Explore 10 hidden Black History Month destinations across the United States, showcasing the rich and diverse history of African Americans.

The newly established Civil Rights Trail, nearly five decades after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s death, honors the ongoing struggle for racial equality and justice in the American South.

Stretching across 14 states and Washington, D.C., the trail connects over 100 pivotal sites that played a significant role in shaping the nation's history.

While the iconic Civil Rights Movement landmarks are crucial to understanding America’s past and present, there are also lesser-known figures and places that played a key role in the ongoing fight for freedom, before and after the movement.

From New York City to California, these 10 locations offer a deeper exploration into the enduring legacy of Black history and culture.

1. Carter G. Woodson Park, Washington, D.C.

Carter G. Woodson, often called the 'Father of Black History,' was a pioneering African American historian who founded 'Negro History Week' in February 1926. He worked tirelessly to encourage schools and organizations to formally recognize Black History Month nationwide.

Though Woodson's vision wasn't fully realized until 26 years after his passing, his efforts came to fruition in 1976 when President Gerald R. Ford officially designated February as Black History Month.

2. Freedmen’s Colony, Roanoke Island, North Carolina

During the Civil War, Roanoke Island, located off the coast of North Carolina, became a refuge for enslaved people seeking freedom. Declared 'contraband of war,' they were granted freedom and established a thriving community with churches, schools, a sawmill, and over 500 homes.

Though most were forced to leave Roanoke Island after the Civil War, in 2001, descendants of these early African Americans erected a monument to commemorate the site of the Freedmen's Colony.

3. African Burial Ground National Monument, New York City

In 1991, workers from the General Services Administration stumbled upon the remains of over 400 men, women, and children buried beneath lower Manhattan. After analysis, it was confirmed to be a 17th- and 18th-century burial ground, the oldest and largest known site of its kind for both free and enslaved Africans in North America.

In 2006, President George W. Bush officially designated the African Burial Ground as a National Monument, the first of its kind dedicated to the early Africans of New York and African Americans nationwide.

4. Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Kansas City, Missouri

African Americans began playing organized baseball in the late 1800s, eventually forming their own league structure in 1920.

The legacy of these pioneering players is celebrated at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, a 10,000-square-foot institution filled with interactive exhibits and films, located in Kansas City's historic 18th and Vine district, a key center of African-American culture.

5. National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Cincinnati, Ohio

Nestled along the Ohio River, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center sits on the dividing line between the slave-holding South and the free North, symbolizing the boundary that many enslaved people crossed to escape oppression.

The center chronicles the brave escape stories of enslaved individuals who used the Underground Railroad to seek freedom, as well as the ongoing fight for freedom today, highlighting modern-day abolitionists who combat slavery worldwide.

6. Tuskegee Airmen Memorial, Walterboro, South Carolina

The Tuskegee Airmen made history as the first African American military pilots in the U.S. armed forces. However, their journey to earn the right to fight was one of struggle and perseverance. Their dedication is honored with a monument at the Lowcountry Regional Airport, formerly the Walterboro Army Airfield.

7. Melrose Plantation, Melrose, Louisiana

Melrose Plantation, a 200-year-old cotton and pecan plantation in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, was built by free African Americans. Marie Thérèse Coincoin, born into slavery, was bought and freed by Claude Thomas Pierre Metoyer, with whom she had ten children.

In 1796, her son Louis Metoyer completed much of Melrose Plantation, including the iconic Big House, by 1833. Today, visitors can explore this National Historic Landmark to learn about 19th-century plantation life and the families that resided there after the Metoyers.

8. St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, Oakland, California

One of the often-overlooked achievements of the Black Panther Party was their Free Breakfast for Children program, which began at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Oakland. This initiative eventually provided 20,000 meals a week for children in underserved communities.

9. Buffalo Soldiers Monument, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

After the Civil War, the all-Black 10th Cavalry Regiment, who played a pivotal role in settling the western frontier, earned the title 'Buffalo Soldiers' from Native Americans due to their bravery and prowess in battle.

For years, the contributions of the Buffalo Soldiers went largely unrecognized, but in the 1990s, under the leadership of then-Major General Colin Powell, efforts were made to create a fitting memorial at Fort Leavenworth. The memorial includes a 13-foot bronze statue of a Buffalo Soldier on horseback, a 'Circle of Firsts' celebrating their achievements, and the Charles Young Reading Room, dedicated to the study of their history.

10. African Meeting House, Boston, Massachusetts

Built in 1806, the African Meeting House in Boston’s Beacon Hill is the oldest surviving Black church in America. It stood at the heart of the city’s 19th-century free Black community and became a hub for leaders of the Abolitionist Movement.

In 1972, the Museum of African American History acquired and restored the building to its 1855 state. Today, it hosts exhibits, tours, screenings, and lectures celebrating African-American history.

Discover more about these historic sites

Carter G. Woodson Memorial Park, 900 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001 (No phone number available)

Freedmen’s Colony on Roanoke Island, 1401 National Park Drive, Manteo, NC 27954, +1 (252) 473-2111

African Burial Ground National Monument, 290 Broadway, New York, NY 10007, +1 (212) 637-2019

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, 1616 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO 64108, +1 (816) 221-1920

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 50 East Freedom Way, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, +1 (513) 333-7500

Tuskegee Airmen Memorial, 537 Aviation Way, Walterboro, SC 29488, +1 (843) 549-2549

Melrose Plantation, 3533 Highway 119, Melrose, LA 71452, +1 (318)-379-0055

St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, 525 29th Street, Oakland, CA 94609, +1 (510) 832-6462

Buffalo Soldiers Monument, 881 McClellan Ave, Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027, +1 (913) 684-4021

African Meeting House, 46 Joy Street, Boston, MA 02114, +1 (617) 725-0022 ext. 330