Exploring Baltimore's African American Heritage

The city of Baltimore has a rich African American heritage. African Americans in Baltimore trace back to the 17th century when the first slave ships docked in the ports of Maryland. The city has become one of the largest cities to have the largest population of free African Americans even before the Emancipation. For most of its history is has a white majority, until the 1970s when it transitioned to a black majority city. As the city with the 5th largest population of African Americans in the United States, African Americans had a huge impact on the culture, politics, history, dialect, and music of Baltimore. With their heritage deeply engrained in the city, there are a lot of sites to visit when you go on an African Heritage tour. Here are some of them:

National Great Blacks in Wax Museum

Commemorating the endeavors of great people of African-American descent, this museum was established by Dr's Elmer and Joanne Martin with most likely the world-famous Madame Tussaud's as the inspiration. Found in 1601-03 E North Avenue, the facility includes different displays of more than 150 life-sized wax figures of essential men and women of color along with a comprehensive exhibition on the slave trade that includes a recreation of an African slave ship. Walking through the exhibitions, guests are provided the chance to learn more about how these people played crucial roles in their respective fields of endeavors.

Frederick Douglass - Isaac Myers Maritime Park

This shipyard-turned-museum celebrates the contributions of African-Americans for the nation's maritime sector. The museum is housed in a historic waterfront building and is appropriately named after two distinguished African-American leaders, Frederick Douglass and Isaac Myers. Here one can experience first-hand the life of Frederick Douglass and Isaac Myers as caulkers in a recreation of the first African-American shipyard and discover how Douglass released himself from slavery and became a nationwide leader of the abolitionist campaign in Massachusetts and New York and how he became an excellent orator. The museum commemorates the contributions of free-born Black American Isaac Myers as a trade union leader and co-operative organizer.

Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture

The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture located in the center of downtown Baltimore, being a Smithsonian-affiliate, is recognized as the very best resource for knowledge and inspiration about the lives of African Americans of Maryland. It was named after one of the wealthiest African American attorneys in the 1980s, Reginald F Lewis. This museum uses many exhibits on African-American history, musical shows, workshops for kids, lectures, and comprehensive resources on genealogy. If you get starving from looking around, no need to worry. The museum has an in-site cafe that uses terrific food the will definitely feed your soul.

Baltimore Civil War Museum

Located near the President Street Station, it is the site of the first bloodshed of the Civil War when southern sympathizers clashed with Massachusetts volunteers transiting to Washington. The station, developed in 1849 and the earliest surviving railroad station in an urban setting, along with the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad were key parts of the Underground Railroad, a network of secret paths utilized by slaves to get away to freedom in the northern states and Canada.

Pennsylvania Avenue African American Heritage Trail

Fittingly recognized as Baltimore's art district, Pennsylvania Avenue is comparable to the other 'soul' streets of the country. Also called as Baltimore's premier historic African American neighborhood, one can take a walk through this street to hear the stories of the numerous church and civil rights leaders that shed the nation's history. Nobody will ever get hungry when touring this district, as there are several restaurants along the way that will feed your stomach and soul. As the city's cultural center, The Avenue is also where much of Baltimore's jazz legends nurtured their skills. Visitors can delight in emotional music from lots of performance places around the district.

Eubie Blake Jazz Museum and Cultural Center

Any tour of Baltimore's designated art district, Pennsylvania Avenue, will not be complete without a trip to the Eubie Blake Jazz Museum and Cultural Center. The museum and arts center was established in honor of one of the city's music icon and legend, jazz artist Eubie Blake. Since its founding, the center has been assisting in promoting and motivating up-and-coming Baltimorean artists. It likewise has a substantial library of sheet music and videos of the Harlem Renaissance period and a venue where one may capture performances of up and coming artists.

These are just some of the sites you can visit in America's Charm City. Baltimore is a vibrant city with a rich history and culture, and numerous sites, sounds, and flavors ready to be discovered and explored.

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