via amny:
In honor of Black History Month, take a road trip to explore the significant social and cultural contributions of African-Americans. Accessible by car, bus or train, here are four cities that offer historic monuments, institutions, museums and flourishing black-owned businesses.
Philadelphia
The African American Museum in Philadelphia (701 Arch St, 215-574-0380, aampmuseum.org) is the first institution built by a major United States city to preserve and exhibit the culture of African-Americans.
Among the Victorian homes in West Philly is the Paul Robeson House & Museum (4951 Walnut St., 215-747-4675, paulrobesonhouse.org), the restored home-turned-museum of the actor and activist.
In Center City, tour Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church (419 S. Sixth St., 215-925-0616, motherbethel.org/church.php), the founding church of the nation’s first black denomination.
Then go north for supper at the Bynum Brothers’ popular jazz club, South (600 N. Broad St., 215-600-0220, southjazzkitchen.com).
Washington, D.C.
From slavery to freedom to modern-day achievements, there are nearly 37,000 historical artifacts assembled at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (1400 Constitution Ave. NW, 844-750-3012, nmaahc.si.edu).
Along the National Mall’s Tidal Basin, a significant site is the grand Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial (1964 Independence Ave. SW).
In the historic U Street corridor, pay homage to the African-American soldiers who fought for the Union Army at the African American Civil War Memorial & Museum (1925 Vermont Ave. NW, 202-667-2667, afroamcivilwar.org).
Nearby, grab a chili dog at landmark greasy spoon Ben’s Chili Bowl (1213 U St. NW, 202-667-0058, benschilibowl.com).
Alexandria, Virginia
Discover this Northern Virginia city’s rich African-American history through a tour of sites including the Freedom House Museum (1315 Duke St., 703-746-4702), which shares first-person accounts of slavery on a site that once housed a slave trading firm, and the Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery Memorial (1001 S. Washington St.), the final resting place of about 1,800 freed slaves who sought refuge in Union-occupied Alexandria.
Post-tour, dine and shop in quaint Old Town, where you’ll find Threadleaf (121 S. Royal St., 703-566-8342, hellothreadleaf.com), a boutique founded by Obama administration attorney Nicole McGrew.
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