Black History Museums in the United States

Author

Sloane Stephens
February 11, 2022

Carter G. Woodson once said, “Knowing the past,opens doors to the future.”

This month is a time for the entire community to come together and honor and celebrate the beauty, strength, and contributions of Black people to the history and heritage of this nation and our world. Additionally, this is a valuable time to slow down and reflect on what we've accomplished/how far we've come, as well as how far we still have to go to rectify and learn from the mistakes of the past, whether those mistakes are from hundreds of years ago or yesterday.

The impact of Black people is so great. The richness of the existence of Black people in history is evident in social movements, politics, education, science, medicine, music, literature, art, sports, and other aspects of life's most fruitful and beautiful experience.

Of course, there have been, and there still are, very ugly parts to our history. Black people have never had it easy, but when you see what they have contributed and birthed despite hardship, hatred, socioeconomic disparity, and limited access, you can really see what a powerful people we are.

In order for us to survive and hopefully, one day, all thrive, I believe it is essential that we not only continue to carry on our history for generations to come, but we should also make sure that our history is shared outside beyond Black history month and Black communities as well. So, this week I have decided to include the many places people can visit throughout the year to study and learn about the history of our beautiful people, not only during Black History Month, but all year long.

In the comments, feel free to add any locations I may have missed.

Alabama

Alaska

Currently, there are no museums dedicated to Black or African American History.

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Prudence Crandall Museum, Canterbury : The Prudence Crandall Museum is CLOSED for renovations. The Museum is scheduled to reopen for the season in 2022, although an official date has not yet been determined.

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Howard County Center of African American Culture, Columbia – LINK IS BROKEN! Will update if the link is restored.

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Currently, there are no museums dedicated to Black or African American History.

Nebraska

Nevada

The Walker African American Museum & Research Center on the west side of Las Vegas closed in 2017. There has been no word of a reopening, but the state has been making plans to build a new African American Museum in the future.

New Hampshire

New Jersey

Afro-American Historical Society Museum, Jersey City - is located is on the upper floor of the Greenville Branch of the Jersey City, New Jersey Public Library, its collection is dedicated to the African American experience.

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Currently, there are no museums dedicated to Black or African American History.

Ohio

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

The National Museum of African American History and Culture - STATUE OF CLARA BROWN After Brown was freed from slavery, she moved to Colorado, where she became an important community leader, helping other former slaves to settle there. The slave cabin to the right, from about 1853, had been on Edisto Island in South Carolina

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Alexandria Black History Museum – Currently close until further notice.

Washington

Washington D.C. – Many historical sites have been temporarily closed.

West Virginia

African American Heritage Family Tree Museum

Black Voices Museum, Harpers Ferry

Wisconsin