldiers Monument in the Plaza de la Constitución

This Very Important Place is home to Fort Mose, where America’s first legal free Black settlement began and where the first underground railroad ended. Five centuries later, St. Augustine remains an important place to experience African American culture. Bring your group to St. Augustine.

We promise to treat you like a VIP. Contact Christina Parrish Stone Executive Director, St. Johns Cultural Council grouptravel@historiccoastculture.com

REGINALD F. LEWIS MUSEUM OF MARYLAND AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE

Baltimore

Since it first opened its doors in 2005, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture has stood as one of this country’s premier museums about the African American experience.

In the heart of downtown Baltimore, just a stone’s throw from Maryland’s iconic Inner Harbor, the museum is named for a successful entrepreneur, lawyer and philanthropist. Reginald Lewis was the first African American to build a billion-dollar company, and in the 1980s, he was one of the richest African American men in the U.S. Spanning 82,000 square feet, the building is home to approximately 10,000 permanent objects that encompass some 400 years of history.

The permanent and temporary exhibition spaces are expansive as well — over 13,000 square feet — detailing every aspect of the educational, industrial, artistic, political, military, sports and other Maryland history as it relates to the Black experience.

In addition to the exhibit and gallery spaces, visitors can also enjoy special events in the two-story theater and engage in a wide array of exciting educational programs offered throughout the year.

Several designated spaces are available for groups desiring to hold a meeting or a special event, including the beautiful outdoor terrace, which offers spectacular views of the city and harbor. lewismuseum.org

DUSABLE MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY

James Madison’s Montpelier ORANGE, VIRGINIA

Ever since the founding of this nation, it has often been difficult to reconcile the ideology of the founding fathers with their complicity in the slave trade. Yet that is our history, and it can prove very illuminating when viewed through various perspectives.

One such window into this dichotomy is James Madison’s Montpelier. It was here that this draftsman of the U.S. Constitution and fourth president of the United States was raised in the early 1760s.

The name of the property is believed to have been in homage to the famous French city. The first structure was a brick Georgian-style home built by slave labor. Over time it expanded greatly, encompassing some 2,650 acres with over eight miles of walking trails, spectacular gardens, a visitor center museum, a museum shop, a cafe and several classroom buildings for groups.

Guided tours include a behind-the-scenes main home tour, a highlights of Montpelier tour, and the Montpelier outdoor walking tour.

Two of the most significant structures on the property are the 1910 Train Depot and the Gilmore Cabin.

The horrors of the Jim Crow era and the tumultuous civil rights movement are illustrated in the train depot exhibits. The cabin is named after George Gilmore, who was born here in 1910. After the Civil War and slave emancipation, he was able to purchase the structure, and it is widely recognized today as the first freedman’s site in the country. m o n tpe li e r. o rg

COURTESY JAMES MADISON’S MONTPELIER

It symbolizes a visual guidepost to continued education and reaching for greater things in life.

In addition to experiencing the rotating exhibits in the expansive gallery spaces and the videos that highlight tidbits of Charlotte Black history, groups can engage in several guided tours.

“Visualizing Black Art Enhanced” includes an art-making workshop. “Envision Me Enhanced” encompasses a goal-setting workshop.

And “Activate the Image” features a writing and performing workshop.

The Gantt also offers three levels of event space, from the Grand Lobby to the rooftop terrace, all set against the backdrop of its award-winning architectural design. ganttcenter.org

Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African-American History and Culture

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COURTESY VISIT BALTIMORE

Chicago

In a true testament to grassroots organization and community engagement, the Ebony Museum of Negro History and Art was founded in the home of a well-known activist, artist and educator in Chicago’s South Side neighborhood in 1961.

At the time, it was lauded as a truly homegrown cultural entity.

Growing in scope and renown over the six decades that followed, it eventually was moved to the city’s grand Washington Park and was

African American history comes alive on the Long Road to Liberty. Explore this vibrant itinerary celebrating Black heritage in the Sooner State. At the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, behold the inspiring work of Kehinde Wiley, who reimagines classic portraits using African American subjects. Then, venture to Greenwood Rising, a moving tribute to Black Wall Street and the Tulsa Race Massacre. Next up: the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, where jazz icon Charlie Christian is immortalized. Wrap up your journey at Honey Springs Battlefield and Visitor Center, where heroic Black soldiers secured a Union victory.

Discover Oklahoma’s African American legacy.

Get the full itinerary at TravelOK.com/Group.

CALIFORNIA AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM

Los Angeles

DuSable Museum of African American History in Chicago

COURTESY DMAAH

renamed the DuSable Museum of African American History. The name was chosen in honor of Chicago’s Haitian-born founder, JeanBaptiste Pointe DuSable.

Today’s DuSable (pronounced “doo-SAW-bull”) Museum is a Smithsonian affiliate and carries the distinction of being the first independent, nonprofit museum in the country dedicated to the collection, documentation, preservation, study and dissemination of the history and culture of Africans and African Americans.

Visitors find a wealth of permanent and rotating interactive exhibits peppered with over 15,000 artifacts and artworks, including historical memorabilia, sculpture, paintings and photography.

Welcoming an estimated 100,000 visitors annually, the museum is a civic, cultural and artistic showplace that is both educational and inspirational. In addition to the exhibit and gallery space experiences, individual visitors and groups can enjoy special lectures, workshops, educational programs and other events. dusablemuseum.org

Los Angeles’ California African American Museum

COURTESY CAAM

COURTESY CAAM

When a facility or entity is not only founded but designed, directed and curated by African Americans, it makes a clear statement about its focus and commitment to upholding important aspects of the global African Diaspora. Such is the case with the California African American Museum (CAAM).

South of downtown Los Angeles in the city’s famed Exposition Park, CAAM was originally founded in 1977, the result of a unique, multiyear campaign by numerous Black and other civic leaders to what became the first museum of art, history and culture dedicated to the Black experience and fully supported by a state.

Encompassing approximately 44,000 square feet, the museum features a remarkable 4,000-piece permanent collection of sculptures, paintings, artifacts, films, audio recordings and photographs that highlight a wide array of artistic genres from the 1800s to the present.

Great attention and reverence are placed upon African American contributions to the artistic, political, economic and cultural landscapes.

Visitors can explore an impressive variety of permanent, temporary and traveling exhibits and gallery spaces, all aimed at interpreting the past and its effect on our present and potentially future identity as people of all colors, races, creeds, genders and sexual identities.

Special tours and programming are available for groups, as are visits to their noncirculating Research Library collection, teeming with over 6,000 records, books, periodicals and other documentation that date back to the museum’s formation. caamuseum.org

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The California African American Museum atrium

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Connect with the struggle for civil rights on Arkansas trail

BY VICKIE MITCHELL

T

he U.S. Civil Rights Trail connects 100 sites in 14 states, and one of the most important is Little Rock’s Central High School National Historic Site and Visitor Center.

Built in 1913, the high school was considered one of the most beautiful in the country but is better known for having become a crucial battleground in the struggle for civil rights in 1957, when nine Black high school students were met by angry mobs and the Arkansas National Guard as they tried to integrate the school. President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent in the military and desegregation was accomplished, a major stride forward for the civil rights movement.

Stops to make on Arkansas Civil Rights Trail The school remains in use, and it and the visitor center across the street have long been popular tour stops. During the pandemic, the National Park Service has offered prearranged streetscape tours instead of tours inside the school.

Central High is also on the Arkansas Civil Rights Heritage Trail, and other trail stops

are nearby. At the state capitol grounds downtown, a statue called Testaments captures the determination of The Little Rock Nine. A few blocks away at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, an exhibit devoted to the students includes a video of Clinton presenting each with the Congressional Gold Medal in 1999. Another exhibit called Building One America details Clinton’s work to defend affirmative action and pass tougher laws on hate crimes, including making church arson a federal crime.

Black business districts sprouted up in many cities in the late 1800s, including Little Rock’s West Ninth district. The district’s Mosaic Templars Cultural Center explores African American life in Arkansas and spotlights more than 80 Black leaders in its Arkansas Black Hall of Fame.

Detour to Tyronza and Helena Tours traveling to or from Memphis could detour to Tyronza and visit the Southern Tenant Farmers Museum to learn more about a Delta farming practice that impacted many Black farmers. Or they could travel to Helena, a Mississippi River riverfront town and home to King Biscuit Time, the country’s longest-running blues radio show.

The radio show has, for years, recorded before live audiences, and its studio is in the Delta Cultural Center, which offers free tours.

To hear about one Black family’s foray into business, stop by the new Delta Dirt Distillery downtown. Harvey and Donna Williams grew up on farms nearby and after successful careers elsewhere, returned and started turning sweet potatoes into vodka. Their growing business donates 1 percent of sales to local education and community efforts.

For a down-home style lunch, try Rosie’s Diner, where the menu is written on a white board in a rainbow of Sharpie colors. Along with mac ‘n cheese, yams and fried fish come surprises like hog mawls and whole caramel cakes. It’s a tiny place so a large group might need to order to go, but by all accounts Rosie’s lives up to its claim to Feed Your Soul.

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FUSION

BLACK MUSIC ENJOYS GLOBAL ACCLAIM

BY LYSA ALLMAN-BALDWIN

The Stax Museum of American Soul Music preserves the site of an influential recording studio in Memphis.

MUSIC IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IS NOT JUST ABOUT RHYTHM. IT’S ABOUT TRADITION. IT’S ABOUT CULTURE. IT’S ABOUT PERSEVERANCE. AND IT’S ABOUT COMMUNITY. In Africa, music was a core component of daily life. Music became one of the few things slaves brought with them when they were seized from their homeland and cruelly dispersed all over the world. Over the generations, the music changed from pure tribal sounds to take on some of the characteristics of their surroundings in Europe, Brazil, the West Indies and North America.

Today, African American music is a fusion of spirituals, Afro beats, R&B, calypso, gospel, reggae, hip-hop, blues, pop, rock ’n’ roll, funk and other genres. Together they have influenced every aspect of music theory and history. Black innovators, writers, producers, artists, sound technicians and others have profoundly influenced the global cultural landscape.

Although Black Music Appreciation Month, officially decreed in 1979, is held every June, groups can celebrate all forms of African American music and its amazing, transformative history all year long at the following museums and performance venues.

BY RONNIE BOOZE, COURTESY STAX MUSEUM OF AMERICAN SOUL MUSIC

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St. Louis’ National Blues Museum

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSIC

Nashville, Tennessee

COURTESY NATIONAL BLUES MUSEUM

The decision to create the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) in Music City was a no-brainer. Nashville has long been the home of some of the finest recording companies, producers, songwriters and entertainers in the world. And it became the spoke of the wheel when an estimated 6 million African Americans fleeing the Jim Crow South came through between 1916 and 1970 during the Great Migration.

Like any major move, it wasn’t just the people — their distinctive traditions sojourned with them as well. For African Americans, an important part of those traditions is music.

Opened this past spring, the NMAAM is the only museum in the country that specifically focuses on the many ways African American music has influenced and produced the distinctive soundtracks of this country.

In the 56,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility downtown, original instruments, photos, costumes and other memorabilia are highlighted in expertly curated, interactive galleries. Some 50 genres and subgenres of music, from early slavery-era spirituals to gospel, blues, R&B, jazz and hip-hop, are beautifully folded into the social, political and historical settings and issues present during that particular genre’s heyday.

Throughout the museum journey, visitors enjoy immersive film experiences, animated timelines, listening stations and sing-along studios, all designed to educate, entertain and inspire. Throughout, the visitors can scan their admission wristbands on certain elements to create unique playlists that are emailed to them after their visits. nmaam.org

BY BILL BOWEN, COURTESY MOTOWN MUSEUM

Motown Museum in Detroit

MOTOWN MUSEUM

Detroit

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Ground Zero Blues Club, a Mississippi music hotspot

COURTESY VISIT CLARKSDALE

You can’t talk about Detroit without mentioning the Motown Museum. Located in the original studio and birthplace of Motown Records, it is affectionally dubbed “Hitsville USA.” The company was originally founded in 1959 as Tamla Records by songwriter and record company executive Berry Gordy Jr., who also lived on the property with his family. A year later, the name was changed to Motown Records. Scores of soon-to-be-chart-topping artists like Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Four Tops, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five became blockbuster legends here between 1959 and 1972.

Unlike most other museums, where the experience is self-directed, visitors explore the Motown Museum on guided tours. Docents serve as personal storytellers as they immerse visitors in the history behind the curated exhibits, the studio spaces, the instruments and the recording equipment that helped birth the Motown sound.

Specially tailored tours are available for groups, meetings and conferences, family reunions and other themed gatherings.

The museum is in the midst of a multiphase $50 million expansion

project called Hitsville Next. Designed around the historic Motownera structures, it will expand the property to 50,000 square feet and will encompass an ultramodern performance theater, a professional recording studio, hands-on exhibits, meeting spaces and other community-focused engagement opportunities. motownmuseum.org

NATIONAL BLUES MUSEUM

St. Louis

In the MX district of downtown St. Louis along Highway 61, also known as the Blues Highway, the National Blues Museum is dedicated to preserving this seminal musical genre and art form.

Its location is significant because scores of blues artists traveling to Chicago and other cities made St. Louis a performance stop. Bringing their own Southern sounds and styles, they were soon blended with the “Northern versions” of jazz and ragtime, in the process creating a new, unique sound that became known as St. Louis Blues.

Throughout the $14 million, 23,000-square-foot facility opened in 2016, visitors enjoy a wealth of interactive, artifact-driven gallery spaces and exhibits, including two specialty spaces: the Mix It Up Room and the Jug Band Interactive.

“This museum really emphasizes that [the blues] is a truly American art form that cannot be found anywhere else and that this genre is intertwined with African American history in this country,” said assistant director Delyn Stephenson. “Without blues and its predecessors, there would be no rock, pop or other types of modern music. It is a foundational art form.”

Many of the exhibits also illustrate how profoundly the blues influenced other music styles and performers worldwide, mostly notably British invasion bands like the Beatles, as well as how it is increasingly infused with contemporary music, synthesized rhythms and drumbeats, and other engineered sounds.

The museum also features a series of public programming, a state-of-the-art theater and the Lumière Place Legends Room, which hosts live music performances, all suitable for individuals, families and groups alike. nationalbluesmuseum.org

It was in Clarksdale that venerable musicians like Sam Cooke, Muddy Waters, Anthony “Big A” Sherrod, John Lee Hooker, Robert Johnson, Ike Turner, and Charlie Patton got their starts, and that music mastery tradition continues today at Ground Zero.

“As a blues tourist destination, the Ground Zero Blues Club fits into the overall music history in a highly significant way,” said co-founder and president Bill Luckett. “Clarksdale has been regarded for decades as “ground zero” for the blues — meaning that Clarksdale was the epicenter of the [Delta blues] music scene.”

Luckett also pointed out that one thing that may differ from people’s usual perception of the genre is that blues music can carry happy as well as more somber tones.

The club attracts blues fans in equal measure from the U.S. and from across international borders to enjoy a wide array of live music Wednesday through Saturday — and occasionally on Sunday — accompanied by down-home Southern fare.

Private parties including live entertainment can be arranged for groups.

In 2021, the Ground Zero Blues Club is celebrating its 20th anniversary of showcasing the best of today’s Delta Blues musicians and the area’s rich blues heritage. Plans to open a second club in Biloxi, Mississippi, are underway. groundzerobluesclub.com

GROUND ZERO BLUES CLUB

Clarksdale, Mississippi

Recognized as one of the top live music venues in the world, the Ground Zero Blues Club at Blues Alley in the heart of historic downtown Clarksdale, Mississippi, is the place to enjoy live, authentic Mississippi Delta Blues music.

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STAX MUSEUM OF AMERICAN SOUL MUSIC

Memphis, Tennessee

The history of Black music cannot be told without the story of Stax Records. As the entity that produced artists including Rufus and Carla Thomas, Otis Redding, Booker T and the MGs, Wilson Pickett and so many others, it was a major force responsible for catapulting Memphis into the national and international limelight.

That history, as well as its social, political and economic influences is shared at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, in the Soulsville USA neighborhood on the original site of the Stax Records studios.

“Soul music has a rich history that can be told only by those who created it,” said Tim Sampson, communications director for the Soulsville Foundation. “Not only were its musical contributions some of the most authentic sounds in the history of music, but it also helped change popular culture forever and played an integral role in the civil rights movement in the 1960s and 1970s, particularly in Memphis and the southern United States.

“Memphis is, of course, a hotbed of music innovation, and Stax

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Middleton Place

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

To say that Henry Middleton was one of South Carolina’s wealthiest landowners is an understatement. In the mid-1700s, he took over the 1,600-acre property his father had amassed, eventually expanding it to encompass over 50,000 acres. That property today is call Middleton Place.

Along the Ashley River in Charleston and designated as a National Historic Landmark, 110-acre Middleton Place still holds great significance for the story of the family and estimated 800 slaves, many of them born here, who worked in the home and toiled the land.

A great many were so valued and trusted for their skills and talents that the Middletons bequeathed land and/or structures to them and several succeeding generations for years to follow. One of the last slaves, who lived here for 68 years, died in 1994.

Together, the Middletons and their slaves weathered the loss of most of the property by fire just before the end of the Civil War, the Great Earthquake of 1886 and years of neglect. However, after being purchased in the early 1920s by a Middleton descendent, the property was slowly restored.

Visitors today will find America’s oldest landscaped gardens — spanning 65 acres — a house museum that features family furniture, memorabilia, artifacts, special exhibits, art, personal journals, a museum shop, a restaurant, a garden market and nursery, working stable yards, an organic farm and the award-winning 55-room Inn at Middleton Place.

Tours include the house, formal gardens and stable yards, with optional add-ons and packages for groups. m i ddle to n pla c e .org

COURTESY HOUMAS HOUSE

Philadelphia

Born in Hamlet, North Carolina, in 1926, moving to Philadelphia after high school, John William Coltrane always had a creative ear and a talent for music.

Upon returning to Philly after serving in the Navy in World War II, where he played the clarinet and the tenor saxophone in swing bands on base, he lived in a beautiful Dutch-gabled home in the city’s Strawberry Mansion Neighborhood.

Many venerable African American jazz musicians of the 1940s performed in Philadelphia, and it was here that Coltrane began his career as a sought-after composer and jazz pioneer who would be later referred to simply as Trane.

Even today, the Grammy-nominated artist who released some 25 albums throughout his short career — he died in 1967 at the age of 40 — is regarded by some jazz historians as “one of the most influential performing soloists in the history of jazz.”

Despite being placed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1999, Coltrane’s home — because of the overall deterioration of the neighborhood — is now in danger of demolition. However, a dedicated group of community and civic leaders is trying to save this prominent residence from such a fate, with the hopes of potentially transforming it into a museum about Coltrane’s life and work.

The historical marker outside denotes 1952-1958 as the dates Coltrane lived in this home. By pioneering an entirely new sound and method that still reverberates around the world, he solidified his legacy as one of the most influential musical giants of the 20th century. facebook.com/thejohncoltranehouse

The John Coltrane House in Philadelphia

BY K. HUFF, COURTESY PHL CVB

JOHN COLTRANE HOUSE

THE WAY

TO MEET

’S RICH EXPLORE PENSACOLAHISTORY. AFRICAN-AMERICAN vibrant

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The highlighted experiences below are a great place to start planning your group’s itinerary.

MUSEUMS & HISTORIC SITES Belmont Devilliers Neighborhood

EVENTS Back on the Blocks Festival

Chappie James Museum

Crawfish Festival

Fort Pickens

Foo Foo Festival

Historic Pensacola Village

Gulf Coast Summerfest

Mississippi Blues Trail Marker

Pensacola JazzFest

Rosamond Johnson Beach

Pensacola Stompfest

Voices of Pensacola Multicultural Center

PLAN YOUR TRIP @THEWAYTOMEET.COM

A Stax Museum exhibit HISTORIC 18TH AND VINE JAZZ DISTRICT

BY RONNIE BOOZE, COURTESY STAX MUSEUM OF AMERICAN SOUL MUSIC

is a mixture of all of those influences, which became known as the Memphis Sound. That legacy continues to influence generations of musicians today.”

Visitors are immersed in the state-of-the-art galleries that highlight over 2,000 artifacts and memorabilia, everything from period recording equipment to photographs, musical instruments, hit albums, video interviews, costumes and other relics. Other highlights include the Express Yourself dance floor, vintage episodes of the iconic Black music television show “Soul Train” and interactive listening stations.

Special tours for groups, family reunions or other celebrations, some featuring creative student performances of classic hits, can be arranged with alumni of the Stax Music Academy. staxmuseum.com

Kansas City, Missouri

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BY JASON DAILY, COURTESY VISITKC

A historic theater in Kansas City’s 18th and Vine district

BY JASON DAILY, COURTESY VISITKC

Since the early 1900s, Kansas City, Missouri, has been synonymous with great jazz and blues music. By the 1920s and 1930s, live jazz and blues could be heard in over 200 venues along 12th and 18th streets downtown, vital hubs in the African American community. Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Mary Lou Williams, Count Basie, Claude “Fiddler” Williams, Orin “Hot Lips” Page, Louis Armstrong and other artists could be heard almost every night of the week.

Today, the Historic 18th and Vine Jazz District encompasses four primary entities: the American Jazz Museum, the Blue Room Nightclub, the Gem Theater and the Mutual Musicians Foundation.

The American Jazz Museum is a state-of-the-art facility that immerses visitors right into the experience of this original American art form. The Blue Room is the museum’s “working exhibit” and a quintessential city jazz spot. It hosts a wide array of local, regional, national and international artists against a backdrop of jazz memorabilia, artifacts, vintage photographs and other throwback accoutrements.

The Gem Theater was built in 1912 as a silent film house and has been restored into a cutting-edge, 500-seat performing arts center.

Dance performances, community events and an annual Jammin’ at the Gem concert series featuring national and international artists are among the activities here.

Founded in 1917 and designated a National Historic Landmark, the Mutual Musicians Foundation is the only place in town to enjoy a Late Night Jam Session. Held Friday and Saturday nights from 1 to 5 a.m., it’s also when musicians used to convene after their regular gigs to unwind, swap techniques, rehearse and provide their fans with more intimate performances. americanjazzmuseum.org mutualmusicianslive.com

A Charlie Parker monument in Kansas City

CUSTOM CONTENT

Jackson shares its soulful spirit

BY VICKIE MITCHELL

J

ackson isn’t exaggerating when it says it’s the City with Soul. The Mississippi capital’s indomitable spirit is everywhere--from its church pews and homegrown chefs to its powerful push for civil rights.

Start with singing On a Sunday, wakeup a tour with rousing hymns sung by a church choir. Many Jackson congregations welcome groups, including New Hope, Anderson United Methodist and Cade Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, where Visit Jackson President and CEO Rickey L. Thigpen, Ph.D., is a member.

“He would roll out the red carpet if someone wanted to come to his church,” assures Yolanda Clay-Moore, Visit Jackson’s communications manager.

The city’s best-known choir, the Mississippi Mass Choir (Clay-Moore is a member) keeps a packed schedule, but groups can visit Malaco Records, which recorded the choir’s first album. In business since the 1960s, Malaco is the force behind dozens of R & B, soul and gospel singers.

2 Museums, much to see

museums, called 2 Mississippi Museums. The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, opened in 2018, is “a day by itself, “ says Clay-Moore. “There is so much information in each museum that if you do the Civil Rights first you won’t make it to the history museum.”

The Civil Rights Museum’s exhibits are heart wrenching. There’s the menacing rifle, used to murder civil rights activist Medgar Evans in his Jackson driveway. Classrooms for white students and black students from the segregation era remind separate is not equal. But a central space feels hopeful, designed to grow brighter as more people enter it. “People can come into the light, take a breather and dive back in to the galleries,” says Clay-Moore.

Dig in to chefs’ delights Visitors can also taste local talent in the museums’ Nissan Café by Nick Wallace, opened in 2021. Wallace, a Black chef and Jackson native, was the first Mississippian to win the Food Network’s Chopped. The café serves his takes on gumbo, Mississippi mud pie and other Southern dishes.

Cindy Ayers-Elliott, a Black businesswoman and farmer who wears pearls and a straw cowboy hat, provides another take on local food. She welcomes tours to Foot Prints Farm, her 68-acre solution to the city’s lack of fresh vegetables. She also brings in a chef to cook up a meal for guests.

Final stop: Farish Street No exploration of Jackson’s African-American heritage is complete without a stop in the Farish Street District, for decades the state’s most important Black business district. The Smith-Robinson Cultural Center, with its replica of a slave ship, is nearby.

At The Big Apple Inn, where Medgar Evers had his office upstairs, fourth-generation owner Geno Lee fills orders for pigs’ ears and smoked sausage sandwiches or “smokes.”

“When anybody who has left Mississippi and Jackson comes back, they have to go there for smokes,” says Clay-Moore.

Jackson’s history and civil rights are entwined and so are its civil rights and history

visitjackson.com

601-960-1891

SHERRI RATLIFF, CMP 601-345-2539 DIRECT 601-960-1891 SRATLIFF@VISITJACKSON.COM

SAFE

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PASSAGE

THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD WAS A BRIDGE BETWEEN RACES

BY LYSA ALLMAN-BALDWIN

More than 1,000 former slaves found shelter, food and support at the Levi and Catharine Coffin House, now an Indiana State Historic Site.

ALTHOUGH CALLED THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, THE NETWORK THAT HELPED ENSLAVED PEOPLE ESCAPE THE PLANTATIONS IN THE SOUTH AND HEAD TOWARD FREEDOM IN THE NORTH BETWEEN 1810 AND 1850 WAS NOT AT ALL RELATED TO TRAINS. The name is a metaphor for what is known as the first great freedom movement in the Americas.

Black freedom fighters and white abolitionists braved extreme danger to help more than 100,000 slaves escape through an incredibly comprehensive hidden network of secret routes and safe havens. Their stories are told at Underground Railroad sites around the country.

Deeply ingrained into the social and historical consciousness of our nation, these tales are a fusion of tragedy, hope, perseverance and inspiration.

COURTESY IN STATE MUSEUM AND HISTORIC SITES

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The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center’s slave pen at its original location in Kentucky.

NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER

Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park

COURTESY DOCHESTER COUNTY

COURTESY NUGRFC

Cincinnati, Ohio

Opened in 2004 and located along the Ohio River in the heart of Cincinnati’s appropriately named The Banks district, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is a world-class destination.

Permanent and traveling exhibits, interactive gallery spaces and special programming are all part of the experience at the center, which engages visitors in the history of the Underground Railroad from its inception through post-Civil War abolition.

Among the most poignant exhibits here is the Slave Pen. An original structure found on farmland only a stone’s throw from the Freedom Center, it was built in the early 1800s.

Hands-on activities, introspective role-playing and vivid storytelling take center stage in the “Escape! Freedom Seekers and the Underground Railroad” exhibit, and the important issues of human trafficking and modern-day slavery are deftly addressed in “Invisible: Slavery Today.”

“Brothers of the Borderland” showcases the work of the Rev. John Rankin and John Parker, two of scores of anti-slavery activists credited with helping slaves navigate the Underground Railroad.

Additionally, travelers will find a series of in-depth films that are shown throughout the day. The films immerse visitors in subject matter and historical context that is related to today’s social issues, such as implicit bias and the rise in violent attacks on Black, Asian, Hispanic and other communities of color all over the world.

Free personalized assistance is available in the John Parker Library and Family Search Center for those desiring to trace their family trees.

And the center offers a wide array of private indoor and outdoor spaces for groups for panel discussions, corporate meetings, lectures and other events. freedomcenter.org

Harriett Tubman

HARRIET TUBMAN UNDERGROUND RAILROAD NATIONAL MONUMENT & NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK

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COURTESY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Dorchester County, Maryland

Leader, freedom fighter, liberator, nurse, humanitarian: Harriet Tubman was all these things and more, and her incredible story is told at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument and National Historical Park in Dorchester County, Maryland.

Born Harriet Ross in 1822, she was a slave from birth, escaping north to freedom after her master died in 1849.

“Harriet Tubman’s first home was the Choptank River Region,” said Dana Paterra, park manager, Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park. “It’s where she loved, worshiped, toiled and ultimately came back to 13 times to rescue friends and family. She learned the values of faith, family, community and freedom that shaped her during her most formative years.”

Harriet was married twice, the first time to free Black man John Tubman. Unfortunately, the couple’s freedom efforts didn’t align, so she later remarried, keeping her Tubman surname.

Through a wide range of permanent exhibits, a film and research library documentation, visitors learn about Harriet’s rescue missions and gain an understanding of the value of her tireless anti-slavery efforts, which ultimately succeeded in helping an estimated 70 slaves escape to freedom.

In addition to a visit here, travelers can also embark upon the Tubman Byway. Meandering over 225 picturesque miles through Maryland’s Eastern Shore and Delaware, this self-guided driving tour, available through a free Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway Tour app, encompasses 45 historically significant Underground Railroad sites. More than just a simple “stop here” guide, the tour includes storytelling, dramatizations and narration by numerous historians, experts and others.

Plans are underway for several yearlong events to celebrate Harriet’s 200th birthday in 2022. nps.gov/hatu

KELTON HOUSE MUSEUM AND GARDEN

Columbus, Ohio

Named after three generations of the Kelton family that lived here from 1852 to 1975, the Kelton House Museum and Garden in Columbus, Ohio, is a wonderful repository of decorative arts and Columbus history from the Victorian period.

But the story behind the walls is so much richer.

One day, Sophia and Fernando Kelton, who owned the home, encountered two young runaway slaves on their property. Sisters Martha and Pearl Hartway were fleeing north from Virginia to Canada. The Keltons saw that Martha was too ill to continue the journey, so, being opposed to slavery, they took her in. Martha was raised with the Kelton children and lived there into adulthood, and she eventually married Thomas Lawrence, the Kelton’s handyman.

According to Sarah Richardt, executive director of the Kelton House Museum and Garden, their coming together is a much bigger story about neighborhoods, jobs and family.

“Many visitors are struck by the fact that the Lawrence families and the Keltons stayed close through their lives,” Richardt said. “Thomas worked for the family for 37 years. After Thomas and Martha were married, they lived with the Keltons for two more years. Ella Kelton, youngest daughter of the Keltons, and her husband, James Watson, gave property to the Lawrences, and Thomas was even listed in Col. James Watson’s will. Martha named their children after two of the Keltons.”

What visitors find today is a lovingly restored 1852 home that highlights an array of memorabilia, permanent and temporary exhibits and period furnishings; approximately 80% of them belonged to the Kelton family.

In addition to the regularly scheduled tours, groups can opt for a private tour or arrange a special event on the garden grounds. keltonhouse.com

JOHN BROWN FARM STATE HISTORIC SITE

Lake Placid, New York The John Brown Farm State Historic Site in Lake Placid, New York, offers great insight into both the beauty of the Adirondack Mountains and the ugliness and loss of life that took place during the anti-slavery conflicts in this country.

It was here that abolitionist John Brown lived and was ultimately laid to rest in 1859. Staunchly opposed to the practice of slavery, he famously led a coordinated attack at the U.S. Arsenal at Harper’s Ferry in West Virginia in an attempt to procure arms to help free slaves in the South. But his failure, imprisonment and hanging are only part of the story.

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JOHN FREEMAN WALLS HISTORIC SITE AND UNDERGROUND RAILROAD MUSEUM

Ontario, Canada

In the area of the Refugee Home Society, the Puce River settlement approximately 20 minutes from the Detroit/Windsor border in Ontario, Canada, the John Freeman Walls Historic Site and Underground Railroad Museum is named after a slave from North Carolina who purchased the two-story cabin in 1846 for himself and his wife. The two raised nine children there.

Opened to the public in 1989, it is the only Underground Railroad site in the world founded, owned and run by direct descendants of a fugitive slave.

“The story of our destination and the personal struggles of my family, from enslavement in the United States to freedom in Canada, is based on a true story that I carefully researched,” said Bryan Walls, great-great grandson of John Freeman Walls and founder and president of the site and museum and the Proverbs Heritage Organization. “In the overall Black history story in the African diaspora, it represents an important and significant terminal of the Underground Railroad in North America.”

The Historic Walkway symbolizes what escaped slaves may have waded toward: freedom. The Simcoe Building, a log cabin built in 1798, honors the first lieutenant governor of Upper Canada, John Graves Simcoe, who was instrumental in helping to pass Canada’s first anti-slavery law.

The Freedom Train represents the end of the Underground Railroad line in Canada, and the Peace Chapel features elements honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and civil rights activist Rosa Parks.

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John Freeman Walls Underground Railroad Museum

COURTESY ST. JOHNS CULTURAL COUNCIL

BY ANNA DAVIS WALLS, COURTESY JFWURM

A re-enactor at Fort Mose Historic State Park

Fort Mose Historic State Park in St. Augustine

COURTESY ST. JOHNS CULTURAL COUNCIL

Although many visitors to the site believe that this was a major stop along the Underground Railroad, it was really an open African American settlement called Timbucto.

“This far north, no [secret hiding places] were needed to aid freedom seekers,” said Brendan Mills, site manager and interpretive program assistant. “The land grantees who settled in the area were all citizens of New York State. They were given land here by a wealthy benefactor in an effort to obtain voting rights. On my tours, I tell people that we only have evidence of two freedom seekers coming through here on the Underground Railroad.”

The beautiful grounds highlight spectacular open meadows, verdant forests, sweeping vistas and soaring peaks. The visitor center features exhibits about Brown’s life and legacy, as well as the Timbucto African American colony. Brown’s historic home and gravesite are part of the tour experience, and groups can also take advantage of a series of special programs, concerts and symposia. parks.ny.gov/historic-sites/johnbrownfarm

The Walls Family Cemetery is the final resting place of John Freeman Walls, his wife and over three dozen family members, runaway slaves and others.

Guided tours are often conducted by direct family descendants, and special events for groups and others include gospel and other music concerts. undergroundrailroadmuseum.org

FORT MOSE HISTORIC STATE PARK

St. Augustine, Florida

Chartered in 1738 by the Spanish governor of Florida and originally named Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose, Fort Mose (pronounced “MO-say”) was this nation’s first legally sanctioned free African settlement. Although it was the first stop along the Underground Railroad in this area, the fort became a multicultural sanctuary.

“It was an interesting society during the Spanish period,” said Christina Parrish Stone, executive director of the St. Johns Cultural Council. “At one point the Spanish government required that if [slaves] came to Fort Mose, they could be free, but they had to serve in the

militia and become Catholic. Native American, Spanish and African Americans all lived together and fought in significant battles, including against [English military leader] James Oglethorpe, who was ultimately forced back to Georgia.”

Fort Mose spans some 40 acres along marshy waterfront just north of St. Augustine. The visitor center and museum feature an overview film, artifacts, historic maps and interactive audio and video stations and exhibits.

The park grounds offer interpretive signage, hiking trails, a kayak launch, picnic areas and an observation and birding boardwalk. A replica fort and an app about the Flight to Freedom are also in the works.

Designated as a National Historic Landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and part of the Gullah Geechee Heritage Corridor, Fort Mose also offers several special events for individuals and groups, including ranger-led tours, monthly cannon firings and the annual Battle of Bloody Mose and Flight to Freedom, which features re-enactors that portray escaped slaves who came to the fort about 1740 when Oglethorpe and his army attempted to capture it. floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/ fort-mose-historic-state-park

America’s First Freedom March Follow the footsteps of America’s First Freedom March on the 1811 Slave Revolt Trail. Start where the uprising began at the 1811/Kid Ory Historic House and travel the route to Destrehan Plantation to discover how the revolt ended.

For extended experiences, visit Whitney Plantation, featuring an exclusive focus on the lives of enslaved people and Historic Riverlands, a host site to the 1811 Slave Revolt Re-enactment.

Access the free mobile pass to receive exclusive offers, the audio tour, and the interactive map when you visit the1811slaverevolt.com.

Scan for FREE Mobile Passport

GROUP THE

TR AVEL LE ADER

Explore the Interactive Map

Audio Tour Narrated

by Wendell Pierce

G R O U P T R AV E L L E A D E R . C O M

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For 20 years, the Coffin House, an eight-room, Federal-style brick home built in Fountain City, Indiana, in 1839, belonged to Levi and Catharine Coffin, members of a strong Quaker community adamantly opposed to slavery. Earning the nickname the Grand Central Station of the Underground Railroad in east central Indiana, the home provided shelter, food and support to over 1,000 former slaves escaping the South on their way north to freedom.

It wasn’t far from three other heavily traveled Underground Railroad routes, a boon for the Coffins’ efforts. A typical house from the outside, the Coffin home had a large attic, a well and kitchen in the basement, and other special features inside.

According to Joanna Hahn, central regional director of Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, Indiana’s proximity to Kentucky, then a slave state, was an attractive feature. “[Indiana] had many free Blacks settling after gaining freedom from slavery in states such as Virginia and North Carolina,” she said.

“The state also attracted white settlers who were anti-slavery. Newport was a community not only willing to take in freedom seekers but was also open to allowing some to join their community. The site works to bring those stories and their voices to the public. We try to understand why some chose to stay, even though they were legally still considered fugitive slaves.”

Groups can watch an orientation video and see a self-guided exhibit in the interpretive center, hear stories of those who assisted the slaves and take a guided tour of the Coffin home. From May through September, special walking tours of Fountain City highlight other homes and town residents who worked with the Coffins and helped make the town a center for anti-slavery work. indianamuseum.org/historic-sites/ levi-catharine-coffin-house

Whitney Plantation EDGARD, LOUISIANA

Located along the west bank of the Mississippi River about an hour from New Orleans, Whitney Plantation is the only museum in Louisiana dedicated solely to the plight of enslaved people.

Exploration here begins inside the visitor center, which features permanent exhibits that highlight the deep and complex history and unfathomable numbers involved in the global slave trade.

Although the plantation labor force in Louisiana in early 1700 was Native American and European indentured servants, it quickly and dramatically shifted to large numbers of Africans captured in their homeland. A century later, those numbers soon reflected some 100,000plus primarily Creole slaves born in this country.

Next, guests embark upon a detailed, self-guided audio tour via headset or mobile app to wander around the sprawling al fresco property. Comprising a church, original slave cabins, a jail, an overseer’s house, a blacksmith shop and a variety of other structures, the tour weaves the grim picture of slave life on this indigo, sugar and rice plantation.

Among the most poignant features are the spectacular yet somber sculptures, art installations and marble and stone memorials etched with the thousands of names of those held captive here.

Although every plantation offers its own unique exhibits and historical insights and perspectives, Whitney Plantation stretches beyond the imagination and is an absolute must-visit. whi tn e ypla n tati o n.org

Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site

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A hiding place inside the Coffin House

COURTESY WHITNEY PLANTATION

Fountain City, Indiana

PHOTOS COURTESY IN STATE MUSEUM AND HISTORIC SITES

LEVI AND CATHARINE COFFIN STATE HISTORIC SITE

COME FOR THE

COURTESY NEW ORLEANS & COMPANY

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CUISINE

DON’T MISS THESE GREAT BLACK DINING EXPERIENCES

BY LYSA ALLMAN-BALDWIN

Dookey Chase’s Restaurant in New Orleans has been a leader in Black cuisine since 1941.

MICHELIN STARS AND JAMES BEARD AWARDS MAY BE GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED HONORS IN THE CULINARY WORLD, BUT THEY DON’T USUALLY APPEAR BESIDE THE NAMES OF MANY OF THE MULTIGENERATIONAL BLACK-OWNED RESTAURANTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. Nevertheless, the significance of these establishments cannot be understated.

America’s Black-owned eateries, from back porch patios to corner diners, neighborhood bistros, iconic dining rooms and everything in between, have long been more than places to enjoy great food.

They have served as essential community gathering places as well as pathways for entrepreneurship and economic empowerment within the Black community. During the civil rights movement they were safe havens for meetings and strategy sessions.

Culinary innovators and industry leaders have honed their skills in these kitchens. And some have played pivotal roles in transforming the diversity and accessibility of both traditional and elevated soul food across racial and ethnic enclaves.

In an industry where an estimated 80% of restaurants close before their fifth anniversary, these traditional, family-owned institutions have stood the test of time, created a legacy and continue to thrive.

So loosen your belt, grab a napkin, and get ready to sink your teeth into these seven tasty cultural treasures that have sat at the heart of the African American gastronomic landscape for generations.

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PRINCE’S HOT CHICKEN SHACK

Nashville, Tennessee

New Orleans

It’s not often that previous iterations of a dining establishment owned by the same family include a lottery ticket outlet and a bar.

Yet that is part of the rich history of Dooky Chase’s Restaurant in New Orleans.

Originally opened as a sandwich shop in 1941 by Emily and Dooky Chase Sr., Dooky Chase’s and four generations of owners have played a major role in the gastronomic, artistic, musical and political landscape of the city.

In the early days, Dooky Jr. and his sister were part of a bebop band well known throughout the South. When the area’s blue collar workers struggled to find places to handle their finances because of the Jim Crow laws of the time, the restaurant featured an unofficial check-cashing entity. Years later it also achieved popularity as New Orleans’ first art gallery for African American artists.

At the helm now is Leah Chase, Dooky Jr.’s wife, known as the Queen of Creole Cuisine, who has transformed the popular gathering place into one of the country’s first African American-owned fine dining restaurants and the premier restaurant for authentic Creole cuisine in New Orleans.

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Prince’s Hot Chicken in Nashville

Artwork at Prince’s Hot Chicken

In the kitchen at Dookey Chase’s Restaurant

COURTESY NEW ORLEANS & COMPANY

DOOKY CHASE’S RESTAURANT

The dining room at Dookey Chase’s Restaurant

COURTESY NASHVILLE CVC

There aren’t many restaurants that can say they’ve been in business for over 100 years. Yet Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack has stood the test — and taste — of time.

The founding father of this three-location, Nashville-area favorite was Thornton Prince, whose womanizing became the stuff of legend.

According to the story, Thornton’s steady girlfriend grew weary of his philandering and decided get revenge by lacing his fried chicken with blistering hot peppers and other fiery seasonings. Much to her chagrin, he didn’t burn up; instead, he loved the heat. And the idea for Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack was born.

In more recent years, hot chicken has become a nationwide and, in some circles, commercialized trend. But nothing can hold a candle to the carefully perfected recipe that will go down in history as the original hot chicken.

At Prince’s, guests can order chicken tenders, wings, breasts, legs, quarters, whole birds, chicken salad and chicken sandwiches. Diners should choose their sauce wisely: Heat levels range from Lite Mild to Medium, Hot, X Hot, XX Hot and, finally, XXX Hot. Sides to accompany the main meal include baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad, mac and cheese, seasoned fries and “Get it Girl greens,” accompanied, of course, by slices of bread and cups of pickles. Pie and cake are available for dessert.

Family owned and operated since the beginning, the restaurants are now operated by Prince’s great niece. princeshotchicken.com

Shirley Mae’s chicken wings

COURTESY SHIRLEY MAE’S CAFE

Shirley Mae’s Cafe

COURTESY SHIRLEY MAE’S CAFE

COURTESY PRINCE’S HOT CHICKEN

COURTESY NEW ORLEANS & COMPANY

Discover

Menu items include oyster Norman, fried chicken, braised duck, oysters, stuffed shrimp, veal penne, chicken Creole, po’boys, shrimp Clemenceau, gumbo and crab soup, among a melting pot of other delicious options.

Diners here encompass scores of local regulars and tourists, in addition to the growing list of entertainers, politicians, writers, actors and other notable guests.

A dedicated dining areas can accommodate groups of up to 160 people. dookychaserestaurants.com

Black History in Southwest Mississippi Where the African American Story Comes to Life!

SHIRLEY MAE’S CAFÉ

Louisville, Kentucky Baked “chick’n” and country cornbread “dress’n,” skillet-fried fish with homemade tartar sauce, slow-cooked pork spareribs, Southern fried chicken wings, hot water cornbread, chess pie and jam cake: This is just the beginning of the cornucopia of flavors awaiting groups at Shirley Mae’s Café.

Situated in the heart of Smoketown, the oldest African American neighborhood in Louisville, Kentucky, the cafe story is as rich as the history of the community and building location. The edifice dates back to 1880, when it originally housed a tobacco company. It changed hands numerous times over the years, with iterations as a grocery store, a dry goods shop and residential apartments. In 1988, Shirley Mae, the first African American to own the building, opened her namesake cafe here.

Throughout its 30-year history, Shirley Mae’s has been the place for locals and prominent Black Americans to dine on one-of-a-kind, historically authentic Southern dishes made with nothing but the freshest ingredients and “lots of love.” Shirley Mae and all her children are intimately involved in every aspect of the business, and its renown has continued to grow.

“We have been on some food shows, which extends our customer base,” said restaurant manager Warren Simpson. “Regular customers love the wings, meatloaf and ribs. Old-school customers love the chitterlings. Shirley Mae’s is home cooking at a good price.” shirleymaescafe.com

DAVIS CAFÉ

Montgomery, Alabama

They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. That certainly applies to the Davis Café: the exterior is a bit rough around the edges, but the experience inside is worth the visit.

Serving tasty, authentic Southern home cooking in the classic “meat and three” style, the Davis Café has been a neighborhood fixture in Montgomery, Alabama, for decades. Open for breakfast and lunch, the restaurant’s offerings vary on different days of the week.

Depending on when they arrive, groups might choose from oxtails over rice, pork chops with gravy, baked turkey and dressing, fried

proud to take a stand monument Forks of the road rhythm night club memorial museum The dr. john bowman banks museum natchez museum of african american history & culture

“The Natchez campaign was the single greatest community victory for the Civil Rights movement in Mississippi.”

-- Lance Hill, author “The Deacons of Defense” (2004)

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Davis Café in Montgomery

COURTESY DAVIS CAFÉ

tilapia and meatloaf. An everyday staple is the signature fried chicken.

Every plate comes with delicious cornbread, and side dish options include steamed rice with gravy, breaded fried okra, purple hull peas, scalloped potatoes, and turnip and mustard greens, just to name a few.

Many of the cafe’s regular patrons suggest having dessert first. To that end you can choose from red velvet cake, potato pie, pound cake, rainbow cake and banana pudding loaded with cookies.

Beyond the eats, the Davis Café is also popular for its excellent customer service, friendly staff and welcoming ambiance.

A fried chicken plate at Davis Café

GATES AND SON’S BAR-B-Q

“Hi, may I help you?” That’s the first thing you’ll encounter at any Gates and Son’s Bar-B-Q restaurant. The ubiquitous greeting is offered — some would say “yelled” — well before guests reach the order counter. Yet it’s one of the things that draws people from all over the world to this family-owned, Kansas City barbecue enterprise credited with elevating a passion for barbecue into a thriving and reputable industry.

Originally founded in 1946 by George W. Gates as Gates Ol’ Kentucky, the restaurant was among the first successful barbecue joints in this venerable cow town. The patriarch of the family is now George’s son Ollie, who apprenticed here throughout his early education and college years and today is a major contributor in the Kansas City philanthropic community.

When Ollie took the reins, the name was changed to its current one.

Multiple generations of family members are involved in all operations of the company, and it has grown to six locations on both sides of the Missouri/Kansas state line.

Although primarily known for delicious ribs — slabs, center cuts, and short and long ends — you’ll also find barbecue chicken, sausage, mutton, beef, burnt ends and ham served in a variety of solo and mixed plates and sandwiches. Specialty items like chicken wings and legs, chili and chili cheese fries are available at select locations.

Gates’ distinctive sauce options include classic original, sweet and mild, and extra hot, and fans can purchase them, as well as their dry seasonings, in many national grocery chains and other specialty stores. gatesbbq.com

COURTESY DAVIS CAFÉ

Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas

Gates and Sons Bar-B-Que in Kansas City

SYLVIA’S RESTAURANT

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COURTESY VISITKC

Harlem, New York

What started out as a 15-stool, six-booth luncheonette purchased in 1962 from a former employer, has grown into an epicurean dynasty in the world of authentic soul food: Sylvia’s Restaurant.

On Malcolm X Boulevard in Harlem, the restaurant is named after Sylvia Woods, the family matriarch dubbed the Queen of Soul Food, who has earned international acclaim.

COURTESY BRITTANY PETRONELLA, COURTESY NYC & CO.

Sylvia’s Restaurant, a Harlem institution

Everyone from politicians to entertainers, actors, international tourists and locals flocks to Sylvia’s regularly to enjoy delightful, carefully crafted dishes. Highlights include Grandma Julia’s cornmeal fried whiting; Carolina-style fried catfish; chicken and waffles; Sylvia’s world famous barbecue ribs with her original Sassy Sauce; down-home fried or smothered chicken; old-school sandwiches with fried chicken or fried whiting; baked chicken; and a few beef, chicken and seafood combo plates.

Sides are the quintessential collard greens, baked macaroni and cheese, black-eyed peas, buttered corn and more. And don’t forget dessert: Chocolate, double chocolate, coconut and red velvet cake are among the sweet offerings.

Recognized as a must-visit for foodies, the restaurant has garnered numerous awards and accolades. Several generations of the family still run it and have expanded its offerings over the years to encompass special seating and menus for groups as well as full-service catering and a line of Sylvia’s food products. sylviasrestaurant.com

A Movement in Every Direction: Legacies of the Great Migration April 9 through September 11, 2022 Be the first to see brand new artwork by 12 contemporary artists on the impacts of the largest migration of African Americans in U.S. history.

The Great Migration is co-organized by MMA and Baltimore Museum of Art with support provided by the Ford Foundation and the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. Its presentation in Jackson, Mississippi is sponsored by the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Henry Luce Foundation, Trustmark National Bank, Mississippi Humanities Council, and

MISSISSIPPI MUSEUM OF ART

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601.960.1515 | msmuseumart.org

Although not a long-standing African American establishment, the Grey Restaurant in Savannah, Georgia, offers a fascinating and worthy perspective on the history of Black food culture.

The restaurant’s name honors its former iteration as a segregated 1938 Art Deco Greyhound Bus terminal. Its proprietors — African American chef Mashama Bailey and Italian business partner Johno Morisano — lovingly and meticulously renovated and transformed the site into what has now been called “an essential American dining destination.”

The contrasts of these unconventional partners’ backgrounds speak volumes, and it is their mission to use the restaurant to inspire conversations around race, culture, class and gender while also offering patrons a unique food, wine and service experience.

On the menu, which combines upscale gastronomic fare and familiar Port City Southern recipes, diners find creative and outstanding dishes that rotate according to the availability of fresh seasonal produce, meats and seafood.

The country pasta with bucatini, pork belly and egg yolk is a fan favorite, as are the crab beignets with blue crab, mascarpone and remoulade; smoked fish with potato rosti, creme fraiche and Oklahoma caviar; and duck liver mousse with red lime marmalade.

The property also includes the Grey Market, a combination of a Southern lunch counter and a New York City-style bodega. Private dining options for groups include the Shower Room, which overlooks the main dining room, and the Boiler Room, which can accommodate up to 10 people. Preset menus can also be provided for parties of more than nine people. thegreyrestaurant.com

Destrehan Plantation DESTREHAN, LOUISIANA

The land on which Destrehan Plantation sits was originally procured in the early to mid-1700s by Frenchman Jean Baptiste Honore Destrehan, who came to the Americas to help expand French territory in the region.

The first official owner of any buildings here was a man by the name of Robin deLogny, who married into the Destrehan family, and subsequently hired Charles Paquet, a slave known for his superior master craftsman abilities.

Today, while touring the French Colonial style home and spacious property, historical interpreters help visitors learn about and experience Paquet’s outstanding design and building skills and the lives and work of the over 200 slaves estimated to have lived here.

More than just a set of buildings, Destrehan Plantation is a historical repository with numerous original deLogny and Destrehan family artifacts, documents and memorabilia, as well as folk life demonstrations and interactive media and gallery exhibits.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Destrehan Plantation is reportedly the oldest intact plantation house remaining in the Lower Mississippi Valley, which runs through seven states. Several different themed tours are available.

de s tre ha n pla n tati on.org

BY MELISSA MONICA, COURTESY DESTREHAN PLANTATION

GREY RESTAURANT

Savannah, Georgia

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Grey Restaurant owners Johno Morissano, left, and chef Mashama Bailey

BY CHIA CHONG, COURTESY GREY RESTAURANT

Savannah’s Grey Restaurant

you bring the group. we’ll bring the smiles.

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THIS ISN’T ORDINARY. THIS IS SAVANNAH.

THE GINGERBREAD HOUSE

SAVANNAH 2-DAY AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE ITINERARY Whether you’re a tour operator, motorcoach company, wholesaler, travel agent, group leader, or other travel professionals, Visit Savannah offers all the services and resources you need to plan your visit successfully.

Savannah celebrates more than 250 years of black history and features several historic sites that focus on this crucial piece of the area’s past.

Day 2 Stop by Laurel Grove Cemetery, one of Savannah’s most significant final resting places for African Americans.

Discover three floors of photographic and interactive exhibits at the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum.

Experience Gullah Geechee culture at Pin Point Heritage Museum.

Day 1 Visit the oldest continuous black church in North America, the First African Baptist Church.

Tour the Owens-Thomas House & Slaves Quarters to see Regency architecture in America and the original slave quarters that housed the enslaved.

Uncover three decades’ worth of African American arts and crafts at the King-Tisdell Cottage.

Please visit us at VisitSavannah.com/groups to start planning your next group tour.