5 Hidden Gems of Black History Landmarks in the U.S. You Might Not Know About

While places like Nashville’s National Museum of African American Music and the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina, stand out as excellent venues for exploring Black history, a little exploration can reveal numerous local landmarks worth discovering. Lauri Williamson, in her research for the upcoming book 111 Places in Black Culture in Washington, DC That You Must Not Miss (set to release on June 19, 2024), found an abundance of such sites. The D.C.-based tour guide embarked on this project to highlight the often-overlooked African American narratives and discovered a treasure trove of locations tied to Black history, but she had to dig deep to uncover them.

“Many of the significant places I discovered lack any form of recognition. They often don’t have plaques or markers indicating their historical importance. So, sometimes it took considerable time to uncover the facts behind these locations,” Williamson explains. “For example, the largest recorded escape attempt from slavery took place right here in Washington, D.C. There is a plaque commemorating it, but it’s in a spot that’s quite hard to locate. Nevertheless, I found it, and it’s included in my book.”

You don’t have to be an expert tour guide to uncover Black history in your travels. Williamson suggests that travelers utilize tourism bureau websites, which often feature highlights of Black history and culture. “And if that information isn’t available, just give the tourism bureau a call. That’s their role—to attract visitors and provide insights about the city,” she advises.

To motivate you in your quest to uncover lesser-known Black history landmarks during your travels, here are five that Williamson wishes to emphasize.

Harriet Tubman’s Residence in New York

• Location: Auburn, New York
• Schedule a tour: Harriet Tubman Home; ticket prices are $7 for adults (ages 18–64), $5 for college students and seniors (65+), and $3 for youth (ages 6–17)

Williamson occasionally conducts tours in Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where Harriet Tubman was raised and began her journeys on the Underground Railroad. The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center and the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center are key sites that delve into the life of the abolitionist and human rights advocate, who undertook 19 trips to the South and helped approximately 70 enslaved individuals escape to the North.

In 1859, Harriet Tubman acquired a house in Auburn, New York. This residence is now part of a National Historical Park. The site also features the Tubman Home for Aged and Indigent Negroes, which served as a healthcare facility for the local community, along with the Harriet Tubman Visitor Center.

Frederick Douglass’s Residence

• Location: Washington, D.C.
• Schedule a tour: Frederick Douglass National Historic Site

During her research for 111 Places, Williamson was astonished to discover that few historic homes in D.C. have survived, as many were demolished or repurposed. However, one notable exception is the residence of abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Born into slavery in Talbot County, Maryland, Douglass escaped in 1838 and gained fame for his writings. He later settled in Washington, D.C., in a home he named “Cedar Hill,” where he lived until his death in 1895. Today, this estate is designated as a National Historic Site, with the National Parks Service conducting tours of the impressive 21-room mansion.

16th Street Baptist Church

• Location: Birmingham, Alabama
• Schedule a tour: 16th Street Baptist Church; ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for students

The 16th Street Baptist Church, the first Black church in Birmingham, Alabama, served as a central hub for Civil Rights organizers. In 1963, a devastating bombing during a Sunday service claimed the lives of four young girls, shocking and outraging people nationwide. Williamson notes, “It truly brought global attention to the issue of racial violence.”

The church reopened in 1964 and continues to hold services today, along with offering tours for those interested in its history.

“There are numerous sites of historical significance where tragic events have occurred,” Williamson observes. “While they may not be the most enjoyable places to visit, they are vital to our understanding of American history, as each story contributes to the larger narrative.”

The location of the Pearl Incident

• Location: Washington, D.C.

Today, the Wharf neighborhood on the waterfront of Washington, D.C. boasts some of the finest restaurants and hotels in the capital. However, 176 years ago, it was the site of the largest documented escape attempt by enslaved individuals in the nation. In 1848, 77 enslaved men, women, and children boarded a schooner named The Pearl aiming for the free state of New Jersey. Unfortunately, they were captured by their enslavers when the schooner docked near Point Lookout, Maryland, due to unfavorable winds. Following the event, many of the escapees were sold to enslavers in the South, and this quest for freedom became known as the “Pearl Incident.”

Ebenezer Baptist Church

• Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Martin Luther King Jr., one of the most prominent leaders of the Civil Rights movement, served as a pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church alongside his father, Martin Luther King Sr. (Many travelers may be unaware that King Jr.’s mother, Alberta Williams King, was tragically shot in the church.) Ebenezer Baptist Church is situated within the nearly 40-acre Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, which also features the “Behold” monument and The King Center, where the final resting places of King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King, can be found.