10 Must-Visit Black History Museums

Above image: Freedom Monument Sculpture Park at The Legacy Sites; photo courtesy of The Legacy Sites

While Black History Month each February is a great time to explore the rich history of African American culture in the US, black history museums offer a deeper understanding of America’s past and insight into how we, as a nation, move forward in the future any time of year.

Here are 10 world-class institutions where you’ll hear firsthand accounts of historic events, see rare artifacts, and learn about the powerful stories of struggle, sacrifice, and perseverance that exemplify the Black experience.

A statue representing the protest by U.S. black athletes at the Mexico City Olympic Games is on display at National Museum of African American History and Culture — Statue commemorating the 1968 Olympic protest by US Black athletes at the National Museum of African American History and Culture; photo by LT/stock.adobe.com

National Museum of American History and Culture | Washington, DC

A moving Smithsonian-funded attraction with more than 40,000 artifacts, this cultural institution is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture.

International African American Museum (IAAM) | Charleston, South Carolina

Located on Gadsden’s Wharf, where thousands of African captives arrived during slavery, IAAM is the nation’s second-largest exhibition dedicated to African American history and culture. The awe-inspiring building encompasses more than 150 artifacts, dozens of works of art, and nearly 50 films.

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute | Birmingham, Alabama

This popular museum offers insight into the history of how and why Birmingham became a major player in the Civil Rights Movement. Its exhibits showcase everything from drinking fountains separated by race to mock classrooms that highlight the difference between those designated for White and Black children.

The hallway with message 'One Nation Under A Groove' inside of National Museum of African American Music — The ‘One Nation Under A Groove’ message at the National Museum of African American Music celebrates African American musical heritage; photo by Khairil/stock.adobe.com

National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) | Nashville, Tennessee

The home of Black music, NMAAM is dedicated to celebrating the many music genres created, inspired, and influenced by African Americans. Aptly located in Music City, the museum explores genres that range from blues and jazz, to R&B and hip-hop.

Memorial for Peace and Justice — The Memorial for Justice and Peace at The Legacy Sites Museum honors the struggle for civil rights and equality; photo courtesy of The Legacy Sites

The Legacy Sites | Montgomery, Alabama

Legacy Sites encompasses a museum, a memorial, and a monument in Montgomery that highlights America’s history of injustice, including its National Memorial for Peace and Justice recognizing the thousands of lynching victims across the US. Legacy Sites also houses a new 17-acre Freedom Monument Sculpture Park that includes dwellings relocated from a cotton plantation and a train car where enslaved people were transported.

preserved slave pen at the Whitney Plantation — A preserved slave cabin at the Whitney Plantation; photo by Elsa Hahne

Whitney Plantation | Wallace, Louisiana

Only an hour’s drive from New Orleans, Whitney Plantation is the only former plantation site in Louisiana with an exclusive focus on slavery. Visitors can step back in time as they walk through preserved slave cabins and the big house to explore monuments, including a list of the names of those who were once enslaved there.

National Underground Railroad Freedom Museum exhibit — The National Underground Railroad Freedom Museum spotlights Underground Railroad stories of courage, cooperation, and perseverance; photo by Mark Bealer Photography

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center | Cincinnati, Ohio

Sitting on the banks of the Ohio River, one of the major stops on the Underground Railroad, the Freedom Center tells the stories of those who heroically fought to abolish slavery and to assist those on their path to achieve newfound freedom through a series of permanent and traveling exhibits.

The Balcony and Vintage Cars at Lorraine Motel and National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee — Now part of the National Civil Rights Museum, the Lorraine Motel marks the site of Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1968 assassination; photo by Jill Clardy/stock.adobe.com

National Civil Rights Museum | Memphis, Tennessee

Situated at the Lorraine Motel where civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, this renowned museum explores the long fight for basic human rights and five centuries of its history dating back to the resistance at the start of slavery.

Buck O’Neil stands beside a statue — Buck O’Neil, co-founder of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, is honored with a statue celebrating his impact as a Kansas City Monarchs player; photo courtesy of Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum | Kansas City, Missouri

Located just two blocks from where the National Negro League was established in Kansas City in 1920, this one-of-a-kind museum contains hundreds of photos, artifacts, and several films dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich history of African American baseball.

Inside The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center — The Art of Our Storytellers at The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center tells stories of African American life through art; photo courtesy of The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center

The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center | Chicago, Illinois

The nation’s oldest independent African American museum, this Chicago treasure is home to 15,000 artifacts, including paintings, sculptures, and memorabilia. Topics range from the Windy City’s 1919 Race Riot to women of color serving in World War I to the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

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What are you waiting for? There’s no better time than now to dive into a trove of Black history ready to be explored museums throughout the US.