Books, podcasts, apps are just a few ways for people to learn more about African American history. Visiting museums is another great idea. Fortunately, there are tons of museums that feature influential leaders in the Black community. Listed below are just three African American museums to help inspire you.
Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum
Benjamin Banneker is one of the most remarkable American scientists of all time. Despite years of indentured servitude on a plantation, Banneker was able to get a brief education from a Quaker schoolmaster. An interest in math and astronomy blossomed and Banneker was able to continue his education on his own. He produced 28 editions of Banneker’s Almanac. And was called upon to help survey the territory for the construction of the nation’s capital.
You can learn more about Benjamin Banneker at the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. The 142-acre site chronicles Banneker’s contributions and offers special programs in colonial history and environmental conservation. You can find more information here.
The National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum
The beautiful city of Chicago has a lot to offer, especially during Black History Month. One of their hidden treasures is the National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum, which focuses on the contributions African Americans made to the labor movement. Asa Philip Randolph was a labor activist and organizer of the 1941 March on Washington. The march helped led the establishment of the Fair Employment Practices Committee (FEPC).
If you’re ever in the Chicago area and you want to learn more about this history, be sure to check out the National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum. You can find more information about the museum here.
The King Center
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change is the pride of Atlanta, Georgia. Mrs. Coretta Scott King established The King Center in 1968 on behalf of her deceased husband, activist and pastor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Center has been a local institution for decades and it offers educational resources and community programs.
The next time you’re in Atlanta you should definitely check out The King Center. Finally, When you take a tour you’ll be able to see Dr. and Mrs. King’s crypt, the exhibition hall, and the birth home of Dr. King. You can find more information on the museum here.