Boston has Black Kings of royal African blood. They are not merely tucked away in Black museums and exhibitions. One example is found in the Nigerian community in town. Kings sanction weddings and all that follow the king are celebrating at the receptions. Here is a link to a New England Historical Society article about Black Kings and Leaders Boston has had.
Black museums are at the bottom of the things-to-do list for Black tourists, wrote Slate to their readers. Beach, wind and sand, the martini jazz club, eating, shopping and #buyblack are winning! because black folks want to relax and rewind just like everyone else does on their vacations.
Ah ha, I’ll bet you didn’t know that!
Where we travel, we seek cultural experiences. So often, American history doesn’t include Black people. The Raleigh North Carolina Museum of History displayed an impressive mix of African American history with American History and Native American history when I went there in 2018. I like it that way.
African American museums in Boston are enjoyable to visit. Devoted to the procurement, care, study and display of objects of lasting value, the Black museum industry is growing across the United States.
When Black tourists want something Black to do, Black Museums and Black Heritage Trail Tours are there for them. The largest Black museum in America has the longest lines of any institution under the Smithsonian’s umbrella. All ethnic groups are visiting Black museums.
BOSTON
The National Center Museum of Afro-American Artists and the Museum of African American History and Culture are Boston’s most recognizable Black museum institutions. The Black Doll Museum of History and Culture in Manfield Massachusetts has thousands of dolls from present and past history on display. Medford’s Royall House Slave Quarters Plantation has artifacts and original objects from the time Boston’ largest slave plantation was operating.
African American Museums located in the United States
A partial list of 300 African American Museum institutions
AFRICAN AMERICAN CIVIL WAR MUSEUM
The mission of the African American Civil War Museum is to correct a great wrong in history that largely ignored the enormous contributions of the 209,145 members of the United States Colored Troops. It tells the stories and preserves for posterity the historic roles these brave men of African, European, and Hispanic descent played in ending slavery and keeping America united under one flag.
AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM OF IOWA
To preserve, exhibit, and teach the African American heritage of Iowa.
AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM OF THE ARTS
AAMA is a unique and vital resource in this part of Florida. It is the only museum in the area devoted primarily to African American cultures and art.
AFRICAN HERITAGE FIRE FIGHTERS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The AAFFHS mission is to collect, preserve and disseminate historical data, memorabilia and information relating to the contributions made by fire fighters of color to the fire service. As well as others who have made a contribution to such history. As the repository and archivist of this information, we will facilitate the utilization of these materials for fire safety/prevention, and the mentoring of youth, as well as professional growth and development of fire service members.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN RESEARCH LIBRARY & CULTURAL CENTER
The primary focus of the library is on the rich cultural influence of the African Diaspora in the Americas; collections and programming include the contributions and influence of world civilizations to reflect a holistic approach to knowledge acquisition, literacy, and learning.
Digital Schomburg
HARLEM: Founded in 1925 and named a National Historic Landmark in 2017, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is one of the world’s leading cultural institutions devoted to the research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experiences. From the original 10,000 items provided by Arturo Alfonso Schomburg to the over 10 million items in the collection today, the Schomburg Center features diverse progamming and lifelong education and exploration that illuminate the richness of global black history, arts and culture.
AFRO-AMERICAN CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM / THE FLEWELLEN COLLECTION
The Flewellen Collection will enrich teaching programs and provide resources that will enrich East Cleveland and the Greater Cleveland communities.
AMERICAN JAZZ MUSEUM
the American Jazz Museum showcases the sights and sounds of jazz through interactive exhibitions and films, visual arts exhibitions in the Art Gallery and Photography Gallery, the Blue Room Jazz Club, and the Gem Theater performing arts center. Public programming for all ages and youth education enliven the history and music at the center of the American Jazz Museum, entertaining and enriching jazz audiences while nurturing the next generation of jazz musicians.
AMISTAD RESEARCH CENTER
The Amistad Research Center is committed to collecting, preserving, and providing open access to original materials that reference the social and cultural importance of America’s ethnic and racial history, the African Diaspora, human relations, and civil rights.
ANDREW JACKSON’S HERMITAGE
The mission of the Andrew Jackson Foundation is to preserve the home of Andrew Jackson, create educational opportunities, and inspire citizenship through learning about his life and unique impact on American history.
APEX MUSEUM
The mission of the African-American Panoramic Experience (APEX) Museum is to accurately interpret and present history from an African-American perspective in order to help all American and International visitors better understand and appreciate the contributions of African-Americans to America as well as the world.
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. It was established by Act of Congress to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans. The Museum has collected more than 36,000 artifacts and nearly 100,000 individuals have become members. The Museum opened to the public on September 24, 2016, as the 19th and newest museum of the Smithsonian Institution.
AUBURN AVENUE RESEARCH LIBRARY ON AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE AND HISTORY
To promote specialized library service, archival resources, and culturally/educationally related activities essential for study and use by the general public, students, and scholars of the culture and history of peoples of African descent.
AVERY RESEARCH CENTER FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY & CULTURE
To collect, preserve, and promote the unique history and culture of the African diaspora, with emphasis on Charleston and the South Carolina Low country.
BANNEKER-DOUGLASS MUSEUM
The Banneker-Douglass Museum collection is dedicated to preserving the history and culture of African Americans relevant to Maryland through collections, conservation, and study of artifacts, photographs, fine arts, decorative and applied arts, and architectural elements.
BERTHA LEE STRICKLAND CULTURAL MUSEUM
The Bertha Lee Strickland Cultural Museum will be an inclusive cultural institution underscoring the rich, colorful turbulent story and impact of the local African American community. The museum will work with its established advisory panel, the BLSCM Preservation GRoup, to 1) honor the lives, accomplishments, contributions, diversity and struggles of our African American ancestry; 2) ensure the integrity and authenticity of the stories and history; 3) educate the community on our impact on society through inclusion and open dialogue; and 4) elevate a sense of self, dignity and, in present and future generations of our community.
BESSIE SMITH CULTURAL CENTER FORMERLY CHATANOOGA AFRO-AMERICAN MUSEUM
The mission of the Bessie Smith Cultural Center (The Bessie) is to become the premier interdisciplinary cultural center that promotes cultural, educational, and artistic excellence and fosters research and education of African and African American heritage; and provides a venue that allows the community to celebrate through education, art and entertainment.
BEULAH RUCKER MUSEUM
The mission of The Educational Foundation and Museum of Beulah Rucker Inc. is to memorialize the life of this great African-American woman, Mrs. Beulah Bucker Oliver. Recognizing the important role she played in local education, while increasing public awareness of her contributions to Gainesville, and Hall County through educational, religious, economic, social, and civic activities that enhance the quality of community life.…
BLAIR-CALDWELL AFRICAN AMERICAN RESEARCH LIBRARY
To preserve and showcase the many contributions of African Americans to Colorado and the West.
BUFFALO SOLDIERS NATIONAL MUSEUM (CENTER FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN MILITARY HISTORY)
The mission of the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum (BSNM) is to educate the public and to preserve, promote and perpetuate the history, tradition and outstanding contributions of America’s Buffalo Soldiers from the Revolutionary War to the present.
CARRIE MEEK – JAMES EATON BLACK ARCHIVES AND MUSEUM
The Carrie Meek – James N. Eaton, Sr. Southeastern Regional Black Archives Research Center and Museum is a specialty museum and archives which houses regalia and printed material relevant to the history of Africans and African Americans. Of particular interest are the collection, preservation, and dissemination of information significant to African Americans and their experiences and contributions in Florida and throughout the Southeastern United States
