(Washington, D.C.) - This month, as the nation continues to commemorate the Civil War sesquicentennial, battlefields and historic sites across the country offer events examining the intertwining of our nation's history - from the Civil War to Civil Rights - in recognition of Black History Month. The Civil War Trust, the national nonprofit dedicated to preserving America's hallowed ground, selected several exciting events exploring the experiences of blacks during the Civil War.
African-American History Walking Tour
Civil War to Civil Rights Downtown Heritage Trail in Washington, D.C.
Walk in the footsteps of President Abraham Lincoln, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Walt Whitman and others who made history in the Washington area in the struggle for the rights of all Americans. The trail focuses on the city's experiences during the Civil War, as well as its role in the continuing challenge to realize equal rights for all U.S. citizens.
Audacious Freedom: African-Americans in Philadelphia, 1776-1876
The African-American Museum of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pa.
This permanent exhibit, housed at the nation's first major cultural center focused on the black experience, recounts the stories of and contributions made by people of African descent in Philadelphia from the country's founding through Reconstruction.
Historic Landmarks Walking Tour
Boston African-American Heritage Trail in Boston, Mass.
Throughout February, walk in the footsteps of abolitionist giants like Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison, and see the historic restoration of the nation's first African Meeting House. Be sure to also visit the adjacent Abiel Adams School, the first structure built to educate black children.
Atlanta: Race and Remembering in the Civil War's Aftermath
Atlanta History Center in Atlanta, Ga.
On February 6, historian and author William A. Link will discuss Atlanta in the aftermath of the Civil War, touching on the ways in which freedpeople built the city into a cultural, economic and political center that helped to define black America.
Lifted Voices: Bringing African-American History Makers to Life
Greensboro Historical Museum in Greensboro, N.C.
Costumed interpreters at the Greensboro Historical Museum on February 8 will portray influential black leaders who have made a mark on the Greensboro community and beyond.
Servitude at Hampton: In Black and White
Hampton National Historic Site in Towson, Md.
On February 8, Hampton National Historic Site invites guests to follow a costumed interpreter around the Hampton Plantation as she shares the story of the slaves who toiled there before the Civil War.
The Underground Railroad at Wheaton College
Civil War Museum in Kenosha, Wisc.
On February 14, historian David Maass, Ph.D., will discuss the role of Illinois's Wheaton College as a stop on the Underground Railroad and its fabled tunnel in the basement of historic Blanchard Hall.
Freedom's Tide: African-Americans in the Civil War Navies
The National Civil War Naval Museum at Port Columbus in Columbus, Ga.
Scheduled for February 22, this program will examine and recount the experiences of blacks serving in Union and Confederate Navies, along with discussing the effects of the navies in the lives of blacks during the Civil War.
The Civil War Discovery Trail, a network of more than 600 sites in 34 states, the District of Columbia and three international destinations, is an excellent resource in planning visits for Black History Month and beyond. Explore Civil War history and plan your next trip online at www.civilwar.org/cwdt.
The Civil War Trust is the largest nonprofit battlefield preservation organization in the United States. Its goal is to preserve our nation's endangered Civil War sites and to promote appreciation of these hallowed grounds through education and heritage tourism. To date, the Trust has preserved more than 38,500 acres of battlefield land in 20 states. Please visit the Trust's website at www.civilwar.org, the home of the Civil War sesquicentennial.
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