Baltimore, MD

Reginald Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture
DESCRIPTION: In 2005, this compelling museum opened to great acclaim for its stylish architecture and Inner Harbor location; the award-winning architectural team of Frelon Group/RTKL joint ventured to create a building the evokes a complex range of emotions at every angle and every turn; the permanent exhibitions speak to Maryland’s African American heritage of perseverance and triumph via three galleries and major content areas: THINGS HOLD, LINES CONNECT: African American Families and Communities in Maryland, BUILDING MARYLAND, BUILDING AMERICA: Labor and the Black Experience, and THE STRENGTH OF THE MIND: Black Art and Intellect; changing exhibitions are also hosted every 3-5 months; includes a Museum Café and Museum Store; modest admission fees and children under age 6 enter FREE
ADMISSION: fee
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sun 10a–5p
ADDRESS: 830 East Pratt Street  MAP
PARKING: garage parking nearby
TRANSIT: Shot Tower-Market Place station
PHONE: 443-263-1800
WEBSITE: http://www.africanamericanculture.org

National Great Blacks in Wax Museum
DESCRIPTION: First and best wax museum of African American history; more than 100 handcrafted, spectacular historic figures which chronicle the struggles and achievements of African people worldwide; all displays are enhanced with special lighting, effects and particular attention to skin color; each display is presented chronologically from ancient Africa, the Middle Passage on a slave ship, the Antebellum and Postbellum periods, Reconstruction, the Harlem Renaissance, the Civil Rights Era to the present; among the historic wax figures are The Queen of Sheba, Colin Powell, Rosa Parks and Billie Holiday
ADMISSION: fee
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sat 9a-6p
ADDRESS: 1601-03 East North Ave  MAP
PARKING: street only
TRANSIT: bus
PHONE: 410-563-3404
WEBSITE: http://www.ngbiwm.com

Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Museum & Maritime Park
DESCRIPTION: In 2006, this major Black & Maritime heritage site opened to provides thrilling views of the Inner Harbor and 5,000 square feet of gallery space, divided into permanent and temporary galleries and interactive learning centers; the Sugar House building was once owned by Isaac Myers, a free born African American who became a national leader and founder of the Chesapeake Marine Railway and Dry Dock Company, employing Frederick Douglass and becoming the largest Black-owned business of the 1800s; a section of the museum is devoted to the saga of Frederick Douglass’ life in Baltimore as an enslaved child and young man working here; unfortunately, the white establishment jealous of their success, twisted laws to separate Isaac Myers and his co-owners from the property; within the historic Sugar House, oldest standing industrial building on the Inner Harbor, lies the Alex Brown Maritime Education Center; Docent led tours are included in the small price of admission
ADMISSION: fee
PARKING: on premises
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sun 10a-5p
ADDRESS: 1417 Thames Street  MAP
PARKING: on premises, free
TRANSIT: bus
PHONE: 410-685-0295
WEBSITE: http://www.douglassmyers.org

Black Soldiers Memorial
DESCRIPTION: This impressive 9-foot bronze statue gives long overdue props to African American servicemen from all American wars; the figure is decorated with medals for valor and his hands hold a wreath and banner listing American wars
ADDRESS: Battle Monument Plaza at Calvert and Lexington Streets  MAP
TRANSIT: Charles Center Metro Station
PARKING: nearby garage

Thurgood Marshall Monument
DESCRIPTION: A noble tribute to one of Baltimore's own; after the University of Maryland denied him entry into its law school because of race, Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993) graduated from Howard Law School; he was the lead NAACP attorney in the case which overturned the "separate but equal" school desegregation case in 1954; appointed Supreme Court Justice in 1967; this great man’s shoes are left unfilled on the Supreme Court; his original home was at 1632 Division Street
ADDRESS: Pratt Street at Sharp Street  MAP
PARKING: garage nearby
TRANSIT: Charles Center Metro Station

Cathy Hughes Plaza
DESCRIPTION: Baltimore headquarters for Radio One, the nations largest chain of Black owned radio stations and listed on a national stock exchange; tell-it-like-it-is-for-Black-folks Cathy Hughes is founder
ADMISSION: appt only
PARKING: garage nearby
ADDRESS: 100 Saint Paul Street  MAP
TRANSIT: Charles Center Metro Station
PHONE: 410-332-4600

Eubie Blake Jazz Museum & Cultural Center
DESCRIPTION: Born in Baltimore, Eubie Blake (1883-1983) was a famous ragtime pianist, vaudevillian and jazz composer who began his ascent to stardom as a dancer in New York; he wrote and collaborated on material for blacks and whites on Broadway including Josephine Baker and Noel Coward; along with Noble Sissle he co-composed Broadway's first black musical Shuffle Along in 1921; the institute preserves and interprets the canon of work by beloved Eubie who performed in Baltimore until his 99th birthday; the gallery also features a collection of pictures and memorabilia of equally famous Baltimorean jazz greats such as Cab Calloway (1907-1994), Billie Holiday and Chick Webb; a library of sheet music and videos of the Harlem Renaissance period provides contextual background for the Jazz age in America; the contemporary African American art exhibits which change frequently, jazz lessons for children and live jazz outreach programs here and around town are special; small admission fee
ADMISSION: fee
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat 8:30a-5p
ADDRESS: 847 North Howard Street  MAP
PARKING: garage nearby
TRANSIT: State Center Metro Station
PHONE: 410-225-3130
WEBSITE: http://www.eubieblake.org

Iota Phi Theta Headquarters
DESCRIPTION: In 1963 at Morgan State College (now a University), 12 students founded what has become the nation's fifth largest, Black fraternity; founders were: Albert Hicks, Lonnie Spruill, Jr., Charles Briscoe, Frank Coakley, John Slade, Barron Willis, Webster Lewis, Charles Brown, Louis Hudnell, Charles Gregory, Elias Dorsey, Jr., and Michael Williams; this organization has grown to 156 Chapters/Colonies and 15,000 Members
ADMISSION: appt only
PARKING: small lot on premises + street
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Fri
ADDRESS: 1600 North Calvert Street  MAP
TRANSIT: Baltimore Penn Metro Station
PHONE: 410-752-5748
WEBSITE: http://www.IotaPhiTheta.org

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Headquarters
DESCRIPTION: First intercollegiate Greek-letter Black Fraternity - founded in 1906 at Cornell University by Jewels Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle, and Vertner Woodson Tandy; on of the largest Black fraternities, the Alphas are known for being leaders in stressing academic excellence among its members and addressing the educational, economic, political, and social injustices faced by African-Americans; notable frat brothers include W.E.B. DuBois, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Edward Brooke, Dr Martin Luther King, Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Andrew Young, William Gray, and Paul Robeson
ADMISSION: appt only
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Fri by appt only
ADDRESS: 2313 Saint Paul Street  MAP
PARKING: small lot on premises + street
TRANSIT: bus
PHONE: 410-554-0040
WEBSITE: http://www.apa1906.net

Arena Players Theatre
DESCRIPTION: Although this theatre has a modern architectural design, it is home to one of the oldest Black theatre companies in America; since 1952, this jewel of regional theatre has presented many outstanding plays and includes Howard Rollins as one of its distinguished alumni
ADMISSION: fee
PARKING: street parking
ADDRESS: 801 McCulloh Street  MAP
TRANSIT: State Center Metro Station
PHONE: tickets 410-728-6500
WEBSITE: http://www.thearenaplayers.org

Billie Holiday Monument
DESCRIPTION: An 8 1/2 foot bronze figure of "Lady Day" sculpted by James Earl Reid features the Baltimore native in perfect form -- with a dinner gown and a gardenia in her hair; she was born Eleanora Fagan (1915-1959) and raised on 200 South Durham Street; arguably America's greatest Jazz singer, she is best known for the timeless song God Bless the Child; she performed many times cate-corner from this location at Baltimore's historic Royal Theatre
ADDRESS: Pennsylvania Ave at Lafayette Ave  MAP
PARKING: street parking
TRANSIT: Upton Metro Station

Mother Mary Lange Monument
DESCRIPTION: A 4-foot bronze monument honoring Mother Lange (1784-1882), a Haitian immigrant, founded the first Catholic school for African American children in 1828 (St. Francis Academy); in 1829 she founded the first order of African American nuns-the Oblate Sisters of Providence; she is being considered for sainthood by the Vatican
ADDRESS: George Street near Myrtle Ave
PARKING: street parking
TRANSIT: State Center Metro Station

Sankofa Dance Theatre
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1989 to present express the rich legacy of African centered dance; conducts programs at various performance venues around the city; performance season runs September through June; perhaps it is best loved in the community for its outstanding African Dance classes
ADDRESS: office 2901 Druid Park Drive  MAP
PARKING: parking on premises
TRANSIT: Penn-North Metro Station
PHONE: 410-669-3786

Coppin State University
DESCRIPTION: This historically Black college is known for among other things a fine basketball team; it also contains the Parlett Moore Library which features the Cab Calloway Jazz Institute -- a formidable collection of memorabilia from the bandleader and performer who immortalized "Minnie the Moocher"
ADDRESS: 2500 West North Ave  MAP
PARKING: parking on premises
TRANSIT: bus
PHONE: 410-333-7437
WEBSITE: http://www.coppin.edu

Sojourner-Douglass College
DESCRIPTION: An undergraduate college that meets a diverse range of educational needs in the community; across the street from First Baptist Church
ADDRESS: 500 North Caroline Street  MAP
PARKING: parking on premises
TRANSIT: Johns Hopkins Metro Station
PHONE: 410-276-0306
WEBSITE: http://www.sdc.edu

Wall of Pride Mural
DESCRIPTION: A well-loved community mural that portrays Langston Hughes, Paul Robeson, Sojourner Truth and Malcolm X
ADDRESS: Carey & Cumberland Streets  MAP
PARKING: street parking
TRANSIT: Penn-North station

Morgan State University
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1867 as a black college under the Freedmen’s Bureau, this institution is a major source of Maryland’s Black leadership; perhaps the best monument to Frederick Douglass by James Lewis is located in the center of the campus; the Beulah M Davis Special Collections room (443-885-3458) in the Sopher Library houses a notable cache of books, periodicals, art works, Matthew Henson memorabilia, Parren J Mitchell room and Benjamin A Quarles Afro-American studies room
ADDRESS: Cold Spring Lane at Hillen Road  MAP
PARKING: parking on premises
TRANSIT: bus
PHONE: 443-319-3020
WEBSITE: http://www.morgan.edu

Murphy Fine Arts Center
DESCRIPTION: This arts complex contains Lewis Museum of Art and the Gilliam Concert Hall; the museum of art features works by Professor Tanner who spent 37 years assembling one of the finest art collections in the country for a mid size college museum; works include exquisite African beadwork, photography original artworks by Henry O Tanner, Elizabeth Catlett, Romare Bearden, Lois Mailou Jones, Harry Evans; Tue-Fri 10a-4p, Sat 11a-4p, Sun 12a-4p; gift shop on premises; in 2001, the concert hall was opened by a performance featuring Jessye Norman in this grand 2000 seat venue
ADDRESS: 1700 Cold Spring Lane on Morgan State University  MAP
PARKING: parking on premises
TRANSIT: bus
PHONE: 443-885-4440
WEBSITE: http://www.murphyfineartscenter.org

NAACP Headquarters
DESCRIPTION: Mary White Ovington, Ida Wells-Barnett, WEB DuBois and others founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 1909; it became the most successful civil rights institution in this nation's history; the NAACP also publishes The Crisis magazine to promote its charter to reduce racism and increase understanding and cooperation among races; by 1915, The Crisis had a circulation of 30,000; the NAACP headquarters moved from NYC to this location in Baltimore in 1986;
ADMISSION: tours by appt only
ADDRESS: 4805 Mount Hope Drive  MAP
PARKING: parking on premises
TRANSIT: Reisterstown Plaza Metro Station
PHOTO: 410-358-8900
WEBSITE: http://www.naacp.org

Oella, MD

Benjamin Banneker Historical Park & Museum
DESCRIPTION: A must visit and take the kids! (1731-1806) America’s First Black Man of Science, Benjamin Banneker was born a free person in Baltimore County; his father purchased this land and willed it to him at age 6; at age 22, self taught Banneker constructs a striking clock; in 1789 he forecasts a solar eclipse; in 1791 he helps survey Washington, DC and corresponds with President Thomas Jefferson regarding the mental faculties of African Americans and opposition to slavery; in 1792 his first almanac is published; this museum, opened in 1998, reassembles the body of work and artifacts related to this astounding Black Renaissance Man; includes a short audio/visual presentation on the life of Benjamin Banneker; FREE, but donations accepted
ADMISSION: fee
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sat 10a-4p
ADDRESS: 300 Oella Ave at Old Frederick Road  MAP
PARKING: parking on premises
TRANSIT: no
PHONE: 410-887-1081
WEBSITE: http://www.thefriendsofbanneker.org

Columbia, MD

Howard County Center of African American Culture
DESCRIPTION: In a quiet, charming this center features a small art museum and library of 900 historic books, inventions, a children’s area, posters, a stamp collection, historic artifacts and a tribute to Black Howard Countians; located in the small building to the left of the mansion
ADMISSION: fee
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Fri 12-5p, Sat 12-4p, Sun 2p-4p
ADDRESS: 5434 Vantage Point Road  MAP
PARKING: parking on premises
TRANSIT: no
PHONE: 410-715-1921
WEBSITE: none