Durham, NC

Hayti Heritage Center
Pronounced “Hay - tie,” this multi-purpose complex serves as a national archive for the preservation of African American works and artifacts; it is named after the Hayti district which is a bout 1 mile southest of Black Wall Street; during the year, one can see a variety of visual arts on display in the Lyda Moore Merrick Gallery; the dance studio holds 30-40 people and the community meeting space holds up to 80 for Kwanzaa and other celebrations; 804 Old Fayetteville Street; 919-683-1709; http://www.hayti.org

North Carolina Central University
NCCU was founded in 1910 as a Historically Black College on 100 acres of sloping hills, it is now a UNC-affiliated institution; this beautiful campus has many restored buildings on the National Register of Historic Places and many state-of-the art buildings; although many bachelor degree programs are offered in its College of Arts and Sciences, NCCU graduate and professional degrees in history, music, business, computer science, criminal justice, education, public administration, library and information science, and law make this HBCU stand out; the main library features more than 600,000 books; Housed in the upper corridor of McLendon-McDougald Gymnasium, the Hall of Fame displays large-scale photographs from NCCU's athletic history that are predominantly the work of Alexander Rivera Jr., nationally acclaimed photojournalist and former director of public relations at NCCU; at the Women’s Gym of NCCU, the first integrated basketball game was played in March 1944 between NCCU and Duke Medical School; John McLendon, pioneer of the “Fast Break” in basketball, was head coach for NCCU -- guess who won? 1801 Fayetteville Street; 919-560-6100; http://www.nccu.edu

Dr. James E. Shepard Monument
A bronze statue of NCCU founder Dr James E Shepard by sculptor William Zorah; James was the son of Augustus Shepard, minister of White Rock Baptist Church; though he studied Pharmacy at Shaw University, he followed his father into the ministry before founding NCCU; located in front of the North Carolina Central University administration building near Fayetteville Street

Institute for the Study of Minority Issues
The institute promotes research about people of color in the New South; it hosts numerous forums for discussion and writing about the educational, political, economic and social issues impacting our station in life; North Carolina Central University - Williams Jones Building; 919-560-6433; http://www.nccu.edu/campus/index.html

Stanford L. Warren Library
Founded in 1913 by Dr. Aaron Moore in the basement of old White Rock Baptist Church, it is the second oldest black library in North Carolina; in 1916, it moved downtown and was renamed Durham Colored Library; in 1940, the library moved to this current location, a building, primarily funded by its prime benefactor, Stanford L. Warren, hence the last name change; library also features the Selena Warren Wheeler Collection (named for his daughter) of African American culture, history and literature; Mon-Thu 9a-9p, Fri-Sat 9a-6p; 1201 Fayetteville Street; 919-560-0270; http://www.durhamcountylibrary.org/branches/slw.htm

North Carolina Central University Art Museum
Features an outstanding collection of 19th and 20th century African American and African art from national, regional and local artists; the museum is located on the campus of the nation’s first public arts school for African Americans on; it is a lively venue that frequently features contemporary exhibitions and programs; 1801 Fayetteville Street; Tue-Fri 9a-5p, Sun 2p-5p; 919-560-6100; http://www.nccu.edu/campus/index.html

Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture
Named in honor of the Jazz pianist, composer and teacher Mary Lou Williams, who was an artist-in-residence at Duke from 1977-81; since its opening in 1983, the mission of the center is to preserve and enhance Black culture, promote interracial understanding and sponsor events covering art, history and folklore; open by appointment; Duke University’s West Campus; 919-684-3814; http://mlw.studentaffairs.duke.edu

African American Dance Ensemble
Established in 1984, the ensemble seeks to preserve and share the finest traditions of African and African American dance and music through research, education and entertainment by celebrating traditional African culture, aesthetics and values; the ensemble began as the Chuck Davis Dance Company, and is today a major performer in Durham’s annual American Dance Festival; 120 Morris Street; 919-560-2729; http://www.africanamericandanceensemble.org

Cary, NC

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Headquarters
Seven young teachers (Mary Lou Allison Little, Dorothy Hanley Whiteside, Vivian White Marbury, Nannie Mae Gahn Johnson, Hattie Mae Dulin Redford, Bessie M. Downey Martin and Cubena McClure) founded the organization in 1922 at Butler University, Indiana; it was founded with the idealism of “greater service resulted in greater progress”; it became an incorporated national collegiate sorority in 1929, when a charter was granted to Alpha chapter at Butler; today there are over 72,000 members in over 400 chapters in the United States, Bermuda, Bahamas, and US Virgin Islands; 8:30a-5p Mon-Fri; 1000 Southhill Drive, Suite 200, 919-678-9720; http://www.sgrho1922.org

Raleigh, NC

Shaw University
Founded 1865, Shaw University is the oldest historically black university in the south and a founding member of the United Negro College Fund; this Baptist-related, four-year liberal arts institution offers 31 different degrees from 13 departments; three of its academic programs also have national accreditation: Divinity, Kinesiotherapy, and Teacher Education; five facilities including Estey Hall, the nation’s first dormitory for women on a co-educational campus and Leonard Hall, the nation’s first four-year medical school have been or are currently under renovation; President Dr. Talbert O. Shaw leads 2,500 students who primarily come from the United States, Caribbean and Africa; 118 East South Street; 919-546-8200; http://www.shawuniversity.edu

St. Augustine’s College
A co-educational liberal arts college affiliated with the Protestant Episcopal Church, strong programs in 38 academic disciplines in five major divisions; the College Chapel was built in 1895; nearby is a memorial to the Reverend Henry Beard Delany, the first black bishop elected to the Episcopal Church and the first bishop to graduate from St Augustine; Sunday worship 11a; 1315 Oakwood Ave, 919-516-4000; http://www.st-aug.edu

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Gardens
A colorful variety of trees and flowers encircle a life-sized bronze statue of Dr King; a 12-ton granite water monument honors other notable pioneers in the civil rights movement; one of the few public parks in the United States devoted to the civil rights movement; corner of Rock Quarry Road and Martin Luther King Blvd; 919-834-6264

African American Cultural Complex
Founded by EB and Juanita Palmer, this eye-catching museum and cultural center should not be missed; created by African Americans who have contributed to the development and improvement of North Carolina. Innovations in science, business, politics, medicine, sports and the arts are in the exhibit; recently featured a play about Joseph Cinque of Amistad fame; a replica of the slave ship "Amistad" and an outdoor pageant are planned; open daily; 119 Sunnybrook Road, 919-212-3598; http://www.aaccmuseum.org

North Carolina Belongs to Children Mural
John Thomas Biggers created this mural in 1994; it uses quilt-like patterns to represent the state's vast diversity from the mountains to the sea; the work contains 12 of the state's symbols; located on the side of Legislative Building at 16 West Jones Street

Harris Barber College
Founded by Samuel Harris in 1930 to train barbers, it was originally located on the ground floor of the Lightner Arcade on Hargett Street even today school remains a training to male and female barbers; Mon-Fri 8:30a-5p; Sat 8a-12p; 803 South Blount Street; 919-834-3134; http://www.harrisbarbercollege.com