Celebrating Black History Month

Experience a wealth of African American history, heritage and culture in the nation’s capital.

With its Southern connections, Washington, DC has always had a significant African American population. Before the Civil War, the city was home to a growing number of free Blacks who worked as skilled craftsmen, hack drivers, businessmen and laborers, and slave auctions were outlawed altogether in 1850.

All slaves owned inside the city were emancipated on April 16, 1862. Since then, DC has remained home to a large African American population that has created vibrant communities and shaped the city’s identity as a culturally inclusive and intellectual capital.

The influence of African American culture is undeniable as you make your way through the District. We’ve laid out must-see locations to help you take in this vibrant heritage and history.

“Music is what I hear and something that I live by.” – Duke Ellington

Journey to the U Street neighborhood next, where you’ll find the African American Civil War Memorial. Appropriately located near the Shaw neighborhood (named after Robert Gould Shaw, the white colonel of the all-Black Massachusetts 54th Regiment), the memorial is a sculpture that commemorates the 200,000-plus soldiers that served in the U.S. Color Troupes during the Civil War. The nearby museum features exhibits, stories and educational programming that build on the powerful message of the memorial.

Read more from the ‘Guide to African American History & Culture in Washington, DC’.