24 African-American Historical Sites You Must Visit

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Mary McLeod Bethune House – Washington, D.C.

Mary McLeod Bethune, born July 10, 1875, was an educator and civil rights activist and established a school for girls in Florida. It later became Bethune-Cookman University. Bethune moved to Washington, D.C., when she was offered a position with the Franklin D. Roosevelt Administration in 1935 and founded the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW).

Historically, the Bethune House was a site for discussions, activism and programs geared to advance the interests of African-American women and the Black community. The house is open for daily tours, with exhibits and an audio recording of Bethune’s last speech.

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Malcolm X Birth Site — Omaha, Nebraska

Malcolm X was born on May 19, 1925. Although he relocated twice before his fourth birthday because of threats to his family by the white supremacist organization, Black Legion, his birthplace in Omaha set the foundation for his civic and political engagement.

His home is the site of a plaza, memorial and programming on the teachings of Malcolm X.

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Negro Leagues Baseball Museum — Kansas City, Missouri

In 1885, the Cuban Giants formed the first Black professional baseball team. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, founded in 1990 by a group of former players, seeks to preserve the history of Negro League Baseball in America.

The museum features exhibits of famous players such as Jackie Robinson, lifestyle exhibits depicting Black life during the early 1900s and short films on the history of the league.

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Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History — Detroit, Michigan

Charles H. Wright was a practicing physician interested in creating an institution to preserve African-American history. The Charles H. Wright Museum, founded in 1965, is home to the world’s largest permanent exhibit on African-American. It includes the Harriet Tubman Museum Collection and Underground Railroad Museum Collection.

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Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial — Washington, D.C.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial opened Aug. 22, 2011. Located southwest of the National Mall, King is the first African-American with a memorial on or near the Mall. Ranger site tours and a bookstore are available at the memorial.