10 Engaging Ways to Honor and Celebrate Black History Month
Jared Herr, jherr@battlefields.org
(Washington, D.C.) — In 1976, President Gerald Ford designated February as Black History Month to honor and recognize the “too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” As the nation’s premier battlefield preservation organization, the American Battlefield Trust is committed to highlighting the contributions African American people have made to our nation through the power of place.
To delve deeper into the impact of Black history, the Trust encourages individuals, families and classrooms to explore sites connected to the past. To showcase the multifaced roles that Black Americans played, the American Battlefield Trust recommends these 12 sites to learn more about the lasting impacts these individuals and movements had on America.
February 1-23: “Black History Month Fort Tour,” Fort Washington, Md.
Fort Washington Park is honoring Black History Month by amplifying the stories of the enslaved individuals who worked on Digges Plantation and who aided in the fort's construction. These guided tours will walk through the fort’s historic sights while sharing stories that highlight the struggles and resilience of enslaved people, along with stories that highlight the evolving role of African Americans in the United States Army. Learn more.
February 1: “Black History Month Panel with Maggie L. Walker NHS, Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers NM, and Reconstruction Era NHP,” Nicodemus, Kan.
Celebrate the start of Black History Month with a panel discussing the histories of Nicodemus National Historic Site, Maggie Walker National Historic Site, Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument and Reconstruction Era National Historical Park, and their place in the wider Black American historical narrative. Each site showcases the importance of sharing the stories of Black achievement, perseverance and progress. The panel is available to watch virtually. Learn more.
February 8: “Fredrick Douglass Birthday and Black History Month Celebration,” Washington, D.C.
Frederick Douglass (Library of Congress) Hosted by the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site and the Fredrick Douglass National Historic Site, celebrate Fredrick Douglass’s 207th birthday and Black History Month with musical performances, hands-on activities and discussions examining the lives of Fredrick Douglass, Mary McLeod Bethune and Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the “Father of Black History.” Winners of the annual Fredrick Douglass Oratorical Contest will also present their award-winning speeches. Learn more.
February 8: “Saturday Night Battlefield Lantern Tours – African American Patriots,” Blacksburg, S.C.
Join the rangers at Kings Mountain National Military Park for a nighttime lantern tour of the battlefield trail with a focused discussion on stories of African American Patriots that participated in the battle. Visitors should expect a moderate to strenuous hike with some steep inclines. Learn more.
February 15: “The Untold Story of Namahyoke Sockum Curtis,” St. Louis, Mo.
Author and Educator Carole Shelton will lead a storytelling program on Namahyoke Curtis, a Black American nurse who served with the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War. Her commended work would bring her to the recovery efforts following the Galveston hurricane and the San Francisco Earthquake, later serving as a public health advisor to President William Howard Taft, and for both the 1893 Chicago and 1904 St. Louis World’s Fairs. Learn more.
February 22: “Connections Through Art,” Petersburg, Va.
Learn how art was used as a form of activism in the 1800s through this panel and see how artists David and Elizabeth Bowser used their talents to try to make change. This offering from the National Park Service on the Petersburg Battlefield will demonstrate how their art supported United States Colored Troops and how their skills helped to improve the lives of African Americans in their community. Learn more.
February 22-23: “Historic 1872 Neosho Colored School,” Diamond, Mo.
Visit the one-room schoolhouse attended by the Missouri-born agricultural scientist George Washington Carver and learn about the struggle for Black education during Reconstruction. Visitors will be joined by a park ranger who will discuss Carver’s path toward education and his time at Neosho. Learn more.
Ongoing: “Contested Franchise: The 15th Amendment and the Right to Vote in America,” virtual exhibit.
Presented by the American Civil War Museum, “Contested Franchise” digitally explores voting rights in the Civil War era and explores the scope of the 15th Amendment. Learn more.
Ongoing: “Finding Freedom,” virtual exhibit
Delve into this interactive feature from the Museum of the American Revolution to learn about the lives and decisions of five real people of African descent living in war-torn Virginia in 1781. This award-winning experience draws from a combination of historical sources and contemporary analysis to help these first-person narratives breach the bounds of time. Learn more.
Ongoing: “Road to Freedom” Program, various locations in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia
American Battlefield Trust and Civil War Trails, Inc. The American Battlefield Trust and Civil War Trail, Inc.’s Road to Freedom network — originally launched for Virginia — now features historic locations highlighting the Black experience in North Carolina and Tennessee. This bundle of three apps encourages both visitors and state citizens to explore the little-known stories on key topics in Black history, such as slavery, emancipation, the United States Colored Troops (USCT units), and Reconstruction — and their agency in forging their own narratives. Learn more.
For more travel ideas, check the National Park Service events calendar, visit a state park website, search for museums and historic sites near you, or visit the American Battlefield Trust’s events calendar.
From a grassroots organization started by historians 30 years ago, the American Battlefield Trust has grown into one of the most successful private heritage land preservation organizations in the nation. The Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected nearly 60,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War, representing more than 160 sites in 25 states. Its 350,000 members and supporters believe in the power of place and the continued relevance of history as a means to fully understand our rights and responsibilities as Americans. Learn more at www.battlefields.org.
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