70 V I S I T E B O N Y . C O M / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 4

L I V E Travel

Adventures in HistoryA

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STEP OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM AND PLAN TRIPS TO 10 HISTORIC SITES THAT EVERY BLACK FAMILY SHOULD VISIT

F rom iconic memorials, interactive exhibitions and historic landmarks to international sites of struggle, these 10 attractions promise to spark family conversa-tions about our rich and complex past. Perhaps the only thing better than seeing these sites in person? Having memories to cherish for years to come.

Kids’ imagina-tions can run wild

when exploring the heroes at the

African American Civil War Memorial

and Museum.

BLACKHISTORYMONTHS P E C I A L

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If your family saw Lee Daniels’ The Butler, everyone will be excited to visit one of the actual sites where the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee enacted its famous lunch-counter sit-ins. On Feb. 1, 1960, four freshmen from North Carolina A&T State University, known as The Greensboro Four, sat down at a “Whites only” counter and sparked a revolution. The Interna-tional Civil Rights Center & Museum, located next door to the storied F.W. Wool-worth’s store, celebrates the nonviolent protests of organized sit-ins. Seeing the original lunch coun-ter and archival photos, your family will be able to connect with the brave students who broke racial barriers with relentless determination.

Gray Line New Orleans Hurricane Katrina Tour Immerse the fam-ily in the recon- struction of the Big Easy. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans

and the surround-ing areas in 2005, the catastrophe left thousands of residents dis-placed, many dead and entire neighborhoods demolished. This bus tour explores

the causes of the damage, the his-tory of the city’s famed French Quarter and takes tourists through St. Bernard Par-ish and the Lower Ninth Ward, areas particularly hard

hit. Finally, see the continued rebirth of New Orleans and the engineer-ing that, hopefully, will prevent future similar calamities.

graylinenewor-leans.com

1 | AFRICAN AMERICAN CIVIL WAR MEMORIAL

AND MUSEUM

1925 Vermont Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. | afroamcivilwar.org

Go beyond what the text-books say to explore the

often-forgotten role Black soldiers played in ending slav-ery. Through artifacts and one-of-a-kind exhibitions, students are introduced to the battles of the Civil War

and the controversial arm-ing of African-American troops. And don’t worry;

little girls will discover their own heroines at this inspiring memorial. The contributions of

African-American women to the war as

guides, scouts and spies are at the

center of one of the museum’s

most popular lectures.

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134 S. Elm St., Greensboro, N.C. | sitinmovement.org

3  International Civil Rights Center & Museum

The tour highlights rebuilt areas as well as devastated neighborhoods.

A woman in period costume at an Afri-can American Civil

War Museum parade

The museum’s re-stored version of the lunch counter where

The Greensboro Four sat. Below: The

building at night.

A visitor takes in a historical time line.

Despite the fact that few Westerns feature

Black cowboys, experts have revealed that their absence from American history and the popular

movie genre is not accurate. The National Multicultural Western

Heritage Museum educates visitors on the

crucial role minorities played in settling the

West, including the his-tory of Black cowboys,

Buff alo soldiers and female pioneers. The

exhibitions allow visitors to see the original uni-

forms and saddles of the famed Buff alo Soldiers,

learn about the contribu-tions of Native Ameri-

cans and hear stories of the forgotten cowboys in

their Hall of Fame.

3400 Mount Vernon Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas | cowboysof-

color.org

2. National Multicultural

Western Heritage

Museum and Hall of Fame

Above: Cowboy gear on display.

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For the ultimate history lesson, cross the Atlantic Ocean on a fl ight into Accra, Ghana, to be transformed by one of the most infl uential castles built for the slave trade. After a three-hour bus ride to the coast, tourists walk through the same halls, cells and passageways that African slaves marched through, including the infamous fi nal exit known as the “Point of No Return.” Tour guides discuss the economics of American slavery as well as the human toll, as visitors are shown eerie dungeons where memorial wreaths now hang, including one donated by President Barack Obama during a visit in July 2009.

Victoria Road P.O. Box 281, Cape Coast, Ghana | capecoastcastle.ghana-net.net

Who says swimming and so-cial studies don’t mix? The pristine beaches of South

Carolina’s Sea Islands, also known as the Gullah Islands,

are home to West African traditions preserved as

if in a time capsule. After the Civil War, the Gullahs were abandoned. It was

that isolation, however, that helped preserve the islands and their culture. Today, the

magical lands continue to be home to unique artisan crafts, savory seafood and

religious folklore. One of the nation’s fi rst schools for freed slaves, Penn School, is on St. Helena Island. Learn to crab like an islander at

Hunting Island State Park; master native crafting at Ms.

Natalie’s Workshop; then dine on the famous shrimp

burgers and sweet tea at the Shrimp Shack.Watts Towers

A beacon of imagination and a symbol of the willpower of one Ital-ian immigrant, Watts Towers, in Southern California, is a must-visit for any family who loves public art. Just 30 minutes from the bright lights of Tinseltown, the structures were built by Simon “Sam” Rodia over a 34-year span starting in the 1920s. Without the benefit of any machines or construction equip-ment, he worked single-handedly to erect the masterpiece, which he called “Nuestro Pueblo” or “Our Town,” out of broken tile, glass and seashells. The tallest of the 17 mosaic structures stands at 99 feet and anchors an adjacent art center. Continuing the legacy of art in this predominantly African-American and Hispanic neighborhood, many

homes across the street from the Towers have been “adopted” by artists and architects. Thanks to the Watts House Project, they have been reimagined and painted with vibrant murals—a stunning sight for budding artists and longtime enthusiasts alike.

10 Morehouse and Spel-

man CollegesWhether you have teen-agers or rambunctious tykes, it’s never too early for a college tour. Morehouse and Spelman Colleges are perfect first stops because of their proximity to one another and the sheer excitement that takes place on these HBCU campuses. From Morehouse fraternities performing community service on the “yard” to jazz wafting on the plaza outside Jazzman’s and the extraordinary words

of alum Martin Luther King Jr. etched on the base of a statue, life on the campus is full of in-spiration for young Black scholars. Daughters will all but beg to attend Spelman after watching students build a model for the upcoming robot-ics competition, then spotting “Spelmanites” fundraising for cancer research on the college’s picturesque grounds.

9  Union Baptist Cemetery

4933 Cleves Warsaw Ave., Cincinnati | union-baptist.net

Although a cemetery may seem like an odd fam-ily destination, it’s the perfect place to teach children history that was le� out of their text-books. Founded in 1831 by free Blacks, Union Baptist Church holds a unique distinction both in American history and modern-day Black cul-ture. The nearby cemetery is the oldest Baptist African-American cemetery in Cincinnati, run by the oldest Black Baptist congregation in the city. The cemetery is a monument to about 120 free Black men who fought in the Civil War. Recruited by Frederick Douglass, they were members of the North’s � rst all-Black unit, the 54th Massachu-setts Infantry, and fought bravely in spite of a proclamation by the Confederate Congress that every captured Black soldier would be sold into slavery. While in The Queen City, be sure to tour the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center to explore artifacts from American slav-ery and to learn about the many forms of slavery that still exist worldwide.

6 | MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. MEMORIAL

1850 W. Basin Drive SW, Washington, D.C. | nps.gov/mlkm

Pint-sized peacemakers will be eager to visit the newest memorial

on the National Mall and to pose like the American Civil Rights icon. After snap-ping a few selfies and family photos, take the kids to read over a dozen powerful

quotes from King that span a granite wall facing the Tidal Basin.

Grab a quick bite to eat before using the day as a teachable moment, discussing King’s fight for

freedom and liberties as well as his inspiration-

al message of nonviolence.

gullahgeecheecorridor.org

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8. The Sea

Islands of South Carolina

1727 E 107th St., Los Angeles |wattstowers.us

5Cape Coast Castle & Museum

A vivid National Underground Railroad Freedom Center exhibition

displays life during American slavery.

Watts Towers is a beacon of art in a neigh-borhood otherwise known for its 1965 riots.

MLK is fl anked by memori-als to Presidents Thomas Jeff erson and Abraham Lincoln.

Visitors to Cape Coast Castle are

shown artifacts believed to be

used by the castle’s inhabitants.

President Obama walking during More-house’s 2013 commencement (above); Spelman’s pristine quad (below).

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center | 50 East Freedom Way, Cincinnati (freedomcenter.org)

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Shrimp caught off Hilton Head, S.C.

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830 Westview Dr. S.W., Atlanta | morehouse.edu350 Spelman Lane S.W., Atlanta | spelman.edu